Contact Information:
Bob Roberts (216-662-8600)
March 27, 2008
www.thistledown.com
Top Trainer Radosevich First Through Gate
The countdown to the May 1st start of Thistledown's 2008 thoroughbred season became official Wednesday when the gates to the stable area swung open at daybreak to accept the first van of horses. Fittingly, Jeff Radosevich, who led all trainers with 94 winners last year, was the first horseman to ship in a portion (16 horses) of his stable that will number 50 when at full strength.
"I feel like a high school principal welcoming back his students for another year," said Doug Dubie, Thistledown's stall superintendent. "There are many horsemen who came in today to set up their stables before shipping, like Rod Madrigal and John Rupert."
Rupert is a new face at Thistledown. He campaigned at Great Lakes Downs last season, saddling 49 winners, third best at the Michigan track.
"Weather permitting, the track will open to training on Saturday," said Dubie. "I'm sure there will be a steady flow of vans into our barn area over the next week or two. We have had great response from horsemen through dozens of stall applications."
The condition book, a publication that trainers use to find races that fit their horses, is available in the Thistledown racing office. The book also contains a roster of jockeys, which includes not defending champion Scott Spieth but the next seven winningest riders from 2007.
BIG SIMULCAST DAY --- Saturday is a huge day of racing for area horseplayers with Thistledown simulcasting not only the $6 Million Dubai World Cup, but also the $1 million Florida Derby from Gulfstream Park.
"We are showing three of the top stakes from Dubai's Nad Al Sheba Racecourse," said Bob Hickey, Thistledown's director of mutuels. "Our doors will open at the usual time of 11:30 a.m. and we'll offer the Dubai Duty Free and the Dubai Sheema Classic, both $5 million races, in addition to the World Cup." Post time for the first Dubai race is 11:55 a.m. Hickey said past performance programs will be free to horseplayers. The Florida Derby, part of a 12-race card that includes four other stakes races, three of them graded, has attracted a full field of 12. Some of the leading runners are Elysium Fields, second in the Fountain of Youth, and graded stakes winners Majestic Warrior, Tomcito, and Smooth Air.
DAYS AND NIGHTS --- Thistledown, open daily for afternoon simulcasting, will also be open four of the next eight nights for wagering, taking bets up until approximately midnight tonight (Thursday), Sunday, as well as next Tuesday and Thursday.
FEED BAG --- The Ohio Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders will host its annual awards-dinner dance at Darby Dan Farm's famed Darby House on Friday night. The highlight of the evening will be the announcing of the "Best of the Buckeyes" divisional champions, as well as the Ohio Horse of the Year for 2007. The favorites for the top honor are Scioto Farm's Catlaunch, winner of the Governor's Buckeye Cup, and King of the Roxy, winner of the Grade II Hutcheson and second in the Grade I Santa Anita Derby. The banquet will also feature the 25th edition of "Here's To the Winners," a video that shows stretch runs of the 33 Ohio Fund stakes as well as a salute to the champions. Tickets can be obtained by calling Gayle Babst at the OTBO office in Cincinnati at 513-574-5888.