Northfield Park

Al Capone in Chicago? Not quite in the way you might think. Northfield Park, a thrilling harness racing track near Cleveland, Ohio, has a surprising connection to the infamous gangster. Northfield Park wasn’t always about horses. The land began as Sportsman Park in the 1920s, intended as a greyhound racing venue. Capone’s Chicago syndicate, seeing a potential goldmine, invested in the track. They hoped to sway greyhound betting legislation in their favor. The gamble failed. The legislation didn’t pass, and Sportsman Park closed in 1934. It reopened in 1936, this time as an auto racing oval. Did Capone remain involved behind the scenes? It’s possible, but the details are murky. The track thrived for 20 years before its transformation in 1956. Sportsman Park was demolished, making way for the renowned Northfield Park. Carl Milstein bought the park in 1972. He introduced nighttime racing, transforming Northfield Park into a premier entertainment destination. Northfield Park continued to evolve. In 2009, slot machines arrived, followed by a rebranding as the Hard Rock Rocksino Northfield Park in 2013. MGM acquired the property in 2018, renaming it MGM Northfield Park. Today, it boasts a blend of racing excitement and entertainment options. From a failed greyhound track with a touch of Capone to a modern entertainment complex, Northfield Park’s journey is a fascinating chapter in Cleveland’s history.