MGM Northfield Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids MGM Northfield Park |
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| Location | Northfield, Ohio | ||||||||
| Address | 10777 Northfield Road | ||||||||
| Opening date | December 18, 2013 | ||||||||
| Total gaming space | 200,000 sq ft (19,000 m2) | ||||||||
| Casino type | Racino | ||||||||
| Owner | Vici Properties | ||||||||
| Operating license holder | MGM Resorts International | ||||||||
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MGM Northfield Park is a fun place in Northfield, Ohio, near Cleveland. It's a special kind of entertainment spot called a "racino." This means it has both exciting horse races and games where you can win prizes.
Northfield Park hosts over 200 nights of harness racing each year. In harness racing, horses pull a driver in a two-wheeled cart called a sulky. The park is currently owned by Vici Properties and run by MGM Resorts International. Its nickname is "The Home of the Flying Turns." Its motto is "Every nineteen minutes the place goes crazy."
Contents
A Look Back: History of the Park
From Car Races to Horse Races
The story of Northfield Park began a long time ago in 1934. It was first known as Sportsman Park. Back then, it was famous for midget car racing, which are races with small, powerful cars.
After 20 years, people became less interested in car racing. So, in 1956, Sportsman Park was taken down. A new vision for the area began to take shape.
Carl Milstein, a well-known businessman, bought the track in 1972. He helped turn it into one of the best harness racing tracks in the country.
Exciting Horse Races and Records
Northfield Park has hosted many famous races. One of its top events is The Battle of Lake Erie. This race has featured some of the fastest "pacers" (a type of racehorse) in history. Horses like Jaguar Spur, Gallo Blue Chip, Falcon Seelster, and Riyadh have all competed here.
In 2007, a horse named World Champion Maltese Artist won the race. Driven by Brett Miller, it set a world record time of 1 minute and 49.4 seconds for the mile.
New Games and New Owners
In 2009, Ohio lawmakers decided to allow special gaming machines at some racetracks. These machines are like video games where you can win prizes. Northfield Park's owner, Brock Milstein, supported this idea.
On December 18, 2013, the racino opened with 2,300 video lottery terminals. It was then called Hard Rock Rocksino Northfield Park. Hard Rock International managed the property at that time.
In 2018, a company called MGM Growth Properties bought the property. Then, on April 1, 2019, MGM Resorts International took over running the racino. They changed its name to MGM Northfield Park.
Later, in 2022, Vici Properties became the owner of MGM Growth, which included Northfield Park.
Fun Places to Visit
The Trackside Lounge
In 2008, Northfield Park built the Trackside Lounge. It's a modern sports bar with many flat-screen TVs. You can watch races and other major sporting events there. This includes games from Cleveland's Guardians, Cavaliers, and Browns teams.
The lounge also has a barbecue area. You can enjoy delicious ribs and pulled pork sandwiches. You can eat them in the lounge or in the barbecue tent.
The RaceBook
The RaceBook is another special area. It looks similar to the Trackside Lounge. It has hundreds of flat-screen TVs and private viewing spots. Here, visitors can watch and follow races happening at other tracks around the world.
Cedar Downs: Races from Afar
Cedar Downs is a unique place located in Sandusky, Ohio. It's the only "off-track betting" parlor in Ohio. This means people can follow and enjoy races from other locations, even if they are not at the main Northfield Park track. Northfield Park bought Cedar Downs in 2005.
See also
- Thistledown (racecourse)
