Ohio Harness Horsemen's Association

Keidel to retire from Northfield

April 2, 2010

A familiar face at Northfield Park for three decades, including more than 22 years as the track's director of racing, Gregg Keidel is retiring this week.

Keidel, 62, won't completely call its quits. He will spend more time playing golf, poker, and with his wife, Mary, as well as doting on his kids and grandchildren. Keidel will also serve as Director of Racing at Running Aces Harness Park. The Minnesota track's three-month racing season begins June 1.

A lucky break with a young pacer thoroughly hooked Keidel on harness racing in 1979, beginning a career that began as a horse owner, trainer and driver.

"I started out in 1979 as an owner, with a small stable of horses," said Keidel. "I was learning how to train horses, and eventually got my driver's license."

When Keidel bought a $1,400 yearling named Blastabaroness, he hit the jackpot.

"I campaigned Blastabaroness at the county fairs, and won my first 14 races in a row as a driver," said Keidel. "At the end of the season, I sold her for $29,000, a nice price back then."

With a journalism background, Keidel signed on at Northfield in 1980 to work part-time in the publicity department. In 1985, he sold his small stable to become the track's full-time publicity director, moving up to racing secretary in 1987. Over the years he produced more than 60,000 races on 4,500 Northfield racing programs. He developed its most popular racing features, from the Battle of Lake Erie and Cleveland Classic to the Night of Champions.

Northfield Park had a good run under his tenure. In the 1980s through the 1990s, said Keidel, Northfield Park was second only to powerhouse The Meadowlands in New Jersey in beaming simulcast harness races around the country. He laments Ohio legislators stymied the casino-style gaming that gave harness racing a major boost in neighboring states, and lures the best race horses from Ohio.

"I sincerely hope for all of my friends in the Ohio racing business that Ohio wakes up soon and does something for horse racing," said Keidel. "We need to put horse racing back in a prominent place in Ohio, as it was a decade ago."

Keidel has fond memories of time spent in a sulky. He was National Amateur Driver of the Year in 1999, past president of the American Harness Racing Secretaries Inc., and a former Grand Circuit steward.

"I'll always be grateful to the Milstein family, who own Northfield Park, for their support," said Keidel. "Carl Milstein took a chance on me as a racing secretary, even though I had no experience."

Vice President of Racing and Simulcasting Dave Bianconi, once an assistant racing secretary under Keidel, takes over as Director of Racing. Bianconi is assisted by Pam Kenney, track announcer Ayres Ratliff and Gloria Randolph.

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Keidel to retire from Northfield