Thistledown cancels week of cards amid surface concerns

All four scheduled eight-race cards from Monday through Thursday at Thistledown were cancelled amid concerns from varying parties about the surface.

Thistledown canceled racing Monday and terminated track superintendent Sean Wright, who was in his first season at the Cleveland-area racino. Thistledown planned to race Tuesday, but jockeys objected, citing concerns over rocks in the one-mile oval. Now, the track has scrapped the whole week.

"Monday was a track-management decision regarding the racing surface, and the jocks would not ride (Tuesday),” said Dav Basler, executive director of the Ohio Horsemen't Benevolent and Protective Association.

Basler said the jockeys’ primary concern was rocks in the surface, so the HPBA organized a rock-picking session after training Tuesday morning.

"We had about 50 people walking the track and removing rocks from the surface,” Basler said. “We feel good that we took care of the rock concern and are going in the right direction."

Thistledown alerted horsemen Tuesday afternoon that racing would be cancelled Wednesday and Thursday with training to resume Saturday and racing on Monday.

Neither Thistledown racing director Patrick Ellsworth nor racing secretary Patrick Mackey returned phone calls on Tuesday afternoon seeking comment.