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Ohio commission meets; rules on TB dates, harness licensee

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November 21, 2008

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The longstanding feud between Thoroughbred horsemen and tracks in Ohio played out before the Ohio State Racing Commission on Friday while Standardbred horsemen and track officials looked on as spectators.

River Downs in Cincinnati requested two Thoroughbred and 14 Quarter Horse dates for 2009. The commission rejected the request for only two Thoroughbred dates, but approved the Quarter Horse dates.

Charles Ruma of Beulah Park in Grove City near Columbus said that Ohio Thoroughbred racing was the worst in the country and made a request for only 60 Thoroughbred dates and 28 Quarter Horse dates in 2009. Commissioners approved that request. The Quarter Horse dates will be April 1-May 3 while Thoroughbred dates will be Oct. 2-Dec. 23.

Standardbred trainer Craig Cornachione withdrew his request for an Ohio license after learning that a rejection by the Ohio commission would lead to the loss of his license in Michigan. Cornachione was suspended by the Indiana Horse Racing Commission after getting three positive tests. He is licensed in Michigan and has been racing horses there, but if Ohio refused to issue him a license it would lead to a reciprocal action in Michigan.

The Ohio commissioners and the large crowd in attendance heard a report from The Innovation Group, which recently completed a study on Ohio racing. The study identified problem areas in Ohio racing and called for greater cooperation among horse racing interets in the state. More off-track betting opportunities and expanded gaming at tracks would help Ohio compete with neighboring states, they emphasized.

The next meeting of the Ohio State Racing Commission is on Dec. 19 at 10 am. The 2009 Standardbred racing calendar is expected to be finalized at that time. (Dean Hoffman for harnessracing.com)

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