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Located in Anderson Township, Hamilton County, Ohio, just outside the southeast boundaries of Cincinnati, River Downs is a horse racetrack that is known for its competitive racing. There are two courses at the track: the Main Dirt Track is an oval that is one mile long, and the turf course is located inside of this oval and is seven furlongs long. The width of the Main Track is eighty feet, and it features two chutes. There are 1,350 stables in total within the barns. River Downs has a capacity of 9,350 seats for its patrons.
River Downs History
The year 1925 marked the opening of River Downs in Cincinnati, Ohio. After the Old Oakley Race Course, a prior track in Cincinnati, had been shut down for fifteen years, it was finally opened for business. The racetrack features a location that is directly adjacent to the shores of the Ohio River. The racetrack was formerly known as Coney Island, and it is located right next to the Coney Island Amusement Park and rides.
River Downs was the location of two appearances by the well-known Seabiscuit in the year 1936. During the course of two consecutive races, his trainer “Silent Tom” Smith brought the horse in from Detroit with the jockey “Red” Pollard. His third-place finish in the Western Hills Handicap came on October 3, 1936, and he followed it up with a third-place finish in the Eastern Hills Handicap two weeks later.
Following the survival of the flood that occurred in 1937, the racetrack reopened under the name River Downs. As a result of the establishment of the seven-furlong turf course in 1956, River Downs became the thirteenth track in the United States to include a grass racing strip.
In the eighth race that took place at River Downs on May 17, 1976, an apprentice jockey won the event while riding Red Pipe. It was the race that would serve as the beginning of Steve Cauthen’s career, which would go on to become one of the most famous riders in the world. As the season progressed, he became known as “The Kid,” and he went on to become the most successful apprentice and overall rider at River Downs. In later years, he rode Affirmed to achieve the distinction of being the youngest rider to win the Triple Crown. He eventually became a champion rider in Europe and became the only jockey in history to win the Irish Derby, French Derby, English Derby, and Italian Derby in addition to winning the “Run for the Roses” in the United States. He may be the first jockey in history to ever accomplish this feat.
In the 1980s, the Miller Genuine Draft Cradle Stakes became the most lucrative event for two-year-old horses in the state of Ohio. This triumphant rise occurred during the decade. Coax Me Chad, the horse that won the Kentucky Derby in 1983, went on to finish in second place in the Kentucky Derby the following year, behind all other horses. It was the winner of the “Cradle” in 1984 who went one step farther than his predecessor and won the Kentucky Derby. In addition to winning the Derby, Spend A Buck went on to win ten other races and more than $4.2 million, ultimately earning the title of Horse of the Year from the American Horse Association.
The conclusion of the 1988 racing season saw the construction of a brand new grandstand. The management made the decision to maintain the appearance of the classic open-air grandstand while incorporating contemporary elements. A game room was erected next to a new gift shop, and escalators were installed to transport bettors to an expanded mezzanine level. Wooden benches were replaced with stadium seats that were distributed evenly across the stadium.
In addition to the grandstand that cost sixteen million dollars, the paddock was also increased in size. This was done to emphasize the River Downs belief that fans prefer to be in close proximity to the action and the horses. The track entered a new phase on September 19, 1996, when state law finally permitted Full Card simulcasting to take place in the state. This marked the beginning of a new age for the track. It only took a few short weeks following the conclusion of the live meet for the River Downs Clubhouse to be transformed into the most cutting-edge simulcasting facility in the country, which is now known as the River Downs RaceBook.
Race fans have had the pleasure of watching the races at this stunning track for more than three quarters of a century. This circuit has adapted to the changing times while maintaining its atmosphere throughout the years. Not only is River Downs warm, pleasant, and clean, but it also keeps you close to the live action while providing year-round simulcast racing in a comfortable atmosphere. River Downs is located just minutes away from downtown Cincinnati along the gorgeous Ohio River.
In 2013, River Downs will not be hosting any live racing events. Beulah Park in Columbus is currently serving as the location for live meetings as a result of the development of a new facility.
Off Track Betting Guides
Get your off track betting action at River Downs, one of the many available horse racing tracks at YouWager.lv’s racebook.