Ohio HBPA Reaches 2008 Thistledown Dates Agreement with Magna
The Ohio HPBA and Magna Entertainment have reached a tenative agreement regarding 2008 racing dates at Thistledown.
Under the agreement Thistledown will conduct 122-days of live racing beginning on May 1 and concluding on October 25 with the possibility of three additional live racing days being added to the schedule if certain handle provisions are met at the track.
Racing will be held on a 5-days per week schedule at Thistle through the first week of September with Tuesdays and Wednesdays being the only dark days. Thursdays will be dropped from the schedule beginning the second week in September.
Under the agreement stabling will be offered to horsemen from March 26 through November 2, while the track will be available for training from March 29 through October 25.
Gus George
Former Ohio HBPA President Gus George passed away on Sunday, March 16 following a long battle with cancer. Gus, who was 77, served as the Ohio HBPA President from 2000 to 2005 and is survived by his wife and four children.
Gus marks the third former Ohio HBPA President to pass away during the past year following David Miesse and Elmer Cowan. Ohio horsemen owe a debt of gratitute to all three of these former Presidents who volunteered their services to our organization. They are all sorely missed.
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