Jack Thistledown Racino facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Jack Thistledown Racino |
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Exterior of Jack Thistledown Racino
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| Location | North Randall, Ohio | ||||||||
| Address | 21501 Emery Road | ||||||||
| Opening date | April 9, 2013 (as casino) | ||||||||
| Total gaming space | 57,000 sq ft (5,300 m2) | ||||||||
| Casino type | Racino | ||||||||
| Owner | Vici Properties | ||||||||
| Operating license holder | Jack Entertainment | ||||||||
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Jack Thistledown Racino is a special place in North Randall, Ohio, near Cleveland. It's a "racino," which means it's both a thoroughbred horse racing track and a casino. Imagine watching fast horses race and then having fun with games! It's currently owned by Vici Properties and managed by Jack Entertainment.
Contents
A Look at Thistledown's History
Thistledown became an official racetrack in 1931. This was when the Ohio Racing Commission was created to oversee horse racing in the state. It's famous for hosting the Ohio Derby, which is the most important horse race in Ohio.
How Horse Racing Works in Ohio
The track follows a special rule called the Ohio 7/7 Program. This means that live horse races happen at two different places in Ohio at the same time. For example, during the summer, Thistledown might host seven races. Another track, like Belterra Park, would host the other seven races. This helps spread out the racing fun across the state.
Changes and New Beginnings
For a while, the track faced some tough times. In 2007, its owner decided to sell it. Luckily, in 2010, a company called Harrah's Entertainment bought Thistledown. Later, it became part of a partnership with Rock Gaming.
A big change happened in 2012. The state of Ohio allowed racetracks to add special gaming machines called video lottery terminals (VLTs). These are like slot machines you might see in a casino. This meant Thistledown could become a "racino"!
Becoming a Racino
Rock Ohio Caesars, the new owners, decided to invest $88 million to turn Thistledown into a modern racino. They transformed the main area into a large gaming space. This new area had about 1,150 VLTs. They also added a restaurant and other food places for visitors.
In 2016, the racino got a new name and look. It officially became "Jack Thistledown Racino" as part of the Jack Entertainment family.
Recent Ownership Changes
In 2020, Jack Entertainment sold the property to Vici Properties. However, Jack Entertainment still manages and operates the racino. This is called a leaseback deal, where one company sells a property but then rents it back to continue running the business.
Temporary Closure and Reopening
Like many places, Jack Thistledown Racino had to close temporarily in March 2020. This was due to health guidelines from the State of Ohio. But it reopened later, and by March 2021, it was doing very well!
The Track Itself
The racing track at Thistledown is a one-mile oval made of dirt. It's designed for fast and exciting horse races. There isn't a grass track here.
Exciting Races at Thistledown
The most important race held at Jack Thistledown Racino is the Grade III Ohio Derby. This is a major event for horse racing fans. The track also hosts many other races throughout its racing season, which usually runs from April to September. Some of these races include:
- Angenora Stakes
- Dr. T. F. Classen Memorial Stakes
- Mike Rowland Memorial Handicap
- J. William (Bill) Petro Memorial Handicap
- Cleveland Gold Cup
- Rose DeBartolo Memorial Stakes
- George Lewis Memorial Stakes
- Cleveland Kindergarten Stakes
- Miss Ohio Stakes
- Governor's Buckeye Cup
- Best of Ohio Distaff
- Best of Ohio Endurance
- Best of Ohio Sprint
- Juvenile Stakes
- Honey Jay Stakes
More to Explore
- List of casinos in Ohio
- Northfield Park
