Columbus, OH – Thomas M. Aldrich, a Trotwood, OH native passed away on Friday night, June 12.
Aldrich was inducted into the Harness Racing Hall of Fame in 2025 and the Ohio Harness Racing Hall of Fame in 1999.
After earning his undergraduate degree from Ohio State University in 1972 and a law degree from the University of Cincinnati’s College of Law in 1975, Aldrich chose a career in the harness racing industry rather than in the law.
Aldrich’s passion for harness racing came from his childhood trips to Lebanon Raceway with his father Clyde.
He got his start at Harness Tracks of America where he was hired as Stan Bergstein’s executive assistant and worked there from the fall of 1975 through January of 1977.
Alridge took a three-year break from the harness racing industry when he went to work as a law clerk at the First District Court of Appeals in Cincinnati before returning to racing.
In 1978, he became executive secretary then general manager of the Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association. That led to his first racetrack job as the general manager of Rosecroft Raceway in Maryland.
It was there that Aldrich met his wife Lynn, who worked as a patrol judge at Free State, a rival track in Laurel, Maryland.
In September 1985, he was hired as general manager at Northfield Park in Ohio where he had his greatest impact on harness racing.
According to his Hall of Fame biography, “In 1985, he partnered with owner Carl Milstein, Myron Charna, and other key team members to revitalize the Northeast Ohio half-mile track. Under his leadership, high-profile races attracted top-tier horses and competitive race cards making Northfield a premier destination for harness racing enthusiasts and bettors alike. Aldrich was a hands-on leader, ever-present from the clubhouse to the backstretch with his walkie-talkie, ensuring every aspect of the track operated smoothly.”
“Getting the Breeders Crown in 1987 was a big deal, especially for a half-mile track,” Aldrich told Bob Roberts in a Press Pros magazine story. “We ended up having six of them and I’m happy to see Scioto Downs getting next year’s Breeders Crown. The Battle of Lake Erie became our first (in 1986) signature event, followed by the Courageous Lady, the companion to the Battle for fillies.”
He was named chief operating officer and executive vice president of Northfield Park in 2000 and retired from active management in 2013. After that, Aldrich continued to contribute as an associate judge. He has also served as a director for both HTA and the United States Trotting Association.
Further details will be provided when they become available.