Contact Information:
Bob Roberts (216-662-8600)
April 28, 2009
www.thistledown.com
Thistledown Set To Spring Latch On 2009 Thoroughbred Season
Thistledown, with a barn area loaded with ready-to-run horses and a stakes weekend that includes simulcasts of the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks, as well as the 17th running of the Angenora Stakes on its own one-mile oval, kicks off the 2009 thoroughbred season Thursday.
"We're very pleased to welcome back live racing," said Thistledown Vice-President and General Manager Brent Reitz. "It's been a long winter, but when the bugle calls the horses to the post for the first race on Thursday, there will be renewed hope for horsemen and horseplayers alike."
Thistledown will race 122 afternoons this year, through Oct. 31. The season begins with racing on Mondays and Thursday through Saturday until July 21. That's when Tuesdays will be added to the schedule until season's end. Thistledown will race a seven-and-seven program with River Downs or Beulah Park on Thursday, Friday and Saturday and alone on Monday and Tuesday. Post time for the daily double is 1:20 p.m.
"We actually have more horses and then we have stalls for them," said Director of Racing Bill Couch. "I'm excited that horsemen want to come here and race. Field size should be very good. And that's what this game is all about."
Thistledown is the only racetrack in northern Ohio where patrons can watch and wager on the Kentucky Derby. Advance wagering will be available on Friday. Doors open on Friday, which is Kentucky Oaks day, the "derby for fillies," at 10 a.m. Doors open on Derby Day at 9:30 a.m. Silks, Thistledown's sixth floor dining room, will be open for lunch on all live racing days.
Official entries for the Angenora, the first stakes race of the season, will be drawn Wednesday morning. There are 20 Buckeye-bred fillies and mares nominated to the six furlong Angenora, including defending champion Pay The Man.
CHAMPIONS RETURN --- Louis Stokes, the winningest rider last year with 102 scores, and Jeff Radosevich, the top trainer with 70 triumphs, are both back at Thistledown this year. Stokes is named to ride in four of the opening seven races. Radosevich is represented in two races. A possible new challenger to Radosevich's run of four consecutive titles is Jamie Ness, who wintered at Tampa Bay Downs where he was the winningest trainer. Ness currently ranks eighth among all North American trainers this year with 61 winners.
FEED BAG --- Bill Avalon Jr., who last rode in 1992, has been named Thistledown's clerk of scales for the 2009 season. He replaces Luis Martinez who has decided to continue working at south Florida tracks this spring instead of returning to Thistledown . . . While he tired from his early efforts and finished seventh as the betting favorite, a high-priced Ohio-bred with an impressive family tree made his career debut at Keeneland last Thursday. Zip in Time, bred by Judy Klosterman of Cincinnati's Langsem Farm, is by City Zip, out of the Polish Numbers, mare Flight of Time. He brought a bid of $250,000 at the February Fasig-Tipton sale in Kentucky. Flight on Time, although she won just once in 14 career starts, is a half-sister to Ohio stakes winners Unbridled Time, Enticed, Heavenliness, and Hiho Heaven. Unbridled Time, winner of the 2001 Cleveland Gold Cup, is the most expensive Ohio-bred to go under the auctioneer's hammer, bringing a bid of $1,150,000 . . .Smooth Air, winner of last year's Grade II $300,000 Ohio Derby, had to be scratched from Saturday's $300,000 Texas Mile at Lone Star Park after he came down with a bout of colic. Trainer Bennie Stutts said the colt, who did not require surgery, has bounced back quickly and will return to his home base of Calder Race Course in Miami this week…Heriberto Rivera Jr., champion Thistledown jockey in 1982 and 1986, and now a representative for the Jockeys' Guild, recently took part in Riders Up at Keeneland, where jockeys sang for charity. Rivera and Robby Albarado, the regular rider on champion Curlin, won for having the best voices.
Thistledown At A Glance
WHAT: Thoroughbred racing for 122 days, from April 30 through Oct. 31.
WHERE: 21501 Emery Rd., North Randall, Ohio
WHEN: Monday and Thursday through Saturday until July 21 when Tuesday is added to the schedule. Thistledown will race a seven-and-seven program with River Downs or Beulah Park on Thursday, Friday and Saturday and alone on Monday and Tuesday.
POST TIME: 1:20 P.M.
ADMISSION: Free
PARKING: Free
EARLYBIRD WAGERING: Available on live racing days on self-serve machines, starting at approximately 9:30 a.m. in the Earlybird Pavilion. To gain access to the wagering area, enter the gate at the west end of the grandstand apron.
STAKE SERVINGS: There will be 16 added-money features, all for Buckeye-breds. The highlight of the season will be the Best of Ohio series of races on Oct. 3, featuring the Best of Ohio Distaff and the Best of Ohio Endurance, both carrying $100,000 purses. The other 100 grander on the schedule is the Fourth of July running of the Cleveland Gold Cup.
SPECIAL EVENTS: May 2 Kentucky Derby; May 16 Preakness; June 6 Belmont Stakes and WMJI Day; July 4 WGAR Day; Aug. 1 WKNR/FSN Sports Day; Aug. 22 Ninth Annual Chili Cookoff; Sept. 5 Kids Day; Oct. 3 Best of Ohio races; Nov. 7 Breeders' Cup; Dec. 19 Ohio Lottery Customer Appreciation Day.
PHONE: (216) 662-8600
WEBSITE: www.thistledown.com