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Officials with Hoosier Park Racing & Casino have announced that the track’s 2014 live meet, which concluded on November 15, produced encouraging gains on many fronts as well as sizeable gains in all-sources handle during the 160-day, all-harness-racing season.
Buoyed by a sensational 27 per cent increase in all-sources handle for the 2013 season, Hoosier Park continued the positive trend in 2014 to report an all-sources handle increase of 6.2 per cent over the previous year’s numbers.
In a continued effort to provide the highest quality racing experience for racing fans, Hoosier Park officials stated that the track continued its focus on all-encompassing marketing efforts, facility enhancements and an increase in overall quality of racing.
“We couldn’t be more pleased with the results of the 2014 racing season,” Hoosier Park Vice President and General Manager of Racing Rick Moore noted. “The positive trend in handle that we experienced during the 2013 season carried over into 2014. Beyond handle, the competition on the racetrack continues to get even more spirited. Together, we are buoyed by the reception we have received throughout the simulcast market and look forward to building on these successes when we open the 2015 season in late March.”
For the first time in its 21-year history, Hoosier Park expanded its viewing public to include Australia in June of 2014. Through a partnership between Hoosier Park and the Australian racing broadcaster, Sky Racing, Hoosier Park harness racing became a regular morning feature on Thursday, Friday and Sunday on Sky Racing2 between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. Australian time.
The track’s signature race, the $250,000 Dan Patch Invitational pace, saw marked success while placing the national spotlight on Hoosier Park. The best in the sport of harness racing took to the racetrack on August 8. Excitement pervaded throughout the grandstand as an enthusiastic crowd watched Sweet Lou, driven by Ron Pierce, pace the fastest mile in Hoosier Park history with a 1:47.2 score in the 21st edition of the Dan Patch Invitational. The previous track record of 1:48.1, a mark that stood for four years, had been established by Shark Gesture and driver George Brennan in the 2010 Dan Patch Invitational.
On the wagering front, the Dan Patch card offered remarkable value to horseplayers with the continuation of a $25,000 Guaranteed Superfecta on the Dan Patch Invitational race. The bettors came out in full force to watch the harness racing superstars compete at Hoosier Park as the handle increases were felt both on track and through export wagering and produced the biggest handle night of the season. The total handle for the night was up 25 per cent over the previous year’s numbers.
Hoosier Park hosted Grand Circuit racing action four different times in 2014 and welcomed the top-rated horses in North America to compete in races like the $275,000 Hoosier Park Pacing Derby, the $230,000 Carl Erskine, the $250,000 Monument Circle, the $193,000 Nadia Lobell and the $211,500 Hoosier Park Pacing Derby.
Trace Tetrick led all forces on the track and took home the 2014 leading driver title with 289 victories and accumulated over $3.6 million in purse earnings throughout the season. Tetrick, who led the driver standings from start to finish, earned his third leading driver title at Hoosier Park in 2014. Tetrick also earned a spot in Hoosier Park’s record books as he re-established the record for most wins in one season, a record that was previously held by Tony Morgan during the 1998 season with 262 victories.
Also new to the 2014 season, Hoosier Park Racing & Casino unveiled a driver challenge like never seen before in the sport of harness racing. The 2014 Champion Driver Series pitted the top-10 drivers at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino against one another in a five-race challenge not once, but twice, throughout the season with the champion driver driving away in a 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray.
It was LeWayne Miller who not only took home the $5,000 first place prize in the opening round of the series, but was crowned the ultimate champion after winning the second round of the series and drove away in a 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray.
Weekends during the meet encouraged fans to enjoy live racing and numerous entertainment opportunities throughout the venue. Each weekend was highlighted by ‘Fan-tastic Fridays,’ live racing action that featured $1 customer specials including beer, hot dogs, wagers, and racing programs. Saturdays at the track, designated as ‘Family Fun Days,’ featured live entertainment, kid-friendly outdoor games and activities, winner’s circle giveaways, and dining specials.
Hoosier Park continued the annual summer concert series in 2014 and welcomed a series of national headlining acts to the outdoor music center. In conjunction with the racing action on the track, fans enjoyed Grammy-Award winners, Billboard chart toppers and thrilling entertainers throughout the summer.
“We would like to thank all the horsemen and racing fans that contributed to the successful 2014 season at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino,” Moore continued. “Their support, along with the hard work and dedication from the entire Hoosier Park team, made for a tremendous season and we are already looking forward to next season.”
The 22nd season of live harness racing at Hoosier Park is set to get underway on March 27, 2015. Live racing at Hoosier Park will follow a Friday-Saturday schedule the opening week, a Thursday-Friday-Saturday schedule the second week, and then resume a Tuesday-through-Saturday schedule throughout the remainder of the meet. With a daily first-race post time of 5:15 p.m., the live racing season will be conducted through November 14, 2015.
(Hoosier Park)