Racing dates for the upcoming 24th season of live harness racing at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino were recently approved by the Indiana Horse Racing Commission.
With a new, daily first-race post time of 6:30 p.m., Hoosier Park Racing & Casino will offer the most lucrative stakes program in the track’s history, highlighted by hosting the Breeders Crown events. The 163-day season is set to begin on Saturday, April 1 and will conclude on Friday, November 17.
Live racing at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino will kick off on a Saturday the opening week and return on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evening the second week before resuming a Tuesday through Saturday schedule throughout the remainder of the season.
“We believe the stakes schedule for the 2017 meet is the most attractive and diverse schedule we have ever offered,” Hoosier Park’s Vice President and General Manager of Racing, Rick Moore said. “Because of the on-going commitment to racing by Centaur Gaming, we are continually striving to improve our racing product. The new post time, which includes tightening the intervals between races, is just one of those changes that will help bring more action and energy to our racing program as we kick off one of the most exciting seasons yet.”
One of the most highly anticipated weekends on the 2017 harness racing calendar will take place in October as Hoosier Park will play host to the coveted Breeders Crown events on Friday, October 27 and Saturday, October 28. For the first time ever, Hoosier Park will host all 12 year-end championship races, worth a combined $5 million.
“All of us are hopeful that this season will be our most memorable yet,” said Jim Brown, Centaur Gaming’s president and chief operating officer. “We share a full commitment to the success of the racing program and presenting a magnificent Breeders Crown, the first ever hosted in the state of Indiana. This is an exciting time for fans, horsemen, and our entire community.”
In addition to the Breeders Crown events and activities, Hoosier Park will host an extended stakes schedule throughout the 2017 racing season worth nearly a combined $4 million. Hoosier Park’s signature pacing event, the $300,000 Dan Patch Stakes, is slated for Friday, August 11. Returning to the stakes schedule at Hoosier Park in 2017 is the $175,000 Nadia Lobell stakes for three-year-old filly pacers as well as the $175,000 Moni Maker stakes for three-year-old filly trotters. For more information on the complete 2017 stakes schedule, please click here.
Stall applications are now available for the 2017 live harness racing season at Hoosier Park. The downloadable form, which includes all pertinent information, can be found on Hoosier Park’s website or by clicking here.
Stall applications must be received by Hoosier Park Racing & Casino’s race office by no later than February 12, 2016. Applications for stall space are required for both stalls in the barn area, as well as horsemen wishing to ship in to race at Hoosier Park. Horsemen receiving stalls will be notified of their allotment by mid-February.
For additional information, or to have a stall application sent to you, please contact Scott Peine, Hoosier Park’s racing secretary, at 765-609-4870 or [email protected] .
For more information on the upcoming harness racing meet and promotions at Hoosier Park, please visit hoosierpark.com
(Hoosier Park)