Jessica Barnes

The Indiana Horse Racing Commission approved cuts to the state's Thoroughbred breeding program during a virtual meeting last week. With casino closures and the potential for reduced revenues once reopened, funding available for the state's breeding program decreased significantly. The new projected revenue is estimated to be around $8.2 million, according to a release from the racing commission. Purses for Indiana-bred stakes have been reduced across the board, with the six Indiana Signature Stakes, typically worth $150,000, reduced to $100,000, and the other 22 restricted Indiana-bred and Indiana-sired stakes to...

Owing to the introduction of table games at the state's racinos, the Indiana Thoroughbred Breed Development (ITBD) Advisory Committee has been able to put together a racing program that will reward more breeders with additional races and more money. Thanks to breed development and track contributions, the 2020 program will be valued at over $17.4 million, an improvement of $2.4 million--or nearly 14%--over last year's program. "The 2020 program is a work in progress as we find ourselves in a position of estimating table games revenue this first year," explains...