Ocean Downs facts for kids
| Location | 10218 Race Track Road Berlin, Maryland, U.S. |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 38°21′8.5″N 75°9′50″W / 38.352361°N 75.16389°W |
| Owned by | Churchill Downs Inc. |
| Date opened | July 25, 1949 |
| Race type | Harness racing |
| Notable races | Maryland Sire Stakes |
| Live racing handle |  $3,768,901 (2011) |
| Attendance | 77,466 (2011) |
Ocean Downs is a fun place in Berlin, Maryland, close to Ocean City. It has both a casino and a special track for harness racing. In harness racing, horses pull a small cart with a driver. The company that owns and runs Ocean Downs is called Churchill Downs Inc..
Contents
The Story of Ocean Downs
Starting the Race
Building Ocean Downs began in 1947. It was first planned as a harness racetrack. The track officially opened its doors on July 25, 1949. At that time, it was owned by a group called the Ocean Downs Racing Association.
New Owners and New Names
After a few years, the racetrack faced some challenges. In 1986, another harness track in Maryland called Rosecroft Raceway bought Ocean Downs. They changed its name to Delmarva Downs.
Later, in 1987, a person named Mark Vogel bought the racetrack. But in 1991, the track had financial problems and was sold again. This time, it was bought by Fred Weisman, a businessman from California.
After Mr. Weisman passed away in 1994, the track was sold once more. A group called the Cloverleaf Standardbred Owners Association bought it with help from Bally Entertainment. After this purchase, the racetrack went back to its original name, Ocean Downs.
The Casino Arrives
Even with new owners, Ocean Downs continued to struggle financially. In 1996, the Cloverleaf group sold the track to Bally Entertainment. Bally Entertainment hoped that slot machines would soon be allowed in Maryland.
This didn't happen right away. So, in 2000, William Rickman bought Ocean Downs. Then, in 2008, people in Maryland voted to allow slot machines in five places, including Worcester County where Ocean Downs is located.
This was big news for Ocean Downs! In 2010, construction started on a new casino building. It cost about $45 million to build. The casino finally opened its doors in 2011, bringing a new era for Ocean Downs.
Images for kids
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A 1969 newspaper advertisement for Ocean Downs.
