Harrah’s Hoosier Park Racing & Casino, in conjunction with the Hambletonian Society, has announced the Indiana Standardbred Breed Development and the Indiana Standardbred Association have been named the official presenting sponsor of the 2023 Breeders Crown, which is valued at more than $7 million and set to be held at Harrah’s Hoosier Park on Oct. 27 and 28.

“We are honoured to welcome the Indiana Standardbred Breed Development and the Indiana Standardbred Association as our presenting sponsor for the 2023 Breeders Crown,” said Rick Moore, Harrah’s Hoosier Park vice president and general manager. “We cannot thank these organizations enough. It’s an all Indiana ‘thing’ and we collectively hope the world will see and feel the immense pride we have in hosting harness racing’s greatest event.”

The Indiana Standardbred Breed Development Program was established to promote the Indiana Standardbred industry. The purpose of the Standardbred Breed Development Program is to provide incentives to the owners and breeders of Indiana Sired (IS) and Indiana Sired & Bred (ISB) horses. These incentives are provided through racing programs at Indiana's pari-mutuel racetrack, county fairs and state fair.

“The Indiana Standardbred Breed Development Program is not only proud to be a headline sponsor of the Breeders Crown, but we are honoured,” said Jessica Barnes, Director of Racing & Breed Development. “Being able to have this prestigious series in our state for a third time is amazing. Our Indiana breeding program has grown so much over the past decade, and the Breeders Crown is a great way for our local horses to be showcased on a national platform. We are excited to be included in the 2023 Breeders Crown.”

The Indiana Standardbred Association (ISA) is a non-profit organization led by 15 elected directors. The ISA supports the Indiana Standardbred horse racing industry and all its affiliated horsemen and women. The ISA continually strives to meet the needs and wishes of the harness people of Indiana and favourably position the association to represent the harness horse industry in matters involving the legislature, the Indiana Horse Racing Commission (IHRC), pari-mutuel race track management, and other matters directly involving members’ interests.

“The Indiana Standardbred Association is excited to partner with Indiana Breed Development to become the presenting sponsor of the Breeders Crown,” said Tony Renz, Executive Director of the Indiana Standardbred Association. “Our goal is to stamp Indiana on this Breeders Crown and show the harness racing world what a special program, special horses and special people make up the Indiana Standardbred industry.  We look forward to seeing everyone in October and wish everyone best of luck this year.”  

The 40th edition of the Breeders Crown, harness racing’s year-end championship series, is valued at more than $7 million. The Breeders Crown is designed to decide year-end honours and draws the year’s best Standardbred racehorses from across North America to compete against one another. The event brings together the greatest harness racing equine athletes in the world as they square off in different age divisions based on the horses’ sex and gait (trot or pace).

Harrah’s Hoosier Park will host the Breeders Crown for the third time, having previously held the 2017 and 2020 editions. This year, the freshman Breeders Crown finals will take place on Friday, Oct. 27 and the eight three-year-old and up events will take place on Saturday, Oct. 28. The freshman events will compete for a purse of $700,000, a purse level not reached for those divisions since 2008.

Harrah’s Hoosier Park kicked off the 30th season of live harness racing on Friday, March 24 and is set to host its richest open stakes schedule ever throughout the 2023 live racing season. Worth more than a combined $12 million, the 160-day season will be the most lucrative stakes program in the track’s history culminated by hosting the Breeders Crown events.

More information on the 2023 Breeders Crown, including the Charity Challenge and ticketing details, will be made available soon. For more information on the Breeders Crown or upcoming events at Harrah’s Hoosier Park, visit harrahshoosierpark.com. 

(With files from Hoosier Park)