Columbus, OH — Louis “Lou” Edward Carlo, 87, of Lebanon, Ohio, who over his career in harness racing owned and operated several racetracks, including Lebanon Raceway and Northville Downs in Michigan, died Aug. 8, 2021.

Mr. Carlo’s legacy lives on through his sons, John, Ed and Mike, and daughter, Helen, who manage Northville Downs. Lebanon Raceway transitioned into Miami Valley Gaming, which opened in 2014, but was subsequently sold by the Carlo family to the partnership of Delaware North and Churchill Downs.

That wasn’t the first time Mr. Carlo conducted business with Churchill Downs as it was he who originally owned the first pari-mutuel license to build a racetrack in Indiana before selling that license in 1992 to the Louisville, Ky.-based corporation. Two years later Churchill Downs opened Hoosier Park, the first racetrack outside Kentucky owned by Churchill Downs since 1939.

“Dad went on to work with Churchill on that project, but it was our license that we sold to them,” said Mr. Carlo’s son, John.

Working alongside his mentor and uncle John J. Carlo at Lebanon and Northville Downs, as well as Buffalo Raceway, Mr. Carlo also helped run meets at Maywood Park in partnership with the late Sid Anton. Mr. Carlo’s expertise was in the mutuel department, according to John.

“Dad was a mutuel manager; he was a mutuels and numbers guy,” he said. “And he was really good on that end of it.”

“There wasn’t a better person to run a racetrack than my dad,” said Mr. Carlo’s son, Mike. “He was an incredible businessman who knew everything about horse racing, but he was also a hell of a horseplayer. He loved to play with the customers. And he loved to own horses and he loved to watch them race.”

Mr. Carlo was also the Harness Tracks of America’s representative to the 1995 Committee that was instrumental in paving the way for simulcasting at the racetracks.

“I’m very proud of the fact that Dad was the only member of HTA to be selected to the 1995 Committee, a Thoroughbred group that included HTA,” said John. “It was formed in the 1980s but it was called the 1995 Committee because they wanted to have it all in place by 1995.”

“As my career in racing was really getting underway in the early 1980s I was hired by Lou to be the publicity director at Northville Downs, and he meant the world to me in teaching me how to properly do things,” said current USTA editorial specialist Gordon Waterstone. “Some of the greatest conversations I’ve had in racing were with Lou, and not just in racing but also in life. If you look up the definition of ‘great guy,’ you will find Lou.”

Mr. Carlo was born on Dec. 23, 1933, to Edward and Margaret (nee: Furey) Carlo in Buffalo, N.Y. He was a veteran of the Army and graduated from Michigan State with a degree in economics.

A member of St. Francis de Sales Church and the Mathers Mill Club, Mr. Carlo was known for his love and generosity for everyone. He loved spending time with his family, watching sports, and was an avid horse racing fan. He loved spending the winter in his vacation home with his wife, Linda, at Briny Breezes in Florida.

Mr. Carlo is survived by his loving wife, Linda (nee: Mains); sons, John (Shay), Edward, Michael, and Joseph (Victoria); daughters, Mary (John) Beck and Helen; grandchildren, Emma (Evan) Rogers, Timothy Beck, A.J. (Brittany), Amanda (Vic) Wyrick, Emily, Ann Brattain, Claire Brattain, Dominic, Olivia and Penelope; great-grandchildren, Gianni, Julian and Grayson; and many beloved nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; uncle, John J.; and siblings, James and Joan Carlo, Claire and Joseph Deck, Mary Ann and Steve Joyce, John and Susie Carlo.

Visitation will be on Sunday (Aug. 15) from 4-7 p.m. at the Oswald-Hoskins Funeral Home in Lebanon. A Mass will be held on Monday (Aug. 16) at 10:30 a.m. at St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church with Father Bernard Weldishofer officiating. Interment will follow in Lebanon Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Our Lady of Victory National Shrine and Basilica, 767 Ridge Road, Lackawanna, NY 14218 or Elizabeth’s New Life Center, 2201 North Main St., Dayton, OH 45405.

Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.hoskinsfh.com.