Thistledown plans to resume training Saturday, racing Monday

After losing four days of racing and a week of training, Thistledown expects to resume training Saturday with live racing Monday.

The Cleveland-area track cancelled live racing Monday through Thursday amid surface concerns especially related to rocks. The Ohio Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association organized tours of the track in which horsemen picked rocks out of the surface.

Thistledown terminated track superintendent Sean Wright on Monday and spent the week implementing suggestions from the Horseracing Safety and Integrity Authority.

"HISA raised serious concerns with the Thistledown track surface after receiving on-site assessments from HISA personnel," a HISA spokesperson said in a statement released to Horse Racing Nation. "Acting on these concerns, HISA directed track management to take immediate action. This led to the hiring of a new, more experienced superintendent."

Wright disputed those claims, telling Horse Racing Nation on Thursday that an acrimonial relationship with his crew led to work not getting done properly. In particular, Wright pointed to repeated requests that his team water the track more, and Wright said those would go ignored. 

"When I started the position, drainage on the racetrack was nonexistent," Wright said. "We worked hard to improve the drainage. The rock situation here is not worse than any other track. There were rocks alongside the inside rail but not on the racetrack.

"It came down to not being able to get my crew to cooperate with me. I called for water and they wouldn't do it. I went to track management and the stewards because I wanted a safe surface and ended up getting thrown under the bus."

Andrew Jackson of the Racing Surfaces Testing Laboratory was at Thistledown on July 21 to test the surface.

"At HISA's urging, the RSTL was contacted to conduct a thorough on-site evaluation of the track," the HISA statement says. "Following further discussions with HISA, Thistledown management elected to cancel racing to allow for necessary sufrace improvements.

"HISA continues to work closely with Thistledown's leadership and the new track superintendent to implement required improvements to ensure a consistent racing surface."

Neither Thistledown racing director Patrick Ellsworth nor racing secretary Patrick Mackey returned multiple phone calls throughout the week seeking comment. There is no word yet on making up the lost four days of racing, but Ohio Racing Commission Executive Director Chris Dragone said regulators are ready to work with the track and horsemen.

"Things certainly have changed since HISA came on board," Dragone said. "They have a world-class inspection team, and my hat is off to both HISA and track management. They attacked the problem and improving the situation. The Commission is in constant touch with the stakeholders and there won't be any problem when the time comes to add races and days."

Wright said that this situation has cost him future job opportunities, but he stands behind his ability and committment to maintaining fair and safe surfaces.

"This is more than just a job for me," Wright said. "I take a lot of pride in being able to keep a track safe and getting horses and riders home every day."

The "new, more experienced superintendent" HISA references is David Ellsworth, father of Racing Director Patrick Ellsworth and longtime overseer of the Thistledown surface before his retirement last year.