Harrah’s Hoosier Park Racing & Casino’s 33rd season of live harness racing will kick off at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 12 with a 14-race card. Celebrating Fan Appreciation Night at Hoosier Park, fans that make it to the Anderson, Indiana oval will enjoy an array of giveaways, promotions, handicapping contests and a multitude of guaranteed pools.
In a rarity for an opening night program, there are carryovers in the early Pick 4 and the early Hoosier Hi-5 from the closing night card of 2025, which was cancelled due to weather. The Pick 4 in race six features $4,383 in carryover with that pool being guaranteed at $20,000. Later in race seven, there is $9,001 in the Hoosier Hi-5 carryover with $30,000 in guaranteed pools.
In addition to these carryovers, the first two months on Thursdays will feature a $15,000 guaranteed pool in the Late Pick 4 in the last four races. Likewise, a $10,000 guaranteed pool in the Late Hoosier Hi-5 will be offered in the last race of the night. For Fridays, a $10,000 guaranteed pool Late Pick 4 in the last four races and a Late Hoosier Hi-5 in the last race will be provided for betters.
For Thursday's Fan Appreciation Night, Hoosier Park will have drawings for five $100 USD MegaBets set to be drawn at the conclusion of race three. Entry forms will be made available for bettors to swipe at trackside promotional kiosks beginning at 5 p.m. Once completed, guests will deposit their ticket in the drawing drum located at Trackside P&E. After prizes are announced after race three, participants will have five minutes to claim their winnings.
Beginning at 5 p.m., the first 200 guests to swipe in at a trackside promotional kiosk will be granted a mystery voucher printed by the kiosk worth up to $500 USD. These vouchers can be redeemed by guests at the Main Mutuel Line.
To commemorate the new season and Fan Appreciation Night, the first 100 guests to provide their Caesars Reward Card along with a $5 USD wager made on track for any Hoosier race will be awarded with a complimentary Hoosier self-heating mug beginning at 5 p.m. at Trackside P&E, while supplies last or until 8 p.m.
Additionally, 2026 racing season calendar posters will be given away at the program stand while supplies last.
Similar to last season, every Thursday Hoosier races three through seven will feature the Outside The Box Handicapping Contest providing Caesars Rewards cardholders with the opportunity to compete for a free chance to win $200 USD in race wagering by placing mythical Exacta Box selections at the trackside promotional kiosks. Check-in for the contest begins at 4 p.m., with registration closing at 6:15 p.m.
The Friday card will feature a nine races with post time set for 5:30 p.m.
Racing for Hoosier will operate on a two-day schedule, Thursday and Friday, for February and March. In April, Hoosier will add Wednesdays. Meanwhile, May will welcome Tuesdays and Saturdays, rounding off a full schedule of races five days a week. The standard first post time for the entire 2026 season is slated for 5:30 p.m.
Once again, Hoosier will offer a lucrative stakes program for the 2026 season highlighted by the Grade1 Dan Patch Stakes for Open pacers on Aug. 14 as well as the Grade 1 Peter Haughton & Jim Doherty Memorials for two-year-old trotters on Sept. 18. Additionally, Caesars signature nights include Caesars Trotting Classic Night on Sept. 25 and Hoosier Champions Night on Oct. 9.
For more information on the 2026 live harness racing season at Hoosier, guests are encouraged to visit harrahshoosierpark.com.
(With files from Hoosier Park)