River Downs
River Downs is a thoroughbred horse racing facility in Cincinnati, Ohio with two tracks.
Located only minutes from downtown Cincinnati along the scenic Ohio River, the track has a warm and friendly atmosphere that complements its state-of-the-art wagering facility.
River Downs' live racing season is held from early April through early September. As one of Ohio's premier horse racing tracks, River Downs hosts many of the state's biggest and most prestigious stakes events, among them are the MGD Cradle Stakes, Pepsi Bassinet Stakes, Buckeye Native Stakes, Miss Southern Ohio Stakes, Queen City Oaks, Hoover Stakes and the Vivacious Handicap.
River Downs Track Facts
| • Track | : | One mile, oval with two chutes (¾ and 1¼ miles) |
| • Width of track | : | 80 feet, all around |
| • Distance from last turn to finish line | : | 1,117 feet |
| • Turf course | : | 7 furlongs |
| • Seating capacity (Grandstand) | : | about 8,500 |
| • Seating capacity (clubhouse) | : | about 850 |
| • Stable accommodations | : | 1,350 |
Track Records
| DIST | RECORD | HORSE | AGE | WGT | DATE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 1/2 Furs. | Sans Terre | 2 | 119 | :52.2 | May 24, 1971 |
| 5 Furs. | Banker's Forbes | 5 | 117 | :57.3 | June 7, 1994 |
| 5 1/2 Furs. | Tazaua | 4 | 120 | 1:03 | Aug. 1, 1964 |
| 6 Furs. | Francine M. | 5 | 124 | 1:08.3 | July 4, 1969 |
| 1 Mile | Alladin Rib | 3 | 119 | 1:36.1 | Aug. 8, 1988 |
| 1 M 70 Yds | South Dakota | 3 | 122 | 1:40 | Aug. 4, 1945 |
| 1 1/16 Miles | Irish Dude | 5 | 126 | 1:41.4 | July 5, 1969 |
| 1 1/8 Miles | Brown Sugar | 3 | 114 | 1:49 | Sep. 2, 1925 |
| 1 1/4 Miles | Crusader | 3 | 126 | 2:02 | July 24, 1926 |
| 1 1/2 Miles | South Dakota | 8 | 116 | 2:30.3 | July 1, 1950 |
| 1 5/8 Miles | Sada | 8 | 115 | 2:45.3 | Oct. 13, 1994 |
| 1 11/16 Miles | Distribute | 9 | 109 | 2:51.3 | Sep. 7, 1940 |
| 1 3/4 Miles | Brigler | 6 | 109 | 2:59.3 | Oct. 19, 1940 |
| 1 7/8 Miles | Shot Bills | 7 | 113 | 3:26.3 | Aug. 19, 1979 |
Turf Course
| DIST | RECORD | HORSE | AGE | WGT | DATE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 1/2 Furs. | Adena | 4 | 110 | :50.4 | May 26, 1977 |
| 5 Furs. | Hobbs | 4 | 122 | :56.1 | Sep. 1, 1991 |
| 7 1/2 Furs | Stormy Deep | 3 | 117 | 1:28.2 | Aug 15, 1990 |
| 1 Mile | Bad News Blues | 3 | 119 | 1:34.1 | July 23, 1994 |
| 1 1/16 Miles | Franchise Player | 5 | 112 | 1:40.3 | June 12, 1994 |
| 1 3/8 Miles | Amberbee | 4 | 115 | 2:15.4 | July 1, 1972 |
| 1 7/16 Miles | Dina's Pl'ymate | 11 | 120 | 2:25 | Aug. 30, 1969 |
| 1 1/2 Miles | Rebel Thunder | 4 | 116 | 2:28 | June 28, 1996 |
| 1 7/8 Miles | Big Bettor | 5 | 122 | 3:10.1 | May 31, 1986 |
| 2 1/4 Miles | Buteo | 6 | 122 | 3:48.2 | Sep. 3, 1990 |
History of River Downs
1925
- On July 6, the Coney Island racetrack attracted a crowd of 10,000 who wagered $83,000 on the inaugural day seven race card.
1926
- The Cincinnati Derby attracted Belmont Stakes winner Display and American Derby winner Boot to Boot.
1935
- Three-year-old fillies Myrtlewood and Clang met on a so-called "grudge match" that saw Clang reversing Myrtlewood's win just three weeks earlier at Hawthorne Park.
1936
- The legendary Seabiscuit made two appearances at the track.
1937
- After the big flood, the track re-opened under the new name of "River Downs."
1956
- The seven furlong turf course was created, making River Downs the 13th track in America with a grass racing strip.
1976
- On May 17, the eighth race of the day launched the career of Steve Cauthen. Fondly called "The Kid", he went on to become the leading apprentice and rider at River Downs that season. Two years later, he teamed up with Affirmed and became the youngest rider to sweep the Triple Crown.
1989
- The grandstand was reconstructed. Soon after that, the clubhouse was upgraded.
1996
- Ohio legislation finally allowed for Full Card simulcasting. Horse racing from across the nation was broadcast over a new 500 set state-of-the-art television system.
2000
- The 2000 edition of the Miller Genuine Draft had the deepest field ever to compete. The race produced three graded stakes winners and one of the best runners of this generation, Harlan's Holiday.
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