Thistledown is a thoroughbred race track in North Randall, Ohio at the outskirts of the city of Cleveland. It is owned by Magna Entertainment Corporation.
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History and Information
The track was founded in 1925 as Randall Park. (Incorrect Randall Park was across the street and closed in 1969. In 1976 the land was rezoned and it became Randall Park Mall) It came under the regulation of the Ohio Racing Commission in 1931 when it was formed. The track is the home of the Ohio Derby, the only graded stakes race in Ohio. The track races under the Ohio 7/7 Program which means that live racing is held at two locations in the state at the same time. During the summer Thistledown races seven races on a card and River Downs races the other seven. In September, Beulah Park takes over for River Downs. Ohio racing is dark January to March. The track has declined in recent years due to summertime competition and the lack of slot machines that neighboring tracks have.
Physical Attributes
The track has a one mile dirt oval. There is no turf course.
Racing
The track's premier race is the Grade II Ohio Derby. The track also hosts numerous overnight handicaps and minor stakes during its April to December racing season. Ungraded handicaps and stakes run in 2005 are:
- The Bill's Fancy
- The Angenora Stakes
- The Wintergreen Handicap
- The Mike Rowland Memorial Handicap
- The Brent's Princess Stakes
- The Pete's Buckeye
- The J. William (Bill) Petro Memorial Handicap
- The Merry Time Stakes
- The Scarlet Carnation Stakes
- The Isi Newborn Memorial Stakes
- The Cleveland Gold Cup
- The Rose DeBartolo Memorial Stakes
- The George Lewis Memorial Stakes
- The North Randall Stakes
- The Cleveland Kindergarten Stakes
- The King Glorious
- The Miss Ohio Stakes
- The Pert Near
- The Ohio Debutante Handicap
- The Loyalty Stakes
- The Governor's Buckeye Cup
- The Governor's Buckeye Cup
- The Honey Jay Stakes
- The Emerald Necklace Stake
- The Mark Yagaour Stakes
