The 2020-21 racing season at Hollywood Gaming Mahoning Valley Race Course came to a record setting and successful close this past Saturday.
“We are thrilled,” commented Allie Evangelista, Vice President and General Manager. “Despite the hurdles of the past year, we closed on our most successful race meet to date thanks to the continued efforts of our racing team and community.”
The 2020-2021 racing season did not disappoint and concluded with an average handle per race of $121,770, a 4.43% increase in average handle per race over the 2019-2020 racing season. During the 2021 Winter/Spring meet portion of the racing season, average handle per race came in at $131,411, with the wagering highlight coming on March 29.
In a mandatory payout of the Buckeye Jackpot Pick 6, which had grown to $343,876, the single day handle record was shattered by over $1 million. The new record stands strong at $3,095,044. 2021 also saw the introduction of the 15% takeout Pick 5 which has proven immensely popular with handicappers seeing an average pool size of nearly $30,000.
“The response from handicappers has been incredible,” says Assistant Director of Racing Elizabeth Rogers. “The team is already looking ahead to the fall meet and we are excited to explore opportunities that will improve the experience of our existing customers and entice new ones.”
In a tight race between three trainers for the 2021 Winter/Spring Leading Trainer title, it was Jeffery Radosevich who pulled away from the competition winning with four of his final five starts giving him 23 wins in the meet. When asked how many titles he has won at Mahoning he quoted his father, Joe Radosevich, “Do your job and don't count.” He may not be counting but we are, today's win makes number eleven for Radosevich who has proven dominant at Mahoning Valley since it first opening in 2014.
“Dad gave us kids the knowledge, it was our mom, Jackie, who schooled us and kept us in line,” said Radosevich. “I have to give credit to my crew, they are all good workers, and to my clients who support and believe in me.”
The jockey's race was exciting in a different way as Sonny Leon claimed the 2021 Winter/Spring Leading Jockey title with 74 wins, 17 ahead of the runner up.
“I'm excited to win my second title at Mahoning,” Leon said. “The trainers here have been extremely supportive and I am happy to have the opportunity to ride for them.”
Leon began his riding career in Florida in 2015 before bringing his tack to the Midwest where he has found success in recent years. Earlier this year he made trip number 500 to the winners circle and his mounts have surpassed $9 million in earnings.
Mahoning Valley came out strong in the Fall of 2020 by hosting the Best of Ohio stakes on October 31, five restricted Ohio Bred stakes valued at $500,000. Forewarned, for trainer Uriah St. Lewis and owner Trin-Brook Stables, Inc, successfully returned to defend his title in the mile and a quarter Best of Ohio Endurance Stake. Other winners on the day included Ohio bred 2020 champion 2-year-old male Buckeye Magic, Ohio bred 2020 champion 3-year-old male and champion sprinter Chief Randel, Alexandria, and Drillit.
In what has been a similar case for many racetracks, reopening after the pandemic shutdown proved a difficult task. Just over a week after the Best of Ohio Stakes, on November 10, Mahoning was faced with a shutdown that saw the loss of seven live racing days. Despite the setbacks, Mahoning returned on November 23, just in time to host the 6th running of the Steel Valley Sprint. In a field of 12 it would be Vertical Threat who stole the show for trainer Richard Baltas and the partnership of MyRacehorse.com and Slam Dunk Racing.
The final open stake of the season was run on April 10, the first running of the Cheryl S. White Memorial Stake, named in honor of the first African American female jockey to ride and win a Thoroughbred horse race in the United States. In a riding career that spanned more than twenty years, Cheryl won over 750 races. After riding, Cheryl continued to devote her time to the racing industry serving in various roles at the racetrack, most recently as a placing judge at Mahoning Valley. HnR Nothhaft Horse Racing LLC's Prodigy Doll skipped home as the favorite by 8 lengths for trainer Ben Colebrook giving the daughter of Shanghai Bobby her first stakes win.
The horses will return to Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course in the fall with opening day slated for Friday, October 22 and the $250,000 Steel Valley Sprint set for November 22.
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