Renovations Underway at Indiana Grand

Indiana Grand track | Tammy Knox

Renovation on the one-mile dirt racetrack at Indiana Grand Racing and Casino is currently underway and the $700,000 project is expected to be completed in March 2019 when the barn area opens for training.

Gerry Porcelli, former track man for the New York Racing Association for more than 40 years and Butch Lehr, who served as track man for Churchill Downs for more than 45 years, are working in conjunction with Indiana Grand's track superintendent Roy Smith on the project.

“We are right on schedule,” said Smith. “We've been busy taking all the existing cushion off down to base and have been working with GRW from Lexington, who have done a lot of design work on racetracks across the country. We are receiving all new drawings and have shot elevations for the existing surface on both tracks. Once that is completed, then we will begin laying a new limestone cap over the existing base, which will take place before Christmas.”

Smith continued, “In a project like this, everything is weather related. The stage we are at now with the renovation, the cold weather actually helps us. We will lay the new cushion down the last of February or the first of March when we get a window of decent weather.”

The track renovation was identified as a priority of capital investments by Caesars Entertainment, who assumed ownership in July 2018. In addition to the track renovation, Caesars is also replacing the existing exterior stair wells on the grandstand, which will be completed before racing resumes in April 2019.

“We are very appreciative of Caesars willingness to step up and tackle both of these capital projects during our off-season of racing,” said Jon Schuster, vice president and general manager of racing. “It really shows the company's commitment to ensuring safety is at the forefront of their business, and improving the track at this level is a major plus for our entire racing community.”

The 17th season of Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing will resume Apr. 16 and the 120-day racing meet will run through Nov. 6.

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