Belterra Park Revives Cradle, Bassinet Stakes

The Cradle Stakes, at one time one of the top races in Ohio but dormant for more than a decade, will have a revival this summer at Belterra Park, the former River Downs.

The two-turn race for juveniles, run on turf from 2007-10 and scheduled for that surface this year, will be renewed Sept. 2. The 1 1/16-mile race carries a $125,000 purse and shares a Friday card with the $75,000 Bassinet Stakes for 2-year-old fillies, another 1 1/16-mile grass race.

Inaugurated in 1977 at River Downs with sponsorship for more than 30 years by Miller Genuine Draft, the Cradle proved popular with horsemen and the public, with fans keen to collect beer mug giveaways promoting the race, recalled Belterra Park track announcer Ed Meyer.

"They were collector items. You couldn't get your hands on them," said Meyer, who worked alongside track publicist John Engelhardt during the final years of River Downs.

Under a horsemen's contract established with new track ownership, the Cradle and Bassinet went on hiatus after 2010 in an effort to maintain daily purses.

Meyer credited racing secretary Bill Couch and others with bringing back the Cradle, a race Spend a Buck memorably won in 1984 before capturing the Kentucky Derby (G1) in 1985 during his Horse-of-the-Year campaign.

Other notable Cradle winners include Peaks and Valleys, Harlan's Holiday, and Bellamy Road.

Among trainers and jockeys, Hall of Famers Bill Mott, D. Wayne Lukas, and Pat Day are Cradle winners.