Indiana Racing

Highlighted by the $300,000 GIII Indiana Derby July 8, Horseshoe Indianapolis has finalized a 2023 racing season featuring 38 black-type events worth $4.75 million. Eight stakes worth $1.1 million are slated for the Indiana Derby Day card, including the GIII Indiana Oaks. "Each year, Indiana Derby Day continues to grow and sets new handle records," said Vice President and General Manager of Racing Eric Halstrom. "Our racing office staff works very hard to assemble top quality fields for each of these stakes. With all the activities surrounding the event, Indiana...

Horseshoe Indianapolis made a delivery to Helping Veterans and Families of Indiana (HVAF) Friday, Dec. 16 from the special Veteran's Day event held during live racing. A Veteran's Day Challenge Handicapping Contest was held featuring 11 top handicappers from across the nation who placed wagers on the Pick 5. A total of $1,517.50 was raised through the promotion along with the delivery of 210 pounds of peanut butter collected by the jockeys at Horseshoe Indianapolis; peanut butter being one of the two most request items at the pantry alongside canned...

While waiting on final information from some non-commingled locations, Horseshoe Indianapolis estimated that its total all-sources handle for the track's 2022 combined Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse meet will be nearly $235 million, showing an increase of 5.2% over figures in 2021. The increase is despite running 27 fewer races than in 2021, which resulted in a per race increase of over 9%. "Despite difficult weather conditions with rain in most of May and a string of 100-plus heat index days that forced us to either cancel or move post times...

The Indiana Thoroughbred Alliance (ITA) has created a crisis fund for Indiana Thoroughbred breeders. "When you're faced with a disaster, it's more the aftermath that hits you the hardest," says ITA board member Christine Cagle, who was faced with such a disaster this past winter. "You feel so alone and drowning. Yet, we're so proud that we don't want to ask for help." Last month, Christine and her husband, Vince, hosted a large gathering at Cedar Creek Winery and Brewery in Martinsville, Indiana, as a thank you for all the...

Horseshoe Indianapolis is partnering with Fox Sports Network beginning Tuesday, May 3, the track announced Monday. Several races will be running alongside Churchill Downs this GI Kentucky Derby week during the daily broadcast from Fox Sports. "We are excited to be included in such a powerhouse lineup of Thoroughbred racing offered during Derby Week," said Eric Halstrom, Vice President and General Manager of Racing at Horseshoe Indianapolis. "We begin our racing program at approximately 2:30 p.m. both Tuesday and Wednesday and will feature our first six races on Fox Sports...

Indiana Grand's 2021 meet concluded Thursday. Randy Klopp, frequently towards the top of the standings, took home his first Thoroughbred trainer's title this year with 59 victories--12 more than the next conditioner--and earnings over $1.2 million. Klopp also teamed up to earn the owner's title with Roger Spiess's Spiess Stable. They partnered for 31 victories at the stand, finishing in the money 59% of the time and racking up more than $621,000 in purse earnings. Marcelino Pedroza Jr. took home his third Indiana leading Thoroughbred rider title with 105 victories,...

The Indiana Horse Racing Commission (IHRC) approved Thursday Indiana Grand Racing & Casino's request for four additional racing days for the 2021 season. The track, which will now offer 123 days of live racing in 2021, will run Monday, Oct. 11 (Columbus Day) and continue through Nov. 11. The previous closing day was set for Monday, Nov. 8. Increased business this season has contributed to adding the four additional racing days in addition to the growth of the local horse population, increasing demand for additional racing opportunities in Indiana. Also,...

Located in Central Indiana, Breakway Farm is offering a virtual farm tour and stallion showcase on its Facebook page Tuesday starting at 12 p.m. EDT. In operation since 1995, Breakway Farm is the home to some of Indiana's top stallions and is presenting two new stallions, Calculator and Charming Kitten, to potential breeders. Calculator (In Summation--Back To Basics, by Alphabet Soup) was the winner of the GIII Sham S. at Santa Anita in 2015 and Grade I placed and retired with lifetime earnings of more than $694,000. "Calculator is a...

The Indiana Horse Racing Commission (IHRC) approved the transfer in ownership of Caesar's Entertainment Corporation and its direct and indirect subsidiaries to Eldorado Resorts Inc. during a meeting at Indiana Grand Racing & Casino in Shelbyville July 13. The meeting concluded with the Commission's conditional approval of the ownership transfer which includes Harrah's Hoosier Park Racing and Casino, Indiana Grand Racing & Casino and all Winner's Circle Off-Track Betting facilities. "While we appreciate everyone's trust in the Commission's ability to maintain Indiana's high caliber racing program, we recognize the relationship...

Fitting into a five-phase reopening plan for the state of Indiana outlined by its governor, the Indiana Horse Racing Commission has announced four major dates to pay attention to for the reopening of the state's racetracks. The dates are as follows: May 11--Essential travel restrictions are lifted (local non-essential travel allowed). Horses currently located in Indiana will be allowed to begin moving onto the backside of both racetracks. This applies only to those trainers with horses currently located in-state. Please contact Harrah's Hoosier Park or Indiana Grand's racing office to...

Harrah's Hoosier Park Racing & Casino, Indiana Grand Racing & Casino and Winner's Circle Race, Sports, Pub locations in Downtown Indianapolis, New Haven and Clarksville, Indiana will be closing for at least 14 days beginning at 6:00 a.m. Monday. parent company Caesars Entertainment announced. The Indiana Gaming and Indiana Horse Racing Commissions also announced that all licensed gaming and racing operations in Indiana will close at 6:00 a.m. Monday. "There have been no reported cases of COVID-19 at Caesars Entertainment's Indiana gaming and racing properties to date. This decision is...

The 18th season of Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing at Indiana Grand will begin Tuesday, Apr. 14, but for the first time in the history of the track, one person will be noticeably missing. Jon Schuster, longtime vice president and general manager, passed away in late 2019 and Indiana Grand will hold several tributes to him when racing resumes. "Jon was such an integral part of the progress of Indiana Grand dating back to the very first season," said Mike Rich, senior vice president and general manager. "He was very...