All Episodes

April 22, 2019 24 mins

 "Thistledown is part of the cultural fabric in the community," Mr. Lokke says of the 94-year-old thoroughbred racetrack and casino. 

Listen as Mr. Lokke shares the inside story on Thistledown operations. Did you know that on the property, there are 1,050 stables and dorms for some employees? He dispels some myths surrounding the video lottery terminals and he describes the excitement surrounding opening day which is Monday, April 29. 

In 2016, Mr. Lokke oversaw the racino's $70 million expansion which included a parking garage and new restaurants and sports bar. This included a rebranding at the time, too. That followed $13 million in improvements, including the expansion of an outdoor gaming patio, which opened in 2014. The racino has seen significant growth since making these changes.

Hear Mr. Lokke talk about how millenials are affecting the gaming business. "They aren't inspired by three spinning wheels," he says.   

For further detaild, visit  https://junescharf.wixsite.com/reaching-new-heights/blog/episode-31-senior-vice-president-general-manager-jack-thistledown-racino 

Mark as Played

Advertise With Us

Popular Podcasts

Stuff You Should Know
24/7 News: The Latest

24/7 News: The Latest

The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.

Dateline NBC

Dateline NBC

Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com

Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

© 2025 iHeartMedia, Inc.