Opening Day at River Downs (now "Belterra Park")
May 8, 2014 13:00:18 GMT -5
Post by Deleted on May 8, 2014 13:00:18 GMT -5
I was really looking forward to this, hoping for some positive things and the return of racing in Southwest Ohio (my home for a while back in the 1970s) after a long layoff – the last River Downs meet was run at Beulah Park up in Columbus last year.
Unfortunately, it wasn’t to be. With horses stabled at Turfway few miles away, Keeneland a little over an hour away, and the horses at Beulah looking for a home and place to run, they were only able to fill eight races with an average of about 7 per race, including three five horse fields. Eight races with only 62 starters, and that includes a 12-horse field and 11-horse field.
Total purses, including a $50,000 stakes race, are only $119,000 ($107,000 when you take out the horsemen's entry and starting fees for the stakes race). The seven overnight races (total purses of $69,000) average $9,800. Considering that the casino has been operating for some time, one would have hoped the purses would have been a little stronger.
The first race scheduled for 1:30 got off five minutes late.
The sound system is horrible (couldn’t they try it out earlier in the week to see what it would be like?) – more static than the announcer’s voice.
Speaking of the announcer (never heard him before), he did a horrible job anyway. At the top of the stretch he called the ultimate winner this way, “the rail opens up for Hard Way Six who takes the lead”. Unfortunately that horse was caught mid-stretch by who? Hard Way Six, who closed fast on the outside!!
The best thing so far is that they gave the old-timer, Perry Ouzts, the opener at 4-5. Nice touch.
Let’s hope it gets better as the day wears on, but I’m sure the casino is operating smoothly with no hitches.
Unfortunately, it wasn’t to be. With horses stabled at Turfway few miles away, Keeneland a little over an hour away, and the horses at Beulah looking for a home and place to run, they were only able to fill eight races with an average of about 7 per race, including three five horse fields. Eight races with only 62 starters, and that includes a 12-horse field and 11-horse field.
Total purses, including a $50,000 stakes race, are only $119,000 ($107,000 when you take out the horsemen's entry and starting fees for the stakes race). The seven overnight races (total purses of $69,000) average $9,800. Considering that the casino has been operating for some time, one would have hoped the purses would have been a little stronger.
The first race scheduled for 1:30 got off five minutes late.
The sound system is horrible (couldn’t they try it out earlier in the week to see what it would be like?) – more static than the announcer’s voice.
Speaking of the announcer (never heard him before), he did a horrible job anyway. At the top of the stretch he called the ultimate winner this way, “the rail opens up for Hard Way Six who takes the lead”. Unfortunately that horse was caught mid-stretch by who? Hard Way Six, who closed fast on the outside!!
The best thing so far is that they gave the old-timer, Perry Ouzts, the opener at 4-5. Nice touch.
Let’s hope it gets better as the day wears on, but I’m sure the casino is operating smoothly with no hitches.