Hoosier Park Racing & Casino recently announced the addition of four overnight series to compliment Indiana’s most prestigious pacing race, the Dan Patch Stakes on Friday, August 14.
Boasting an increased purse for the 2015 edition, the Dan Patch Stakes will serve as Indiana’s richest harness race with an estimated purse of $300,000 and will now be supported by an all-star, 14-race card that includes Indiana Sires Stakes and overnight series action.
"With Dan Patch weekend being the biggest racing event of the year we wanted to put together a solid undercard for our signature race,” Hoosier Park’s Director of Racing and Racing Secretary, Scott Peine noted. “In conjunction with the Indiana Sires Stakes, hopefully these additional overnight series will bring the best out of some of our most competitive classes.”
The "Joe Patchen" pacing series is open to horses that have started for a base claiming price of $15,000 or less in their last five starts (up to and including 8/5/15); $15,000 claimers are eligible also.
The "Zelica" pacing series is open to horses that have started for a base claiming price of $22,500 or less in their last start (up to and including 8/5/15); $22,500 claimers are eligible also.
The "Oxford, Indiana" pacing series is open to horses that have started for a base claiming prize of $35,000 or less in their last start (up to and including 8/5/15); with $35,000 claimers being eligible also.
The "Dan Messner" pacing series is open to horses that are non-winners of $5,250 (Indiana-sired $6,500 and non-winners last three starts allow $750) in their last five starts (up to and including 8/5/15); horses that are non-winners of $1,500 per start in 2015 with a minimum of 12 starts are eligible also.
Each of the overnight series will be comprised of a preliminary leg slated for Friday, August 7 with the finals being contested on Friday, August 14. There will be a $50 entry fee for the preliminary legs. The overnight series will be included on Hoosier Park's condition sheets and can also be found on Hoosier Park's website.
The Dan Patch Stakes will be part of a special weekend tagged as the “Dan Patch Festival Weekend” and will feature extreme entertainment, giveaways, and racing. The thrill-themed weekend will showcase some of the most notable names in harness racing alongside free fireworks, giveaways, and interactive family-friendly entertainment. Also, highlighting the weekend will by a concert by REO Speedwagon on Saturday, August 15 as Hoosier Park continues its summer concert series line-up.
(Hoosier Park)