Hoosier Park Racing and Casino recently received approval from the Indiana Horse Racing Commission for

dates and post times in 2010.

The facility will offer 80 days of standardbred racing and 63 days of thoroughbred racing with 26 of those days including quarter-horse racing action during the 2010 calendar year.

Live standardbred racing will return to Hoosier Park Thursday, March 25. Racing will be held Wednesday through Sunday each week with a first-race post time of 5:30 p.m. each day except Sunday when racing will be conducted beginning at 1:00 p.m. Special racing programs will be held Monday, May 31 for Memorial Day and Monday, July 4 for holiday racing beginning at 1:00 p.m. No racing will be held on Easter Sunday, April 4. The meet will run through Sunday, July 11.

The standardbred season will feature three marquee events. The $500,000 (estimated) Hoosier Cup will be held Saturday, May 29. The $200,000 Dan Patch Invitational is set for Saturday, June 26. Indiana Champions Day will be held the final weekend of racing Saturday, July 10.

Thoroughbred racing will begin Friday, July 30. Racing will be held Wednesday through Sunday with first-race post times at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. Racing will begin at 1:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. A special Labour Day racing card will be held Monday, September 6 beginning at 1:00 p.m. No racing will be held that week on Wednesday, September 8 as a result of the special holiday racing program.

The $500,000 (added) Grade II Indiana Derby will be the highlight of the thoroughbred season. Falling into its customary first weekend in October slot, the Indiana Derby has been slated for Saturday, October 2.

Quarter-horse racing will be included on 26 days in conjunction with the thoroughbred meet. The season will conclude Sunday, October 24.

(Hoosier)