Hoosier Park Racing & Casino, in its’ 22nd season of harness racing, will kick start the Independence Day weekend with a mix of ‘family fun’ promotions, free fireworks presentations, entertainment, and live harness racing on Friday, July 3.

The 2015 racing season will be highlighted on Friday as Indiana’s finest trotters and pacers convene on Hoosier Park’s seven-eighths mile oval for Hoosier Champions Night, a round of $75,000 Indiana Sires Stakes finals.

A total of 14 races have been carded and the evening will feature eight $75,000 finals for the two and three-year-old competitors. Friday’s 14-race card is set to get underway at 5:15 p.m.

Revamped last season, the Indiana Sires Stakes program features five legs throughout the season, and from each leg, the top 20 horses return to compete in a final and consolation. The 2015 stakes season will culminate with the top ten horses from each of the previous $75,000 finals returning to compete in a $200,000 Super Final on October 10 at Hoosier Park.

The $75,000 Indiana Sires Stakes final for the three-year-old competitors will be headlined by Indiana Sires Stakes champions Freaky Feet Pete and Churita.

Trained by Larry Rheinheimer, Freaky Feet Pete has been enlisted as the 1-5 morning line choice in the $75,000 final for three-year-old pacing colts and geldings and will look to score his third win of the season from the rail in race 13.

Churita will look to keep her four-race win streak in-tact and remain undefeated this season from post nine in the $75,000 Indiana Sires Stakes final for three-year-old trotting fillies. Trained by Matt Rheinheimer, the daughter of Airzoom Lindy-Stonebridge Volare has been installed as the 3-5 morning line favourite with driver Trace Tetrick.

In addition to the racing program that boasts lofty purses for the Indiana stakes program, Hoosier Park Racing & Casino will offer racing fans a four-day celebration starting Thursday that will include a carnival, nightly fireworks shows, a beer garden and live entertainment as part of the Hoosierfest Carnival.

“We always talk about Hoosier Park Racing & Casino being the place to be for racing, gaming, dining and entertainment. That statement will never hold truer than this coming weekend,” Hoosier Park’s Vice President and General Manager of Racing, Rick Moore noted. “Hoosier Park will indeed be the place to be as we get ready to celebrate the 4th of July Weekend in grandiose fashion with outstanding racing, the best in fireworks display, and a carnival for the entire family to enjoy.”

The carnival features main-attraction midway rides, fair food, a $5,000 Cash Cakewalk and fireworks every night, all outdoors at Hoosier Park. The carnival hours will be 5 to 11 p.m. on Friday, noon to midnight Saturday and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Sunday. Admission to the carnival is free and unlimited ride tickets start at $25.

Chairs and picnic tables will be available throughout the venue for convenience. Guests are welcome to bring their own lawn chairs and blankets for the fireworks presentations for additional comfort. Family-friendly entrances are available through the racetrack main entrances as well as multiple dining options.

(Hoosier Park)