JACK Entertainment said earlier that it planned to reopen both its Cleveland casino and Thisteldown Racino in North Randall on June 19. MGM said it planned an invitation-only event before the. Northeast Ohio’s casinos and entertainment sites say they are increasing cleaning efforts on their properties because of the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak.The MGM Northfield Park entertainment and gambling facility in northern Summit County said it is taking additional steps because of the virus.While parent company MGM Resorts International has closed buffets at its Las Vegas properties.

When Gov. Mike DeWine issued an order banning mass gatherings of over 100 people in response to the coronavirus pandemic, he made several exceptions, notably for things like hospitals, airports, churches, schools, and more.

It wasn't initially clear how this would affect the state's four casinos, including JACK Casino in Cleveland.

Those questions have now been put to rest.

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2. JACK Cleveland Casino, JACK Thistledown, MGM Northfield Park to temporarily close following state's order against mass gatherings WKYC Staff 3/14/2020 May Bunjes of Colorado died of Covid-19.
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Following a mandate from the Ohio Casino Control Commission that said all four locations must comply with the order, JACK Cleveland Casino has announced that it is temporarily closing its doors.

The commission did not say the casinos must close; only that they must comply with the directive by midnight and 'submit to the Commission their plans to maintain compliance.' Officials added they 'may take additional actions if needed.'

The instructions from the OCCC do not apply to JACK Thistledown Racino in North Randall or to MGM Northfield Park, as they are under the jurisdiction of the Ohio Lottery Commission (OLC). However, 3News confirmed with the OLC that all Ohio racinos were sent a notice to comply with Gov. DeWine's directive on mass gatherings by midnight on Friday. The OLC provided the following statement on the matter.

'The Ohio Lottery Commission notified racinos that they must be in compliance with Governor DeWine’s Executive Order 2020-01D to limit mass gatherings. We expect them to be in compliance by midnight tonight. Failure to comply may result in administrative action including temporary shutdown of the video lottery terminals.'

Shortly after the OCCC and OLC's rulings, MGM Resorts International announced that it will temporarily close MGM Northfield Park.

“As of midnight tonight, MGM Northfield Park will suspend operations and temporarily close,” said MGM Chief Operating Officer and President Bill Hornbuckle. “We will do all we can to mitigate the impact on our employees and partners. We will monitor this rapidly changing situation and will keep everyone informed as decisions are made to reopen in the future.”

In addition, JACK Thistledown Racino will also temporarily close its doors.

13 state residents have so far tested positive for the coronavirus, the vast majority in Northeast Ohio. The pandemic has so far killed more than 5,400 people worldwide, including 48 in the United States.

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Jack Thistledown Racino is a thoroughbredracetrack and casino in North Randall, Ohio, at the outskirts of the city of Cleveland. It is owned by Vici Properties and operated by Jack Entertainment.

History and Information[edit]

The track came under the regulation of the Ohio Racing Commission in 1931 when it was formed. The track is the home of the Ohio Derby, the only graded stakes race in Ohio.

The track races under the Ohio 7/7 Program which means that live racing is held at two locations in the state at the same time. During the summer Thistledown races seven races on a card and Belterra Park (formerly River Downs) races the other seven. In September, Beulah Park takes over for Belterra Park. Ohio racing is dark January to March. The track declined in recent years due to summertime competition and the lack of slot machines that neighboring tracks have.

In 2007, Thistledown's parent company, Magna Entertainment, announced that the racetrack was for sale. As a result of staggering losses in which Magna Entertainment reported net losses of $87.4 million in 2006, $105.3 million in 2005 and $95.6 million in 2004, and has an accumulated deficit of $393.8 million as of March 31, 2007, Magna Entertainment stated: 'Accordingly, the company's ability to continue as a going concern is in substantial doubt and is dependent on the company generating cash flows that are adequate to sustain the operations of the business, renew or extend current financing arrangements and maintain its obligations with respect to secured and unsecured creditors, none of which is assured...'. Once-thriving Thistledown, which hosts the $300,000 Ohio Derby, posted a pretax loss of $4.5 million in 2006.^[1][2] Thistledown and parent company, Magna Entertainment, recently filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

Jack Casino In Northfield Ohio

Thistledown was purchased in 2010 by Harrah's Entertainment (now Caesars Entertainment) for $43 million. The track was subsequently contributed to a Caesars joint venture with Rock Gaming in Summer 2012.

