THISTLEDOWN'S FINAL LIVE CARD OF 2009 GOES TO THE STARTING GATE SATURDAY
If thoroughbred racing was a game of musical chairs, Two Dime Limit would be Thistledown's champion hoofer for 2009.
The six-year-old dark brown mare ran in the 14th and last race on the April 30th opening day card (she finished fourth) and she's entered again to run in the 13th and last race on Saturday's closing day program.
Two Dime Limit, a winner once in 11 local starts this season, is the only horse who ran on Day One and is still ready to run on Day 122.
Thistledown's final live program, a mixture of 14 race with Beulah Park in suburban Columbus (seven at each track) wraps up the 56th consecutive year of racng since the North Randall oval reopened in 1953 after its grandstand and clubhouse were destroyed by fire in 1944.
Earlier this fall, the Ohio State Racing Commission approved Thistledown for another 122-day season in 2010, from April 23 through Nov. 6.
Thistledown Director of Racing, L. William Couch, is satisfied with the season that is about to end, pointing to field size as the crowning achievement.
"I'm very happy with it. Field size is up eight percent over last year," said Couch. "We averaged 8.4 horses per race this season compared to 7.8 per race last year. The horsemen did a good job this year. Those who raced at Beulah last winter came in and raced here."
Couch said he was impressed with the season turned in by leading trainer Jamie Ness, defending champion Jeff Radosevich, and ship-and-strike specialist Gerald Bennett.
"These guys were always in the hunt," said Couch. "They split stables and came to run."
Couch is proud of the job he and his staff did in putting together the field for the on-again-off-again Ohio Derby that eventually went to the post on Oct. 3rd.
"The field was a solid one. The winner (Gone Astray) is a very good horse," said Couch. "The Best of Ohio races that led up to the Derby were also very good races. Where we position the Ohio Derby next year will be something I'll think about this winter."
LAST CALL --- Thistledown is dark Wednesday, then returns for the final three days of live racing in 2009. Post time each day is 1:20 p.m. The track will run alone Thursday (eight races) then close with the traditional seven-and-seven format with Beulah Park on Friday and Saturday.
STOPWATCH FINALE --- The last day of racing is also the last day of morning workouts and other forms of training on the track's one-mile oval. Thistledown's barn area will remain open until Nov. 13. Stall superintendent Doug Dubie says stall applications for next season will be available in early spring.
WHAT A YEAR --- Slides Choice, Ohio's champion juvenile filly last season and winner of this year's Best of Ohio Distaff, added to her impressive credentials last Saturday (Oct. 24) by finishing second, beaten just a half-length, in the Grade II $300,000 Lexus Raven Run at Keeneland. Flying the colors of Mary Crawford and Gerald Brown, the Devil His Due lassie closed her sophomore campaign with six victories and two seconds in 10 starts, with earnings of $289,940. Trainer Tim Hamm has shipped Slides Choice to his farm in Ocala, Fla. for a well-deserved winter vacation.
LEADERBOARD --- Jockey Ernesto Oro and trainer Jamie Ness have locked up both the current Randall-Cranwood Meeting and overall championships at Thistledown for 2009. Oro leads the closing 76-day meeting with 81 victories to David Cardoso's 59. Ness has 44 winners to Gerald Bennett's 35. For the year, Oro has 131 winners, 46 more than Cardoso, while Ness has 65 winners and leads Jeff Radosevich by 12 winners. Ness and Oro, as well as leading stable Midwest Thoroughbreds, will be honored in Thistledown's winner's circle between races on Friday.
FEED BAG --- Don't forget to set your clocks BACK one hour before retiring Saturday as daylight savings time expires. Otherwise, you'll be at Thistledown an hour earlier than you need to be for Sunday's full menu of full-card simulcast racing . . . Thistledown has made a change in the opening of its admission gates for the Nov. 7 Breeders' Cup presentation from Santa Anita. Instead of welcoming fans at 10:30 a.m., the gates will open at the usual time of 11:30 a.m. The switch was made after reviewing post times for all North American tracks . . . Thistledown will offer a $25 Breeders' Cup buffet on Nov. 7, which is Saturday and the second of two BC races dates . . . Janis Albert's Number Uno Lady, a three-time winner at Thistledown this year, shipped to Penn National on Friday (Oct. 23) and posted her seventh victory of the season. That ranks the Macho Uno filly second in all of North America in 2009 victories. Among the leaders at eight winners is another Thistledown horse, Sailfin. Number Uno Lady has won at four different tracks this year, with scores also at Tampa Bay Downs and Pinnacle. Albert, from Elyria, claimed Number Uno Lady in August, and has teamed with trainer Jevon Crumley for two victories in three starts since they bought her for $4,000. Crumley, who has enjoyed a solid season at Thistledown (28 victories, fifth in the overall standings) , and has won two races at the fall meeting at Keeneland. "(It's) a great, great feeling," he told the Daily Racing Form.
(For more information contact Bob Roberts, Thistledown publicity, 216-956-0762)