THISTLEDOWN REGIONAL CHILI COOKOFF - AUGUST 21, 2010
This was the 10th anniversary of this ICS cookoff hosted by Thistledown and what a bang up job they do. Brent Reitz (General Mgr.) and Heather McColloch (Marketing Dir.) plus all the other Thistledown folks really go all out to welcome the chili cooks as well as the public.
The cooks are always treated with several nice gifts and goodie bags and some of the best hospitality that any of the cookoffs that we attend. There support of the ICS and the chili cooks have been unwavering.
The contestants pull vehicle up under the covered paddock to their already set up table and chairs. They can cook chili and watch the racing and bet on the ponies with the pay windows directly behind them. This is a very easy and exciting cookoff to attend.
Brent makes sure everyone is well cared for and he has been doing this for 10 years.
Hats off to all of Thistledown!
Ken Kostal (Chairman) and his wife Diane (Chief Scorekeeper) as usual run a very smooth cookoff and judging area. As many of you know Ken and Diane run 4 or 5 cookoffs each year in the Ohio area and all the cooks enjoy what they do for the ICS and Chili.
Brent and Heather’s charity of choice is the Retired Race Horse Cancer Fund. Yes, horses do get cancer also. They care for these animals during their last part of their lives to prevent them from going to the “slaughter house”. The cookoff raised a few thousand dollars for this fund. Brent reported to us that with these funds raised, this group could care for about 11 or 12 animals for at least 5 months.
OK - OK the winners!
SALSA 9 contestants
9 judges
3rd = Terry Van Lehn 11 pts ( Havelock, NC.)
2nd = Lynn Berkebile 12 pts (Vermilion, OH.)
1st = Bill Donovan 18 pts (Cincinnati, OH.)
VERDE 14 contestants
10 judges
3rd = Don Van Lehn 6 pts (Nitro, WV.)
2nd = Bill Donovan 7 pts (Cincinnati, OH.)
1st = Terry Van Lehn 11 pts (Havelock, NC.)
RED CHILI 22 contestants
13 judges
5th = Richard Chauvin 5 pts (Windsor, ONT. Canada)
4th = Pat Provis 6 pts (Dearborn, MI.)
3rd = Lauren Ray 6 pts (Livonia, MI.)
2nd = Carl Stawicki 6 pts (Berea, OH.) won tie break
1st = Dave Sinclair 8 pts (Columbus, OH.)
As you can see we had some very good contestants and very happy winners.
We also had some happy winners on the ponies!
It should be noted that Dave Sinclair is one of the most honorable chili cooks that we have in the Society. I have never seen Dave except his chili winnings from cookoffs in all the years I have been with him………He donates his winnings back to the charity of the cookoff. Dave donated his $750.00 of winnings to the Retired Race Horse Fund to help to care for these Horses. Brent, Ken and all the Thistledown group Thank You.
Thank You very much Dave………”You are a class Act”
Congratulations to all the contestants………..They are all winners !
