CRANWOOD RACECOURSE
The Ohio racetrack of Cranwood first opened its gates for racing in 1948 and was situated on the north side of Miles Avenue, near to both of its racecourse neighbours Thistledown and Randall Park. However, it is thought that at least one earlier track existed in the area. The 'Cranwood Racing Park' is thought to have been to the west of the better known track, but is now covered by residential housing. Furthermore, in the early part of the 20th century, circa 1918, a half mile track called 'Cranwood Driving Park' was formed on a farm in South Newburg.
One of the main races in the 1950s was the 6 and a half furlong 'Gray Ghost Gallop' which was won on 18th September 1958 by Rip Luck, owned by D E Smith, trained by C.Alongi and ridden by R.Venne. I am grateful to the trainer's son Gino Alongi for the photo shown above. One of the best trainers at the track was Ben Stutts. The photo shown above, which is of Sid's Pride winning the Bruce MacDonald Purse over 6 1/2 furlongs on 18th September 1957, was trained by Ben. It was owned by S A Alexander and ridden by J S Smith

Ben Stutts was the trainer of Flighty Lad, shown below winning a 6 furlong race on 11th September 1957. Once again Flighty Lad was owned by S A Alexander.
A memorable night for Bobbie Cook holding Samsolite, shock 45/1 winner at Cranwood. The horse was owned by Betty Steanns, ridden by Dwight Cox and trained by J.F. Santantonio. Bobbie Cook states that she is the girl in the foreground holding the horse; she admits she had short hair then and looked more like a boy. A fantastic photo nonetheless.

A tribute to Felix Fatica from his loving wife Darlene Fatica
Felix Fatica was 23 when he launched his career as a jockey, going to Arlington Park in Arlington Heights, near Chicago, travelling from his home in Cleveland, starting out older than most of his contemporaries. He had been a secretary at Lincoln Electric and then served for a time in the Army. At Arlington he became a Bug Boy, living above a Tack room, and gained his inaugural win on a horse named Dawn of Chi at Sportsman's Park, appropriately enough near Chicago. His future wife, Darlene, was just one year old when Felix began his journey as a jockey, he being 22 years older than her. Indeed, she had just graduated from High School when he rode his last race. In later shared moments together Felix recalled that his favourite horse was Sol Invictus, a multiple winner for him, but he also had a fondness for Risky Rebel, who loved the mud, which was just as well as he won at Waterford Park, well-known for being muddy. Besides Sportsman's Park (now demolished), he rode at Ascot Park in Cuyahoga Falls (an industrial park now), Cranwood Park, (an industrial park now), Randall Park, Sunshine Park which is now Tampa Bay Downs, Thistledown Race Track, Tropical Park and Waterford Park. Felix’s daughter, Nancy, was born across the Ohio River in Steubenville, which also happened to be the birthplace of Dean Martin.
In 2002, still little, still thin, but still handsome, he returned to his beloved Arlington Park. In 2020 Darlene lovingly recalls, 'I sang to him as he passed away, which is how we had begun our journey together in the first place. We met in the Brecksville Broadview Heights Community Chorus, I was singing, 'All I ask of you', from Phantom of the Opera. We married 6 months later on October 19, 1996. Sadly, Felix died during Covid. When I finally was able to get into his room, he of course, was unconscious & breathing fast & shallow. I told him to slow his breathing & go into the arms of the Angels. I then sang to him a song from the end of the musical, 'Civil War' where an Angel comes to take the fallen home. As I sang, he slowed his breathing. When I was done, he took 3 more breaths and passed away.' I was so thankful for the time I was able to spend with him in his last few moments on this earth.

The final meeting took place on 31st October 1962 and consisted of a nine race card, culminating in the running of the $2000 Appreciation Day Handicap over 6 furlongs.There is little evidence of the previous existence of a racecourse, the land now being covered by Cranwood Parkway Industrial site.
If you have badges, racecards, pictures of the racecourse or further details about the course, including your memories, then email johnwslusar@gmail.com