Roberts hired at Thistledown

The Cleveland Plain-Dealer’s loss has now become Thistledown’s gain as longtime racing writer Bob Roberts, who recently accepted a buyout from the newspaper, has been hired to work in the Thoroughbred racetrack’s publicity department. “Railbird” Roberts, whose last day handicapping both harness and Thoroughbred races for the Plain-Dealer was in late November, began his new duties at Thistledown Thursday, Jan. 4.

“Thistledown bought space on the Cleveland.com sports page which is called an ‘advertorial,’ and I’ll be writing that,” Roberts told harnessracing.com. “I will be doing a lot of handicapping seminars, and I will go out and speak to clubs and also speak to special groups that come to the track. And I’ll be doing some in-house TV work.”

Although Thistledown is dark for live racing until April, Roberts says his daily duties now also include handicapping the races at Gulfstream Park. Both Thistledown and Gulfstream are owned by Magna Entertainment.

“I think it’s enough to keep me busy,” Roberts said with a laugh. “I miss the routine I had but being able to handicap online now makes me able to get right back in the routine. The key for me is still being able to go to the track every day.”

« Back