Belterra Park to Begin Delayed Race Meet June 4
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Photo: Coady Photography
Racing at Belterra Park
With its opening day delayed by COVID-19, Belterra Park will begin its meet June 4 after approval from the Ohio State Racing Commission, the Ohio Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association wrote on its website May 16.
According to the Ohio HBPA, horses in Kentucky and Ohio may begin shipping into the backstretch May 30. The first day of training at Belterra Park will be June 1, when horses from other states can also begin moving into the stable area.
After opening week, racing will be conducted on a Tuesday-Friday schedule each week, the Ohio HBPA wrote.
Earlier this week, the OSRC authorized the resumption of racing as early as May 22 without fans in attendance and under strict protocols.
Dave Basler, the executive director of the Ohio HBPA, wrote in a Facebook post on Saturday that he would have a meeting next week with other Ohio racing leaders to discuss purses. He posted, "At this stage I don't believe any of the cancelled stakes will be made up," emphasizing that to run those stakes would diminish available purse funds.
Belterra, owned by Boyd Gaming, also operates a casino, which has been closed due to COVID-19. Revenue from gaming supplements purses in the state.
Prior to the COVID-19 outbreak, Belterra had been scheduled to run from April 24-Sept. 25.
Racing in Ohio last took place in the state March 18 at Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course.