Hard Rock and Northfield Park March 6 2014.jpg

The glitzy new Hard Rock Rocksino seems to have stolen the spotlight from the harness racing at Northfield Park, but not for long, says owner Brock Milstein. He has a two-year master plan that will focus on the rejuvenation of horse racing.

(D'Arcy Egan / The Plain Dealer)

NORTHFIELD, Ohio – It might appear the success of the new Hard Rock Rocksino has put harness racing on the back burner at Northfield Park, but owner Brock Milstein says the best is yet to come for fans of trotters and pacers.

Video display terminals, or slots, and new entertainment options have fueled the explosion of the Rocksino. The 200,000-square-foot complex includes 2,200 slot machines, restaurants, a 2,200-seat concert area and, starting Saturday, the comedy venue Club Velvet.

It has been a financial success for Milstein, who owns 80 percent of the track and the Rocksino. Milstein is now working on a master plan to improve standardbred racing.

Milstein said the apparent disconnect between Northfield Park and the Rocksino isn’t a permanent condition, but during this year’s bitterly cold winter it was quite noticeable. There is no indoor or covered walkway from the Rocksino, which sprawls in front of the harness racing plant.

Milstein is exploring the creation of an off-track betting area inside the Rocksino. He plans to upgrade promotions of horse races held four weekday nights all year round. Making its debut Aug. 15 is Northfield Park’s richest race, the $500,000 Carl Milstein Memorial Pace for three-year-olds.

A prominent developer, Carl Milstein and other investors purchased the racetrack in 1972. Milstein became owner-operator in 1984. Brock Milstein took over after his father’s death in 1999.

“Horse racing is extremely important to us,” Milstein said. “It will add as much bang for the buck as the investments we’ve made in the Rocksino. You can’t expect it to happen overnight, after spending more than $250 million to get the Rocksino up and running in less than a year.

“Northfield Park is not going to take a back seat, but we are concerned about going too fast and hurting both operations. We’ve now become a great entertainment destination. Over time, you’re going to see us build the racing operation back to where it should be.”

Race purses have substantially gone up at Northfield Park with slots revenue, the quality of horseflesh has improved, but there has been a lack of horse racing fans. At the same time, the Rocksino music venues and restaurants have been crowded and slots fans are in abundance.

“I think we have a proven track record after owning a race track for 40 years and managing it for 30 years,” said Milstein. “Commercial racing operations first have to be healthy in order for all of the other things happening around the state to improve.”

That includes an increase in standardbred training and breeding operations and support for the agricultural community.

Northfield Park’s 213-night season is the longest, by far, of any of Ohio’s seven horse racing tracks. Combined with over-sized 15-race programs, the racing is designed to drive simulcast betting. Northfield’s races are electronically exported all around the globe, with the track getting a slice of that wagering.

“We’d prefer to have on-track business versus simulcast business,” said Milstein. “It’s better for a variety of reasons. I believe over time, with the right opportunities and horsemen who have faith in us, we’ll be in a position to grow that business again.

“We have a year-round barn area, a backstretch with size and amenities that set us apart from other Ohio tracks,” he said. “The best is yet to come as we work to make the most of the opportunities the state has given us.”