Belterra Park Gaming & Entertainment Center facts for kids

Belterra Park Gaming & Entertainment Center
Location	Cincinnati, Ohio
Address	6301 Kellogg Avenue
Opening date	May 1, 2014
Total gaming space	48,000 sq ft (4,500 m2)
Casino type	Racino
Owner	Gaming and Leisure Properties
Operating license holder	Boyd Gaming
Previous names	River Downs
Belterra Park Date opened 1925 Capacity 1,200 Race type Thoroughbred Course type Flat, Harness Racing Notable races Cane Pace Cradle Stakes Bassinet Stakes

Belterra Park, once called River Downs, is a special place where you can watch Thoroughbred horse races and also find some gaming machines. It's located in Anderson Township, Hamilton County, Ohio, near Cincinnati. This exciting spot is owned by Gaming and Leisure Properties and run by Boyd Gaming.

History of Belterra Park

Early Days and Famous Horses

Belterra Park first opened in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1925. Back then, it was known as the Coney Island Race Track. It was built near the Ohio River, right next to the Coney Island water park.

A very famous horse named Seabiscuit raced here in 1936. His trainer, "Silent Tom" Smith, brought him from Detroit. Seabiscuit ran two races, finishing third in both.

Surviving Floods and New Features

The track faced a huge challenge during the Cincinnati flood of 1937. But it managed to survive! After the flood, it reopened with a new name: "River Downs." Horse races are usually held here in the summer.

In 1956, a special 7-furlong grass track was added. This made River Downs one of the first tracks in America with a grass racing area. Many horse riders loved it. Hall of Fame jockey Laffit Pincay, Jr. even said it was the "best turf course" he had ever ridden on!

A Star Jockey's Beginning

On May 17, 1976, a young jockey named Steve Cauthen won his first race at River Downs. He was called "The Kid." That win started his amazing career. He became the best young rider at River Downs that year.

Later, he rode a horse named Affirmed to win the Triple Crown. This made him the youngest jockey ever to achieve that. Steve Cauthen also became a champion rider in Europe. He is the only jockey to win the Irish Derby, French Derby, English Derby, and Italian Derby, plus America's "Run for the Roses" (the Kentucky Derby).

Important Races and Champion Horses

In the 1980s, a race called the Miller Genuine Draft Cradle Stakes became very important for 2-year-old horses in Ohio. The horse that won in 1983, Coax Me Chad, later came in second in the 1984 Kentucky Derby.

Even more exciting, the 1984 "Cradle" winner, Spend A Buck, went on to win the 1985 Kentucky Derby! Spend A Buck won many races and earned a lot of money. He was even named American Horse of the Year.

Modern Upgrades and Changes

Over the years, the old wooden grandstand needed repairs. So, in 1988, a brand new grandstand was built. It kept the open-air style but added comfortable stadium seats. There was also a game room, a gift shop, and escalators to help people get around.

The area where horses get ready, called the paddock, was also made bigger. This allowed fans to get closer to the horses before races. The Clubhouse, a special viewing area, also got new air conditioning, many TV screens, and fancy decorations like cherry wood and Italian marble.

In 1996, new rules allowed "Full Card" simulcasting. This means you could watch and bet on races happening at other tracks across the country. River Downs became a very modern place for this, with many large TV screens.

The track faced another flood in 1997. The lower parts of the buildings were flooded. But the track quickly reopened for live racing. They also made many improvements to the Clubhouse and the barn area.

In 2011, Pinnacle Entertainment bought the track. Some big races were canceled that year to save money for the horse owners. In 2013, the racing oval and grandstand were torn down and rebuilt closer to the horse barns. In October 2013, River Downs was renamed Belterra Park.

In 2018, Boyd Gaming bought Belterra Park. This sale was needed to make sure there was fair competition in the Cincinnati area. In 2020, the ownership of Belterra Park was transferred to Gaming and Leisure Properties, and Boyd Gaming now leases it back.

Live Racing at Belterra Park

Belterra Park hosts live horse racing for several months each year. Before 2012, races usually ran from April until the Labor Day weekend.

For its reopening in 2014, Belterra Park started racing until mid-October. This was a chance to offer races when other nearby tracks were not.

In 2017, live racing at Belterra Park began on April 29 and ended on October 8. Races were held on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and most Thursdays. They also raced on holidays like Independence Day, Memorial Day, and Labor Day. You can also watch Quarter horse racing on certain days.

What Belterra Park Looks Like

Before the rebuilding, Belterra Park could seat 9,350 people. The new grandstand has 1,200 permanent stadium-style seats. There is also space to add more seats for bigger race days.

The racetrack itself was moved a little to the east during the 2013 rebuild. It has two main courses. The Main Track is a 1-mile oval made of dirt. Inside this is a 7-furlong turf (grass) course. The stable area has stalls for up to 1,350 horses.

Races You Can See

Here are some of the important stakes races held at Belterra Park:

• Bassinet Stakes
• Buckeye Native Stakes
• Cradle Stakes
• Hoover Stakes
• Miss Southern Ohio Stakes
• Queen City Oaks
• Vivacious Handicap