Lost in the mists of time is the vibrant history of Beulah Park. Today it is an upscale housing development. Almost 1000 residential units occupy these grounds. Many new families may have little knowledge of Beulah Park’s historical significance.
Beulah Park began as a community park. Adam G. Grant created it in 1889 to boost home sales. It became Grove City’s recreation center. The park hosted picnics and baseball games. It also held family and Civil War reunions. Dances, concerts and political speeches occurred here.
Competitive horse racing began around 1895 at Beulah Park. Local residents raced on an early track. The park hosted trotting and pacing horse meets. Races happened with the Grove City Community Fair. They also took place during various festivals. Before 1918, Beulah was a site for the Franklin County Fair.
Colonel James M. Westwater bought the grounds in 1918. He improved the original track. In 1922, Westwater sold Beulah Park to the Capital City Racing Association. The new owners built a half-mile track.
In 1923, the Association made Beulah Park Ohio’s first thoroughbred racing facility. That year, Dr. A. B. White became the track veterinarian. He examined over 25000 horses during his career. The first four Beulah races were on April 21, 1923.
Ohio had no laws governing races then. Wagering was illegal. Deputies often visited to curb gambling. Once they left, racing and betting resumed. Greyhound races were also held but never publicized. The sport was illegal at the time.
Beulah Park had a Cuban connection. Horsemen raced in Havana during winter. They considered Beulah between meets in Kentucky and Canada. By 1931, pari-mutuel wagering was allowed. The Ohio Racing Commission governed it.
Robert J. Dienst became involved in 1933. He bought all stock in 1937. He became president and general manager of the Beulah Park Jockey Club. Beulah’s track expanded to a one-mile oval.
Dienst wanted to create a top-notch racetrack. It became a place to see and be seen. Fans called it “Little Saratoga.” He improved the grandstands and clubhouse. In 1957, he built the first administrative building. It included hospital rooms for the track physician. Beulah Park even offered a supervised playground.
Robert Y. Dienst managed Beulah after his father’s death until 1983. George Gaulding bought the track for $4.5 million. He changed the name to Darby Downs. This name was unpopular with race fans. Beulah installed the first satellite receiving system. It allowed viewing and simulcast wagering for the Kentucky Derby.
In 1984, race information disappeared. Some records were reconstructed. In 1995, the park’s computer crashed. Many records were permanently lost. Gaulding declared bankruptcy.
Charles J. Ruma purchased the property in 1986 for $6.5 million. He restored the Beulah Park name. He renovated the park. In 1988, a mural by Fred Stone was installed.
Mike Weiss became general manager in 1996. In 1997, Beulah introduced twin sisters to boost track exposure. The Beulah Park Twins became a national hit.
Ruma sold the property to Penn National in 2010. In 2011, Penn National announced it would relocate Beulah’s racing license. In 2013, the license was moved to Youngstown.
Scott Fulton envisioned an Ohio Historical Marker for Beulah Park. The marker was dedicated in 2011.
The last official race at Beulah Park occurred on May 3, 2014. About 5000 people attended.
Today, Beulah Park is reinvented as a housing development. A municipal park is planned. This returns Beulah to its original purpose. The site was created to boost home sales.
Beulah Park hosted many local events over the years. These included fireworks shows and music festivals. A mud volleyball tournament was once the second largest in the world.
Beulah Park is now a walkable residential community. It connects Grove City’s Historic Town Center with residential areas. The park features a “finish line.” It serves as a nostalgic reminder.