BEULAH PARK
“AND THEY’RE OFF” – This sculpture greets you as you enter the new Beulah Park Living area. Designed and created by Craig W. Murdick.
Home Stretch - 1926
Early Beulah Park Grandstand
Race fans at Beulah Park
The Era of Beulah Park
Grove City is Ohio’s birthplace for both thoroughbred and greyhound racing. Race fans frequently spent their afternoons at Beulah Park with the Sport of Kings then crossed town for evening greyhound races, the Sport of Queens.
Beulah’s heritage began when Adam G. Grant created a housing subdivision in 1889 located west of the railroad tracks and downtown business district. The land was once owned by William Foster Breck, the founding father of Grove City. Grant also created a community park to help boost home sales. The park, named for Grant’s daughter, also became the recreation center for Grove City. For many years the site hosted a variety of events including picnics, revivals, baseball games, family and Civil War reunions, dances, concerts and political speeches.
The earliest mention of competitive horse racing dates to 1895, when local residents raced on an early track. The park also once hosted trotting and pacing horse meets. Races were also common in conjunction with the Grove City Community Fair and various festivals. Prior to 1918, Beulah was also an intermittent site for the Franklin County Fair.
In 1918, Colonel James M. Westwater purchased the grounds and began making improvements to the original track. Westwater sold the property to the Capital City Racing Association in 1922 and the new owners built a half mile track. A year later, in 1923, the Association established Beulah Park as Ohio’s first thoroughbred racing facility. That same year, a young veterinary doctor visited the track and overheard a conversation that the track needed “a veterinarian quick.” Dr. A. B. White introduced himself and was hired on the spot. During his career he examined more than 25,000 horses.
The first four Beulah races were held April 21, 1923 on a new half mile track. During those early years, Beulah Park wasn’t widely known and even the official Daily Racing Forum didn’t acknowledge the name. Throughout most of the first year, the newspaper reported Beulah Park race results under the name “Columbus.”
The track operated on a haphazard basis because Ohio had no laws governing races. At the same time, wagering in the state was illegal. Deputies from the Franklin County Sheriff’s office were frequent “visitors” at the track to curb gambling but once law enforcement left, race operations and betting resumed. Greyhound races were also held at Beulah but were never publicized because at the time that entire sport was illegal.
Beulah also once had a Cuban connection. Horsemen who raced in Havana during the winter were considering other tracks to fill in between meets in Kentucky and Canada. At the time, the only other potential Midwest track was in Chicago but Beulah won out. By 1931 pari-mutuel wagering was allowed for horse racing and was governed by the Ohio Racing Commission.
In 1932, races were planned for spring and fall but the season was cancelled because legislative action to regulate racing was under consideration. Columbus contractor, Robert J. Dienst, became involved in park operations in 1933, according to racing records. Dienst purchased all outstanding stock in 1937 becoming the sole owner serving as president and general manager for the Beulah Park Jockey Club. Beulah’s track was expanded to a one-mile oval.
Dienst had a vision of creating one of the nation’s most outstanding race tracks. It became a place to see and be seen. It was also recognized by race fans as the “Little Saratoga.” Dienst spared no expense to provide first class races and as a result many fans also compared it to Belmont Park.
Dienst loved horses, people, racing and often could be found mingling among the crowds. He invested in the property improving the grandstands, clubhouse and built the first administrative building in 1957 with hospital rooms for the track physician. At one point, Beulah offered a supervised playground for children while parents watched races. Facilities for jockeys were equipped with new showers, toilets, steam rooms and a laundry. Representatives of the Jockeys Guild called Beulah’s accommodations among the best in the country. Dienst operated the track until his death Aug. 19, 1959. He once had ownership at Ascot Park and River Downs but he sold his stock to concentrate entirely on Beulah.
Robert Y. Dienst took over for his father and managed Beulah until 1983 when the track was sold to George Gaulding for $4.5 million. One of Gaulding’s first moves was to change the name to Darby Downs, a name that never registered with race fans. Also, that year, Beulah installed the first satellite receiving system that allowed viewing and simulcast wagering for the Kentucky Derby and Triple Crown.
In 1984, decades of race information and records disappeared and Darby Downs management was blamed. Some records of horse winning percentages from the Beulah Park era were reconstructed and computerized but in 1995, the park’s mainframe computer crashed and many records were permanently lost. Gaulding was forced into bankruptcy heavily in debt to a local bank and suppliers. He also owed $200,000 to the Dienst family.
A new owner stepped forward in 1986. Charles J. Ruma, a local real-estate developer and horse race enthusiast, purchased the 213-acre property for $6.5 million and returned the Beulah Park name. He operated under the name the Heartland Jockey Club Limited. He spent over $12 million on renovations including a new outdoor paddock area, track resurfacing and construction of a new administration building. In 1988, a mural painted by the legendary Fred Stone was installed at the grand entrance to Beulah Park.
