Former Raceway Park owner Shake Jechura dies

Sylvester “Shake” Jechura, former owner and operator of Toledo Raceway Park and a former director of the U.S. Trotting Association, died Wednesday, Nov. 25, at his retirement home in Largo, Fla. He was 84.

 

Mr. Jechura, along with his brothers, developed Raceway Park as an automobile racetrack, opened in 1949, and in 1958 it was granted a license for Thoroughbred racing by the Ohio State Racing Commission. Standardbreds joined the racing mix in 1962, and the track became the exclusive home to Standardbreds in 1971.

 

Mr. Jechura served on the board of directors of the U.S. Trotting Association for two years, after having been elected to the post in 1986.

 

He was a hands-on owner, more likely to be found in a garage, at any hour of the day or night, working on the tractor used to groom the track, than in his office. The racing surface at Raceway Park was among the first to feature deeply sloped turns, which yielded fast times. Mr. Jechura, himself, delighted in spending hour after hour grooming the racetrack.

 

He always made himself available to horsemen and members of the public, and despite seeming to be a stern individual he treated everyone in a fair manner. He made it a point of pride to keep the racetrack clean for patrons and horsemen, and introduced improved stabling, seating and fan accommodations each year.

 

The track was destroyed by fire in 1976, but rebuilt and opened in 1977. The Jechura family sold Raceway Park in 1988 and Mr. Jechura and his wife moved to Florida.

 

Mr. Jechura is survived by his wife of 65 years, Sylvia; daughter, Sharon; sister, Helen; grandchildren, Dion Wilson, Steven Suzor, Kelly (Wagner) Hall, Amy (Wagner) Kazmierczak, and Carey (Wagner) Manders; eight great-grandchildren; and many cousins. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Susan; sisters, Mary, Wanda and Sophie; and brothers and co-founders of Raceway Park, Carl, Edward, Chester, Stanley "Skip" and Stephen "Tony."

 

A private funeral service will be conducted. An avid fisherman, Mr. Jechura’s ashes, per his wishes, will be scattered in the Gulf of Mexico. In lieu of flowers, sympathies may be sent to the Jechura Family at 3517 Woodley Ct., Toledo, Ohio 43606. (USTA)