Hoosier Park Racing & Casino will celebrate two of the biggest days in horse racing, The Kentucky Oaks on Friday, May 6 and the Kentucky Derby on Saturday, May 7, by welcoming racing fans with extended operating hours, advance wagering, and dining specials all leading up to the excitement of the 142nd running of the Derby. With two $1,000 Kentucky Derby mega-bet drawings, a hat contest, live harness racing, and entertainment throughout the day, it will be a Derby party like none other.
Known as the ‘Greatest Two Minutes in Sports’ since 1875, the first Saturday in May has been reserved for the greatest race in horse racing – a $2 million, one-and-a-quarter mile race featuring the very best three-year-old horses in the sport. All of Indiana’s simulcast race-wagering locations will be busy as they are the only locations in the state of Indiana to take wagers on the biggest race of the year. Indiana Grand Racing & Casino in Shelbyville, Hoosier Park Racing & Casino in Anderson, Winner’s Circle Pub, Grille, & OTB in Indianapolis, and the Winner’s Circle OTB and Voo Doo BBQ & Grill in New Haven will offer several reserved seating and free general admission options for racing fans to watch and wager on the Kentucky Derby live from Churchill Downs.
Guests at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino will enjoy a variety of traditional Kentucky Derby weekend favourites, such as the Oaks Lily and the Kentucky Derby Mint Julep signature drinks. On Friday, The Official 142nd Kentucky Oaks Collector glass will be available with the purchase of an Oaks Lily. The Official 142nd Kentucky Derby Collector glass will be available with the purchase of a Mint Julep on Saturday. The Derby fashion, dining and entertainment that will be on display at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino will suitably represent the nation’s biggest, most storied, horse race.
"Our goal is to bring the pomp and ceremony of Derby Weekend to our racing fans at Hoosier Park,” said Rick Moore, Hoosier Park’s vice president and general manager of racing. “Whether it is mint juleps or beautiful women's hats, one will feel the excitement of racing's greatest weekend just as though they were in the stands at Churchill Downs.
Two lucky Hoosier Park guests will get the chance to place a $1,000 win bet on the horse he or she believes will win the Kentucky Derby. The winner must wager the entire $1,000 sum on the horse they believe will place first in the 142nd running of the Kentucky Derby. This exclusive mega-bet drawing will take place at approximately 5:15 p.m., with the bet being placed prior to the Kentucky Derby post time. Hoosier Park has provided guests the Kentucky Derby win bet opportunity in the previous two editions of the Kentucky Derby and for the second consecutive year, a winning bet was made.
Hoosier Park will also offer racing fans a free hat contest on Saturday, May 7. Guests are also encouraged to take part in a photo booth located near Club Centaur. All guests who post a picture or check-in at Hoosier Park on Facebook will receive a $5 win bet on the Kentucky Derby race. Racing fans can also enjoy Shelby’s Gifts merchandise, Kentucky Derby trivia, and various give-aways throughout the day on Saturday.
The precursor to the Kentucky Derby, the Kentucky Oaks, will kick-off the weekend of horse racing festivities on Friday, May 6, with the Kentucky Derby running the night of Saturday, May 7. The entire Derby weekend at Hoosier Park will include property-wide dining specials, expanded beverage options, and official Kentucky Derby merchandise sales.
Advanced wagering will be available at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino for both the Kentucky Oaks and the Kentucky Derby on Thursday afternoon. The signature Kentucky Derby race has an estimated post time of 6:34 p.m. (EST) on Saturday, May 7.
Hoosier Park’s ‘Family Fun Days’ on Saturday will also offer kids activities, face painting, and various other entertainment geared toward the younger racing fans. Live harness racing will begin at its regularly scheduled post of 5:45 p.m. with an action-packed 14-race card. Additionally, Churchill Downs’ full racing card will be shown throughout the Hoosier Park property. Admission is free and open to the public.
(Hoosier Park)