Mike Weiss joined the Ruma team in 1987 as racing secretary becoming the general manager in 1996. Weiss was given a virtual free management hand by Ruma. Beulah and other tracks around the country experienced a decline in the racing industry as early as 1990. Competition for the entertainment dollar was fierce. In 1997, Beulah introduced twin sisters in an effort to boost the track exposure for their simulcast signal. The Beulah Park Twins were a national hit. Newspaper and magazine articles and personal appearances in racing circles helped bring a new nationwide audience to Beulah. The television program Extra also did a segment on the twins and their handicapping prowess.
Ruma sold the property to Penn National, the largest operator of racetracks in the country. According to real estate records, the price was $20,328,000, the fifth largest real estate transaction in Franklin County in 2010. Some records indicate the selling price was $37 million. The following year, Penn National announced it would relocate Beulah’s racing license to Dayton. In 2013, Penn announced it would instead move the license to a track in the Youngstown area. This eliminated any potential chance of restoring regular thoroughbred racing in Grove City. Penn didn’t want Beulah Park competing with their nearby Hollywood Casino.
Grove City resident Scott Fulton envisioned the need for an Ohio Historical Marker for Beulah Park. In 2010, he dressed as a jockey and positioned himself in front of the Welcome Center and Museum collecting coins and dollar bills. By the end of the day, he was disappointed he had less than $100 and a sunburn. Approached by James Hale, he was asked if he would partner with the historical society. He agreed and within a year Scott’s effort became reality. The marker was dedicated Oct. 29, 2011 with B. J. Roach, a member of the Ohio Racing Commission, as emcee. On Nov. 12, the unveiling ceremony of the marker was held at Beulah Park.
The 2013 race season occurred under the umbrella of River Downs. The Cincinnati track had been forced to vacate their facility that year while a new casino and race track were under construction at Ohio’s queen city.
The last official race at Beulah under its license occurred May 3, 2014. An estimated 5,000 attended the final run with a meager $90,000 in wagers. That date mirrored the running of the 140th Kentucky Derby.
Beulah Park Final Stretch Video
This video highlights the closing ceremony and the final days of operation of Beulah Park.
Video courtesy of the City of Grove City, Ohio and video editing by Derek Bowshier.
Frank Kass of Continental Real Estate entered into a contract with Penn National in 2014 to purchase the Beulah property. Joe Ciminello, developer for the Pinnacle Golf Course and community, also announced plans for creation of high-end housing and multi-family homes at Beulah. Ciminello didn’t have a contract with Continental. By August, Kass pulled out of his contract with Penn because he felt three of the five city council members expressed more interest in Ciminello’ plan. Both proposals were eventually set aside.
Pat Kelly of Falco, Smith & Kelly Ltd purchased the property in 2017 under the name GC Beulah Park Investments. His development plan, approved by the Grove City Planning Commission, included nine sub areas with plans for a 29-acre municipal park. Several local builders, including Pulte Homes, Schottenstein Homes and Epcon expressed an interest in being involved in the development.
Beulah Park Reinvented
Today, Beulah Park is an upscale housing development. Nearly 1,000 residential units occupy the grounds and many of the new families who reside on the 213-acre site may have little knowledge of its historical significance. It was developed with walkability in mind with paved trails skirting the property. It also offers connectivity with the Town Center helping to bring new life to the birthplace of Grove City. In addition, the park will feature a 1,500 square foot commercial area that includes a medical complex facing Southwest Boulevard. In 2021, Grove City issued notes in the amount of $9 million for park development. Plans called for an amphitheater, playgrounds, shelter houses, a fitness station and pickleball courts.
There’s one fact easily overlooked. Beulah is returning to its original purpose. The site was created in the late 1800s as a community park designed to boost the sale of homes in Grove City’s first sub-division. Beulah has returned to its heritage as a municipal park housing development.
The sale of the race track and property had an immediate impact on the city. Beulah Park had been over the years host to a variety of local events. A sampling includes:
The Blast at Beulah, one of the largest suburban fireworks shows in Central Ohio. The last year for fireworks attracted so many visitors that the 3,000-vehicle parking lot had to close.
Balloons-n-Tunes, the rebirth of the Big Bear Balloon Festival, drew thousands from throughout the Midwest.
Mud Volleyball Tournament was once the second largest of its kind in the world.
Country Music Festival, sponsored by a Columbus radio station, drew thousands of fans from the region.
Motorcycle Races occurred over the years with one competitive biker traveling from Washington state.
