Belterra Park, formerly known as River Downs, is a racino located in Anderson Township, Hamilton County, Ohio, just outside the southeast limits of Cincinnati.
The race track sits right along the banks of the Ohio River, adjacent to the Coney Island water park and Riverbend Music Center.
Hall of Fame jockey Laffit Pincay, Jr. once quoted, "This is the best turf course I've ever ridden on," after he rode Highland Crystal to victory in the Budweiser Breeders' Cup there.
Spend A Buck not only won the Derby, but went on to win ten races and over $4.2 million, eventually being crowned American Horse of the Year.
River Downs Jockey Club Inc., who purchased the facility in 1975, elected to construct an entirely new grandstand, beginning immediately at the end of the 1988 racing season.
Wooden benches were replaced with well-spaced stadium seats, a game room was installed next to a new gift shop, and escalators ferry the bettors to an expanded mezzanine level which features numerous concession stands and Finnigans Pub.
In addition to the $16 million grandstand, the paddock was doubled in size, accentuating the River Downs' philosophy that fans like to be close to the horses that they will gamble their money on.
A new air-conditioning unit was installed, over 2500 television monitors were put in place, and the upper Clubhouse was extensively renovated with decor that included cherry wood and Italian marble.
In addition to a completely new lower-level Clubhouse, the backstretch underwent extensive improvements including a newly designed and renovated racing office and kitchen area.
Under new track management, the two biggest events on the stakes calendar, the Cradle and Bassinet, were canceled in 2011 to save purse money for the horsemen's account.
[5] In addition to the price of the operating business, Boyd paid $58 million for Belterra Park's real estate, financed by a loan from Gaming and Leisure Properties (GLP).
[6] The sale was required by antitrust regulators as a condition of Pinnacle's acquisition by Penn National Gaming, to preserve competition in the Cincinnati area casino market.