Harrah’s Hoosier Park Racing & Casino is set to host the annual Fright Night at the Races, a family-friendly Halloween event at the track on Wednesday, Oct. 25.

The family-friendly event will include a children’s costume trunk-or-treat with free treats, a horse costume contest, free pumpkins and pumpkin decorating station, inflatable games, a DJ and food trucks. Fright Night at the Races will serve as a thrilling prelude to the highly-anticipated Breeders Crown events on Friday, Oct. 27 and Saturday, Oct. 28.

Fright Night at the Races is free to the public and will begin at 6 p.m. The first live race is set to begin at 6:15 p.m.

Throughout the evening, Harrah’s Hoosier Park will be filled with activities from The Yard to the front paddock. Children in costumes are invited to trick-or-treat by visiting local community members and Hoosier Park team members who will be on-hand in The Yard to pass out candy.

Back by popular demand, Fright Night at the Races will feature a horse costume contest. Located in the front paddock, local horsemen and women will dress up their horses to compete for prizes. Guests will have an opportunity to join in on the fun and vote for their favourite costume by purchasing a ticket. All ticket purchase proceeds will benefit the Harness Horse Youth Foundation, charitable partners of Hoosier.

In conjunction with all the Fright Night at the Races activities, Hoosier will also host a 13-race card. The Indiana racetrack has a week’s worth of festivities lined up ahead of the Breeders Crown events. Along with the Fright Night activities, Hoosier will host a horsemen’s welcome reception on Thursday, Oct. 26. Beginning at 6 p.m., horsepeople are invited to stop by Hoosier to enjoy food, drinks, prizes and a free concert by Cook & Belle on the Terrace Showroom Stage.  

On Friday, Oct. 27 and Saturday, Oct. 28, Hoosier will host the 40th edition of the Breeders Crown, harness racing’s $7.2 million championship event. The Breeders Crown features competition among the greatest harness racing athletes in the world racing over two nights. First post for the Breeders Crown is 6 p.m. both nights. Tickets for the Breeders Crown are still on sale and can be purchased by visiting ticketmaster.com.

(With files from Hoosier Park)