In June 2012, the State of Ohio inked a memorandum of understanding authorizing the state's seven racetracks to offer video lottery terminals (VLTs), and permitted some tracks to relocate to less gaming-concentrated areas of the state.^[3]

In August 2012, Rock Ohio Caesars announced plans to invest $88 million to develop a racino at the existing North Randall site. Enhancements to the facility include transforming the main floor of ThistleDown’s grandstand into a 57,000 sq. ft. gaming space that will offer approximately 1,150 VLTs. Plans also included a 60-seat restaurant, two food court outlets, and a lounge.^[4][5]

Rock Gaming acquired Caesars Entertainment's 20% stake in Rock Ohio Caesars in February 2015,^[6] and later in the year announced that it would assume management of the properties, including Thistledown.^[7] Rock Gaming announced in February 2016 that the company and its casinos would rebrand under the Jack name.^[8] The racino closed for a day in March 2016 to undergo its transition to the Jack name and management.^[9]

In 2020, Jack sold Thistledown in a leaseback deal to Vici Properties, with Vici buying Thistledown and Jack Cleveland Casino for a total of $843 million, and renting the two properties back to Jack for $66 million per year.^[10]

On March 13, 2020, the track was closed until further notice following the directive from the State of Ohio and to comply with the Director of Ohio Department of Health's Order related to mass gatherings.^[11]

Physical Attributes[edit]

The track has a one-mile dirt oval. There is no turf course.

Racing[edit]

Jack Thistledown Casino Northfield Ohio

The track's premier race is the Grade IIIOhio Derby. The track also hosts numerous overnight handicaps and minor stakes during its April to September racing season. Ungraded handicaps and stakes run in 2010 are:^[12]

• Angenora Stakes
• Dr. T. F. Classen Memorial Stakes
• Mike Rowland Memorial Handicap
• J. William (Bill) Petro Memorial Handicap
• Cleveland Gold Cup
• Rose DeBartolo Memorial Stakes
• George Lewis Memorial Stakes
• Cleveland Kindergarten Stakes
• Miss Ohio Stakes
• Governor's Buckeye Cup
• Best of Ohio Distaff
• Best of Ohio Endurance
• Best of Ohio Sprint
• Juvenile Stakes
• Honey Jay Stakes

See also[edit]

References[edit]

1. ^http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2007/09/there_it_goes_thistledown_up_f.html
2. ^https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/06/AR2007090602281.html
3. ^http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2012/06/thistledown_agreement_outlines.html
4. ^http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2012/08/thistledown_approved_to_obtain.html
5. ^Thomas Ott (April 9, 2013). 'Thistledown draws a crowd for opening of Ohio's second racino'. The Plain Dealer. Cleveland, OH. Retrieved 2013-04-11.
6. ^Karen Farkas (February 26, 2015). 'Rock Ohio Ventures buy Caesar's 20 percent interest and now owns Horseshoe Casino Cleveland, Thistledown and other entities'. The Plain Dealer. Cleveland, OH. Retrieved 2016-05-04.
7. ^Karen Farkas (November 2, 2015). 'Rock Gaming takes over management of Horseshoe Cleveland Casino from Caesar's Entertainment'. The Plain Dealer. Cleveland, OH. Retrieved 2016-05-04.
8. ^Michael Martinez (February 23, 2016). 'Greektown Casino to be renamed 'Jack''. Detroit News. Retrieved 2016-05-04.
9. ^Karen Farkas (March 9, 2016). 'Jack's got an attitude, unveiled at Thistledown Racino'. The Plain Dealer. Cleveland. Retrieved 2016-05-12.
10. ^Howard Stutz (January 25, 2020). 'VICI finalizes purchase of two Cleveland-area casinos; leases properties back to Jack Entertainment'. CDC Gaming Reports. Retrieved 2020-09-29.
11. ^https://twitter.com/JACKThistledown
12. ^http://www.thistledown.com/Horsemen/StakesSchedule/

External links[edit]

Jack's Casino Northfield Ohio