Timeline for Beulah Park
1880 – Adam Grant begins to purchase property west of the railroad
1889 – Earliest recorded mention of Beulah as a community park
1903 – Formal dances were held at the park
1918 – James M. Westwater purchased Beulah Park from Grant
1922 – Capital City Racing Association purchased track from Westwater; built a half mile track
1923 – Beulah Park identified as first thoroughbred racing facility in Ohio
1925 – Heavy snow halted racing for three days
1932 – State sanctions stop all races
1933 – Racing returns; wagering regulations approved by legislature
1933 – Robert J. Dienst and others purchase Beulah Park
1933 – Half mile oval created
1935 – Three quarter mile oval track in operation
1937 – Robert J. Dienst purchased all of the Beulah outstanding stock
1937 – Track operated with a one-mile oval
1940 – Daily track survey showed fans from 19 states and 238 cities
1943 – Jockey Eddie Yocum rode six winners in five succession races, a record at Beulah
1954 – One day record attendance May 15 was 11,772
1959 – Robert J. Dienst died, son Robert Y. took over management
1959 – Forty horses killed in a barn fire, one of several fires at the track
1960 – Robert J. Dienst honored with first running of a Dienst Memorial Handicap race
1983 – George Gaulding purchased Beulah Park for $4.5 million, renamed it Darby Downs
1983 – Installed the first satellite receiving system for Triple Crown event
1983 – Beulah, first Ohio track to offer simulcast wagering at Kentucky Derby
1984 – Decades of Beulah Park race records lost when removed from the property
1986 – Charlie Ruma purchases property for $6.5 million; Beulah Park name restored
1986 – $12 million renovation project began
1986 – New track resurfacing, new outdoor paddock area, new administration building
1990 – Nationwide track operators notice a decline in interest in horse racing
1993 – Beulah was the first track in Ohio to offer telephone betting on local and national races
1997 – Twins, Katie and Jenna Felty, made debuts in an effort to boost Beulah’s simulcast
2000 – The Beulah Park Twins popularity gains a national audience
2000 – AmericaTab, a phone and computer wagering service was founded by Ruma and others
2010 – Scott Fulton initiates a campaign for an Ohio Historic Marker for Beulah Park
2010 – Heartland Jockey Club Limited sold Beulah Park to Penn National for $20,328,000
2011 – Beulah dedication ceremony Oct. 29 at the Grove City Welcome Center and Museum
2011 – An unveiling ceremony of the marker was held at Beulah Park in November
2011 -- Penn National announced it would move Beulah’s racing license to Dayton
2013 – Penn changed direction sending Beulah’s license to a new track in Youngstown
2013 – River Downs held its race card at Beulah due to construction
2013 – Ted Berry: City should purchase site as recreation center, government complex
2014 – Final day of racing at Beulah Park was May 3 the same day as the Kentucky Derby
2014 – Nearly 5,000 attend the last race; a meager $90,000 was wagered
2014 – Before Beulah Park closed, it had gained popularity via the Internet in England
2014 – Frank Kass of Continental Real Estate signed contract to purchase the property
2014 – Joe Ciminello Development introduced plans: 200 single, 800 multi-family homes
2014 – Kass vacates his plan; majority of council members favored Ciminello’s plan
2014 – Beulah purchased by developer Pat Kelley of Falco, Smith and Kelley Ltd
2017 – Development plans approved by the Grove City Planning Commission
2021 – Grove City issued notes in the amount of $9 million for park development
Colt Kept in Basement of Roach Home
Why would someone name a colt Cellar Dweller? The story begins in 1960 when a two-day old colt refused to nurse other mares after its mother died at a London farm owned by J. B. Roach. Roach took drastic action to save the animal and instructed his son to put the foal in the basement of their home. Roach’s son, Bobby, took over and tried numerous experiments to encourage the young horse to eat and drink. Soon the crisis passed and it was time to name the colt. The cellar dweller became known in racing circles as Cellar Dweller. It went on to race under the colors of the Gallagher and Roach Stable, both men longtime friends. Gallagher was once an assistant coach for the Cleveland Browns and later the manager of the Buffalo Bills.
Article written in 2024 by James F. Hale from records of the Southwest Franklin County Historical Society in June 2024
Other sources include:
Colonel Paul Grossman, Grove City historian, track official
Beulah Park history, Don Reed, Beulah Park Jockey Club
Grove City Area Visitors and Convention Bureau
Brad Schmaltz, article, Columbus Dispatch
The Associated Press
Jane Schmidt, article, The Grove City Record
Janet Shailer, SWFCHS
Jeff Bell, article, Business First
The Racing Forum
Lori Smith, article, The Grove City News
