Twenty years of racing history will come alive on Friday, August 29 when the doors open at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino in honour of the tracks’ 20th anniversary of live racing.

Hoosier Park hosted the first live racing meet on September 1, 1994 and will invite guests to enjoy all that Hoosier Park has to offer with four big days of fan appreciation – free offers, exciting giveaways, great discounts, and much more in a weekend-long celebration.

“Not only is it our 20th anniversary of live racing but it is also our 20th anniversary of being involved in the Madison County community,” Hoosier Park’s Vice President and General Manager of Racing, Rick Moore noted. “The fans are a major part of our success here at Hoosier Park and what better way to celebrate than with numerous festivities dedicated to them. We hope everyone will come out and enjoy our four days of celebration.”

The fan appreciation festivities will kick-off on Friday, August 29 with a free Hoosier Park beach towel give-away starting at noon for the first 500 guests. Racing fans will also receive a free mystery voucher with the purchase of a live Hoosier Park racing program that could be worth up to $250. Fan-tastic Fridays will continue and feature $1 dogs, $1 programs, $1 drafts & $1 bets through the end of live racing. With a post time of 5:15 p.m., Friday’s 14-race card will feature Indiana Sires Stakes action for three-year-old pacing fillies and two-year-old trotting fillies. The night will end with a free performance by First Impression Band in the Terrace Showroom starting at 10 p.m.

On Saturday, August 30, racing fans can pick-up a free Superfecta wager for the live Hoosier Park racing card from 2 to 6 p.m. at Trackside Club Centaur. Hoosier Park’s ‘Family Fun Days’ return this Saturday and will continue each weekend throughout the entirety of the harness racing meet. Activities will include a bounce house, face painting, jugglers, live entertainment, games and winner’s circle giveaways.

With a special racing post time of 4 p.m. on Saturday, Hoosier Park will host a 14-race card highlighted by two divisions of Indiana Sires Stakes action for three-year-old pacing colts. At the conclusion of live racing, the four-time Grammy-winning Doobie Brothers will take center stage at approximately 8:30 p.m. as part of Hoosier Park’s 2014 Summer Concert Series.

Sunday, August 31 will include $5 burger and fries at the Big Deli from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and the first 1,000 guests that visit Club Centaur in the casino, starting at noon, will receive a free Hoosier Park hat, while supplies last.

Monday, September 1 will offer a $5.95 buffet from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and the “Labor Day Play Day” promotion. With a winner every 15 minutes, Club Centaur members playing with their club card will have a chance to win $100 that will be sent directly to their Club Centaur account from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. In the casino, guests can enjoy free popcorn and $1 Dogs from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. there will be live entertainment in the casino.

Offering an extended stakes schedule for the 2014 harness racing season, live racing will follow a Tuesday through Saturday schedule. With a daily post time of 5:15 p.m., the 160-day meet will be conducted through November 15.

(Hoosier Park)