Beulah Park racetrack facts for kids
| Location | Grove City, Ohio United States  |
|---|---|
| Owned by | Penn National Gaming |
| Date opened | 1923 |
| Course type | Flat/Thoroughbred |
| Notable races | Scarlet & Gray Handicap Glacial Princess Stakes. |
Beulah Park was a famous racetrack in Ohio. It was the first place in Ohio to have thoroughbred horse races. Beulah Park offered live horse racing from October to early May. It also had Quarter Horse races on certain days. The track was located near Columbus. People could also watch and bet on races happening at other tracks. Beulah Park was also known for its "Beulah Park Twins," Katie and Jenna, who were hosts for the race broadcasts from 1997 to 2009.
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History of Beulah Park
Beulah Park first opened in Grove City, Ohio, which is a town near Columbus, in 1923. It was the very first thoroughbred racetrack in Ohio. When it closed, it was one of only three tracks in Ohio that still held live thoroughbred races. The other two were Thistledown and River Downs. In 1983, Beulah Park was the first track in Ohio to let people watch and bet on the Kentucky Derby from afar.
Owners and Changes Over Time
The Dienst Family owned Beulah Park for 60 years, from 1923 to 1983. Robert J. Dienst ran the track until he passed away in 1959. He was known for making horse racing fun for everyone. After him, his son, Robert Y. Dienst, took over. He worked hard to improve the track. For example, after a fire in 1959 destroyed a wooden barn and 40 horses, he rebuilt the barns using concrete blocks and tin roofs to make them safer. Horse owners really liked how much he cared for their horses. Robert Y. Dienst loved the sport of horse racing very much.
In May 1983, the track was sold to George Gaulding for about $4.5 million. The name was changed to Darby Downs for two years. Then, in 1985, the track was sold again to Charles Ruma, who was a builder. He paid over $6.5 million and changed the name back to Beulah Park. Ruma spent millions of dollars to make the track even better for visitors.
In May 2010, the track was sold to a company called Penn National Gaming for about $37 million.
Plans for New Tracks
In 2011, Penn National Gaming, the company that owned Beulah Park, announced plans to move the track's operations to Dayton, Ohio. This new track would cost $200 million and create many jobs. However, Penn National later decided to move a different track's license to Dayton instead.
In 2013, the plan changed again. The license for Beulah Park was approved to be moved to a new facility in Austintown, Ohio, which is near Youngstown. This new place, called Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course, cost $125 million and created about 1,000 jobs. It was planned to open in 2014.
The Final Races and New Development
Starting in May 2013, Beulah Park became a temporary home for the River Downs horse racing season. This happened while a new casino and racetrack were being built at River Downs' original location in Cincinnati.
Beulah Park closed after 2013, as River Downs returned to Cincinnati and the Beulah Park license moved to Youngstown. The very last day of live horse racing at Beulah Park was May 3, 2014.
After closing, Beulah Park was bought by a developer named Pat Kelley. He plans to build homes, apartments, and a senior living facility on the land. The plans also include offices, shops, and a large 60-acre park. The development plans were approved in December 2017, and construction was set to begin in spring 2018.
Notable Races at Beulah Park
Beulah Park was known for several important races, especially in 2011. These races often had prize money for the winners. Some of the notable races included:
- Scarlet & Gray Handicap
- Glacial Princess Stakes
- Ruff/Kirchberg Memorial Handicap
- Ohio Freshman Stakes
- Bobbie Bricker Memorial Handicap
Other Fun Events
Even when there were no horse races, Beulah Park was a busy place. It hosted concerts and fireworks shows. It was also home to one of the biggest Mud Volleyball tournaments in the world. This event had more than thirty courts and was held every year by the Epilepsy Foundation.
