River Downs Horseracing
River Downs is a thoroughbred horseracing facility in Cincinnati, Ohio with two tracks.
Located only minutes from downtown Cincinnati along the scenic Ohio River, the track has a warm and friendly atmosphere that complements its state-of-the-art wagering facility.
River Downs's live racing season is held from early April through early September. As one of Ohio's premier horseracing tracks, River Downs hosts many of the state's biggest and most prestigious stakes events, among them are the MGD Cradle Stakes, Pepsi Bassinet Stakes, Buckeye Native Stakes, Miss Southern Ohio Stakes, Queen City Oaks, Hoover Stakes and the Vivacious Handicap.
Today, this historic Cincinnati landmark continues to build on its rich racing legacy under a vibrant new identity. Following a massive $200 million transformation, the facility officially rebranded as Belterra Park Gaming & Entertainment Center. This complete modernization preserved the track's beloved, scenic riverfront atmosphere while introducing an entirely redesigned one-mile dirt track, an upgraded seven-furlong turf course, and a state-of-the-art gaming floor. Though the name on the grandstand has changed, the venue remains a premier destination for live Ohio Thoroughbred racing, seamlessly blending decades of sporting tradition with a first-class, modern entertainment experience.
River Downs Facts
- Track: One mile, oval with two chutes (¾ and 1¼ miles)
- Width of track: 80 feet all around
- Distance from last turn to finish line: 1,117
- Turf course: 7 furlongs
- Seating capacity (Grandstand): about 8,500
- Seating capacity (clubhouse): about 850
- Stable accommodations: 1,350
River Downs Records
| DIST | HORSE | AGE | WGT | REC | DATE |
| 4 1/2 Furs. | Sans Terre | 2 | 119 | :52.2 | May 24, 1971 |
| 5 Furs. | Banker's Forbes | 5 | 117 | :57.3 | June 7, 1994 |
| 5 1/2 Furs. | Tazaua | 4 | 120 | 1:03 | Aug. 1, 1964 |
| 6 Furs. | Francine M. | 5 | 124 | 1:08.3 | July 4, 1969 |
| 1 Mile | Alladin Rib | 3 | 119 | 1:36.1 | Aug. 8, 1988 |
| 1 M 70 Yds | South Dakota | 3 | 122 | 1:40 | Aug. 4, 1945 |
| 1 1/16 Miles | Irish Dude | 5 | 126 | 1:41.4 | July 5, 1969 |
| 1 1/8 Miles | Brown Sugar | 3 | 114 | 1:49 | Sep. 2, 1925 |
| 1 1/4 Miles | Crusader | 3 | 126 | 2:02 | July 24, 1926 |
| 1 1/2 Miles | South Dakota | 8 | 116 | 2:30.3 | July 1, 1950 |
| 1 5/8 Miles | Sada | 8 | 115 | 2:45.3 | Oct. 13, 1994 |
| 1 11/16 Miles | Distribute | 9 | 109 | 2:51.3 | Sep. 7, 1940 |
| 1 3/4 Miles | Brigler | 6 | 109 | 2:59.3 | Oct. 19, 1940 |
| 1 7/8 Miles | Shot Bills | 7 | 113 | 3:26.3 | Aug. 19, 1979 |
| Turf Course |
| DIST | HORSE | AGE | WGT | REC | DATE |
| 4 1/2 Furs. | Adena | 4 | 110 | :50.4 | May 26, 1977 |
| 5 Furs. | Hobbs | 4 | 122 | :56.1 | Sep. 1, 1991 |
| 7 1/2 Furs | Stormy Deep | 3 | 117 | 1:28.2 | Aug 15, 1990 |
| 1 Mile | Bad News Blues | 3 | 119 | 1:34.1 | July 23, 1994 |
| 1 1/16 Miles | Franchise Player | 5 | 112 | 1:40.3 | June 12, 1994 |
| 1 3/8 Miles | Amberbee | 4 | 115 | 2:15.4 | July 1, 1972 |
| 1 7/16 Miles | Dina's Pl'ymate | 11 | 120 | 2:25 | Aug. 30, 1969 |
| 1 1/2 Miles | Rebel Thunder | 4 | 116 | 2:28 | June 28, 1996 |
| 1 7/8 Miles | Big Bettor | 5 | 122 | 3:10.1 | May 31, 1986 |
| 2 1/4 Miles | Buteo | 6 | 122 | 3:48.2 | Sep. 3, 1990 |
History of River Downs
1925 - On July 6, the Coney Island racetrack attracted a crowd of 10,000 who wagered $83,000 on the inaugural day seven race card.
1926 - The Cincinnati Derby attracted Belmont Stakes winner Display and American Derby winner Boot to Boot.
1935 - Three-year-old fillies Myrtlewood and Clang met on a so-called "grudge match" that saw Clang reversing Myrtlewood's win just three weeks earlier at Hawthorne Park.
1936 - The legendary Seabiscuit made two appearances at the track.
1937 - After the big flood, the track re-opened under the new name of "River Downs."
1956 - The seven furlong turf course was created, making River Downs the 13th track in America with a grass racing strip.
1976 - On May 17, the eighth race of the day launched the career of Steve Cauthen. Fondly called "The Kid", he went on to become the leading apprentice and rider at River Downs that season. Two years later, he teamed up with Affirmed and became the youngest rider to sweep the Triple Crown.
1989 - The grandstand was reconstructed. Soon after that, the clubhouse was upgraded.
1996 - Ohio legislation finally allowed for Full Card simulcasting. Horseracing from across the nation was broadcast over a new 500 set state-of-the-art television system.
2000 - The 2000 edition of the Miller Genuine Draft had the deepest field ever to compete. The race produced three graded stakes winners and one of the best runners of this generation, Harlan's Holiday.
2011 — The track entered a major transitional phase in January when it was acquired by Pinnacle Entertainment for approximately $45 million, setting the stage for a massive redevelopment under Ohio's newly expanding gaming legislation.
2013 — Live racing at the physical Cincinnati property was put on hold to accommodate a complete demolition of the historic facilities. To maintain the racing schedule during construction, the 2014 live racing dates were temporarily relocated to Beulah Park near Columbus. In October of this year, management announced that the property would officially debut under the name Belterra Park.
2014 — On May 8, the venue celebrated its grand reopening as Belterra Park Gaming & Entertainment Center. The $200 million overhaul completely transformed the site into a state-of-the-art racino, featuring a brand-new one-mile dirt track, an upgraded seven-furlong turf course, and a modern 1,500-terminal gaming floor.
2018 — A significant corporate transition took place in October when Boyd Gaming Corporation acquired the operating assets of the facility, bringing the historic Ohio racing venue into its national portfolio of entertainment properties.