About Us
Raceway Park is a harness racing track located in Toledo, Ohio less than a half mile from the state border with Michigan. The five-eighths mile track has live harness racing from April through October, and in 2008 is in the midst of an 84 night live racing schedule.
Raceway Park was built in 1959 by the Jechura family and was originally a car track. In the late ‘50’s the facility was converted to thoroughbred horse racing, and in 1962 Raceway Park hosted its first harness race. Over the years, harness racing champions such as Ramblin’ Willie, Mack Lobell and Shady Daisy have competed at the north Toledo oval, and well known horsemen such as Chuck Sylvester, John Campbell, Carl Allen, Doug Ackerman and Chris Boring have raced here.
In 1988, “Shake” Jechura sold Raceway Park to the partnership of Arnold Stansely, Cheri Lenavitt and Jack Lenavitt. That trio presided over Raceway Park during an era that saw Grand Circuit racing and full card simulcasting come to Toledo. Also, Raceway Park established Ohio’s first and only off track betting parlor, Cedar Downs, during their tenure. In 2005, the racetrack was purchased by Penn National Gaming, and is now a member of its stable of seven racetracks, five off-track wagering sites and nineteen gaming facilities.
Raceway Park hosts the annual Buckeye-Wolverine Pace, which has predicted the winner of the Ohio state-Michigan football game with an amazing 78% accuracy. The track also features multiple legs of the Ohio Sires Stakes, as well as the Champion of Champions event for the first time in 2008.