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If you drove past the gold lion this week and noticed it was gone… don’t panic. You’ve just witnessed the birth of Ohio’s Northfield Park Racino.
As of April 22, 2026, the “MGM” era officially came to an end. The new owners, Clairvest Group, have stepped in to take the property back to its roots.
They aren’t just changing the letterhead; they are stripping away the Vegas glitter to reveal the 59-year-old local racing vibe.
“The new brand identity supports the property’s continued growth and evolution. Northfield Park is Ohio’s premier gaming entertainment venue, featuring a wide array of VLTs, dining options, live harness racing, and exciting shows in a great community. We are dedicated to continuing this legacy while infusing more excitement by introducing more VLTs, rewards, and offers,” Kevin Brady, general manager of Northfield Park Racino, said.
The makeover: 75 days to a new identity
The rebrand is an unashamed love letter to Northfield Village. The new logo ditches the roaring lion for a tribute to the venue’s heritage in harness racing.
While the full exterior makeover is expected to take about 75 days, the inside is already getting all set.
Here is the “more is more” breakdown of the new floor:
- The VLTs: They are adding 300 new video lottery terminals.
- NP rewards: A brand-new, five-tier players club has launched. If you were a regular under the old regime, your status, points, and benefits have all been ported over to the new system like a smooth software update.
- The sportsbook: There’s a new Caesars in-person sportsbook being opened inside the racino as well.
- The grand opening: While the doors are open now, a “proper” bash with special events and promotions is coming up soon.
Could PPG be horse racing’s best shot at staying relevant?
So, what is next for brands like Northfield? If you want to see the future of horse racing, you have to look at Parimutuel-Powered Gaming (PPG).
Right now, horse racing is facing a bit of an identity crisis. Younger fans often find traditional betting a little too “math-heavy” and slow. That is where PPG comes in to save the day.
PPG can be likened to the cool cousin of horse racing. It takes the actual math and the live pools of a horse race and hides them inside a video game.
Instead of staring at a program trying to figure out which horse has the best knees, a PPG setup lets you play a nice-looking online game on your phone or a terminal.
Every time you hit “Spin,” the system is actually placing a real parimutuel bet on a race. You get the fun of a video game, but the money is fueling the local racing industry.
