DAYTON – Greenville’s Len Nealeigh, Director of Operations and owner of Western Ohio Motor Sports made history by bringing the first-ever Motorcycle Flat Track Racing to Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway.
“I’m the guinea pig,” Nealeigh said. “I am the very first person in the world to try this at this type of horse track; it’s the first time ever.”
Nealeigh has spent the last three years working for Hollywood Gaming on the 5/8th-mile horse track and the past 45 days getting the track ready for Saturday night’s motorcycle racing, giving management confidence that Nealeigh could promote the race without ruining the track for future horse racing.
“I came down 45 consecutive days to prep this track from 6 p.m. to 12 p.m. when I got home in the evening for 45 consecutive days,” stated Nealeigh. “That’s a lot of commitment, but I am happy I could do it.”
In the three years working the track at Hollywood Gaming, Nealeigh has learned the art of caring for the track and getting it in perfect horse racing condition, including grading, dragging, and watering it between races.
“I had 180,000 gallons of water on this track before we started racing today,” he noted.
Only three weeks a year, the track is available for anything other than horse racing.
“This racetrack is only available three weekends to pull off this motorcycle race: last weekend, this weekend, and next weekend,” Nealeigh explained. “It’s the only time because it’s too soft in the spring, and then we’re getting ready for horse racing for the second week of August.”
Perfect weather greeted Nealeigh, his staff, and motorcycle racing fans for the history-making event.
“Look what I got for working here for three years,” Nealeigh said. “I’m very pleased with the turnout – the riders love the track. It’s a beautiful day; I could not ask for a better day.”
