History
The grounds began as a recreational park in a late-19th-century subdivision and hosted county fair events before the Capital City Racing Association opened a Thoroughbred track in 1923. Pari-mutuel betting started in 1931, and in 1983 Beulah was the first Ohio track to simulcast the Kentucky Derby.
Penn National Gaming bought the track in 2010 and moved its racing license to a new venue near Youngstown, so Beulah's final live meet ended in spring 2014. Grove City approved a redevelopment plan in 2017, and residents began moving into the new neighborhood in 2021.
Why it matters: It was Ohio's first Thoroughbred racetrack and ran for 91 years.
Timeline
- 1923
The Capital City Racing Association founded Beulah Park, Ohio's first Thoroughbred track.
- 1983
Beulah became the first Ohio track to simulcast the Kentucky Derby.
- May 3, 2014
Penn National ended live racing after moving its license to the Youngstown area.
- December 4, 2017Redevelopment approved[1]
Grove City's planning commission approved development plans for the 220-acre site.
The site today
| Physical status | Site redeveloped |
|---|---|
| Current use | Residential and mixed-use neighborhood with park land; first residents arrived in 2021[1] |
| Mapped location | Former venue site |
Street View near the former site · Satellite view (external, current imagery)
Venue facts
| Other names | Darby Downs (1983–1985) |
|---|---|
| Location | Grove City, Ohio |
| Venue type | Racetrack |
| Sports | Horse racing |
| Level | Thoroughbred, Quarter Horse |
| Opened | 1923[1,2,3] |
| Last used for sports | May 3, 2014[1,3] |
| Physical status | Site redeveloped |
| Owner / operator | Dienst family (1923-1983); Penn National Gaming (from 2010) |
| Closure | Owner Penn National Gaming relocated its racing license to a new racino near Youngstown. |
Documented details
- The track was briefly renamed Darby Downs after a 1983 sale.[1]
Sources
- Beulah Park racetrack, Wikipedia. Accessed 2026-10-19Supports: closed, coordinates, current land use, events, opened
- Beulah Park historical marker, Historical Marker Database. Accessed 2026-10-19Supports: events, opened
- Beulah Park Shuts Down After 91 Years Of Horseracing, WOSU Public Media. Accessed 2026-10-19Supports: closed, opened
Research confidence
Some facts on this page rely on a single source or are still being corroborated. Treat specific dates and figures with care. Last reviewed 2026-10-19.
Where sources disagree (1)
- Wikipedia gives May 3, 2014 as the last live racing day, but WOSU (published May 2, 2014) reported a farewell the previous weekend.
See something wrong or missing? Suggest a correction or submit a source.