The Ohio HBPA wishes to congratulate all of the stakes winners on the Best of Ohio program run on October 6, 2007 at Beulah Park.

The $100,000 1 1/4 mile Best of Ohio Endurance was won by Smarmy a 3-year-old gelding trained by Tim Hamm. Smarmy is owned in partnership by Bruce Ryan and Blazing Meadow Farm and was ridden to victory by Luis Gonzalez.

Betty Alexander's Cryptoquip captured the 1 1/8 mile $100,000 Best of Ohio Distaff. Graham Motion trains Cryptoquip who was ridden by John McKee.

Dooze captured the $75,000 Best of Ohio Sprint for trainer Mike Maker. Dooze is owned in partnership by Shazam Stable and Equirace.com and was ridden to victory in the 6-furlong Sprint by jockey Tommy Pompell.

The $75,000 1 1/16 mile Juvenile Stakes was won by O'Riain for trainer Ivan Vazquez and owner William Ryan. Victor Urieta-Moran rode O'Riain to victory in the Juvenile.

Sarasponda captured the $75,000 John Galbreath Memorial for juvenile fillies. Joe Weir owns Sarasponda who is trained by Joe Schuman and was ridden by Scott Speith.

Beulah Park and Scioto Downs, a harness track located approximately 10 minutes from Beulah, have reached an agreement on simulcasting at the two tracks for 2008.

Beulah Park will be open for both day and night simulcasting from January 1 through May 3. Beulah will then be closed for racing purposes until October 12. Beulah will reopen for day and night simulcasting on October 13 through the remainder of the year.

Scioto Downs will conduct simulcasting from May 4 through October 12 and be closed the remainder of the year.

Over the past several years Beulah and Scioto had operated an agreement whereby Beulah conducted year-round simulcasting taking signals for tracks which operated during the day and Scioto conducted year-round simulcasting taking only nighttime signals.

The days each track will conduct simulcasting coincide with the track's live racing schedules for 2008.

COLUMBUS, OHIO-The Ohio Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association (OHBPA) has filed a complaint in the United States District Court for Southern Ohio challenging the decision of two Ohio thoroughbred race tracks to send simulcast signals to Chester Downs in Pennsylvania without the authorization of the OHBPA as required under the Federal Interstate Horseracing Act of 1978.

The dispute centers on a request by OHBPA for a higher host fee from Chester Downs for being allowed to accept simulcast signals from Beulah Park and River Downs, two tracks in Ohio. The OHBA denied its consent to the two Ohio tracks unless Ohio horsemen and tracks received a 5% fee.

Beulah Park and River Downs requested permission from OHBPA to send simulcast signals to Chester Downs at a 3% fee. OHBPA countered that Chester Downs would still retain a 16% takeout and that a 5% fee was reasonable.

“Beulah Park and River Downs challenged the decision of OHBPA by relying on an Ohio law that allows race tracks to appeal to the Ohio State Racing Commission” said Bob Reeves, Chairman of the OHBPA Purses and Wagering Committee. “Under Ohio law the Commission can overrule the position of a horsemen’s group if it finds that permission to export simulcast signals by a track was ‘unreasonably withheld’. The Commission clearly does not have that authority under Federal law.” At its December 15, 2006 meeting the Ohio State Racing Commission ruled in favor of the challenge by the tracks.

“The Interstate Horseracing Act gives horsemen an inalienable and unchallengeable right to grant or withhold consent for the interstate transmission of simulcast signals.” said Attorney Doug McSwain who will be the lead attorney representing OHBPA in the case. “We believe that the Ohio law is unquestionably unconstitutional in that its application deprives of horsemen everywhere of rights granted under Federal law and the Constitution. The Ohio law violates the supremacy of the United States Constitution, the Interstate Horseracing Act and the expressed will of Congress in exercising its authority under the United States Constitution to regulate interstate commerce.”

“This is a case that will impact horsemen everywhere,” said Jim Yaegel, President of the OHBPA. “Thoroughbred breeders, owners, trainers and their employees have a vital stake in this case.”

By Dave Basler

Magna Entertainment Corporation has announced its intention to sell Thistledown.

In a press release dated September 5, Magna announced it will attempt to find buyers for Thistledown as well as other racing and nonracng properties it owns in an effort to reduce debt for the companys balance sheet.

Several horsemens groups have expressed interest in purchasing Thistledown but the sales process is still in its initial stages and a sale would likely take several months to complete.

In August, Magna submitted a request for 91 racing days at Thistledown in 2008. The Ohio HBPA board of directors unanimously accepted a racing dates committee recomendation that the HBPA seek 144 days of racing at Thistledown in 2008.

Thistledown can not race less than 155 days next year and still conduct full card simulcasting in 2009 unless a 9-party agreement is reached between the states three thoroughbred tracks, four harness tracks, the Ohio HBPA and the OHHA.

The Ohio State Racing Commission has granted 2008 racing dates to the state's three thoroughbred tracks.

Beulah Park's winter-spring meeting began on January 7 and runs through Kentucky Derby Day on May 3. Beulah will race Monday through Wednesday and Friday and Saturday each week until March. In March, Fridays will be dropped from the schedule. Beulah will drop Tuesdays in mid-April.

Beulah's fall meeting will begin on October 4 and run through December 19.

River Downs will run a 102-day meeting beginning on April 11 and running through September 1. River is scheduled to run on Tuesdays and Fridays through Sundays in April before adding Thursdays in May. The five-day per week schedule will continue through the remainder of the meeting.

The 111-day schedule submitted by Thistledown falls well below the statutory minimum for the track to conduct simulcasting in 2009. Thistledown must conduct 187 days of live racing to meet the statutory minimum unless receiving permission from the HBPA to drop down to 155 days.

If Thistledown does not amend its dates request, the meeting will begin on May 1 and run through September 29 on a five-days per week schedule with Tuesdays and Wednesdays being the dark days each week.

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.