In partnership with the Harness Horse Youth Foundation, Indiana Standardbred Association and Indiana Horse Racing Commission, Harrah's Hoosier Park played host to over 400 Anderson, Indiana community fourth graders between Wednesday, April 15 and Thursday, April 16.
"It was a pleasure to host over 400 local youth and introduce them to our wonderful sport," said Gabe Prewitt, Vice President and General Manager of Racing at Harrah's Hoosier Park. "Watching so many of the kids get to be up close with the horses for the first time was rewarding for all of us involved and a memory that will be with them for a very long time."
Each day featured four interactive, highly interactive stations, designed to both educate and engage the children with the sport of harness racing. "It's All Related" educated kids in the economic impact of horse racing, which has a $2 billion USD economic impact on the state of Indiana. "Pacing Boards & In The Bike" provided a hands-on opportunity for students to learn about the different gaits in harness racing, utilize teamwork to demonstrate the act of pacing before providing kids the opportunity to explore both a race bike and jog cart.
Two stations took place in the Hoosier Park barn area, allowing children the opportunity to explore the Ron Burke, Ernie Gaskin, Trace Tetrick and Melanie Wrenn stables on the property. After meeting Indiana champions such as On To Norway and Odds On Mr Mamba, children learned about the equipment Standardbreds use with "Dressing The Racehorse," complete with a full display demonstrating how to harness a horse.
During lunch both days, classes were treated to a front row seat to the action in the Hoosier Park clubhouse. The Wednesday classes took in morning qualifiers, which featured heavy hitting names such as Rock Shines Again and the Breeders Crown champion Coach Stefanos out on the racetrack. The Thursday group enjoyed a mock race, before drivers Marcus Miller and Brandon Bates, who have more than 7,000 career victories combined on the racetrack, were interviewed about their experience in harness racing, their role as a catch-driver and participated in a Q&A session with the students. Other drivers such as Trace Tetrick, John De Long and AJ Wright were present to assist with the presentation of stations as well as answer questions throughout the day.
"The Fourth Grade Field Trip is a grand example of working together to accomplish great things," said Ellen Taylor, Executive Director of the Harness Horse Youth Foundation. "Hoosier Park, the ISA and HHYF worked hard to bring the event to fruition. From the student's first touch on a horse's nose, to the plethora of excellent questions, to the deafening cheers for 'their' horse during the mock race, this field trip definitely renews one's sense of positivity in harness racing's future."
Hoosier Park extends its gratitude to the more than 30 volunteers who joined the fray to help make these field trips come to fruition over the two days. Students left each day with a gift bag supplied by the Indiana Standardbred Association with harness racing swag and information on the HHYF's summer camp, as well as information on the remaining schedule for the 2026 race season at Hoosier Park.
(With files from Hoosier Park)