The Fox Stakes and Grand Circuit day at the Indiana State Fair have been moved from their traditional Saturday slot for 2010. The Grand Circuit program is slated for Friday, Aug. 20, this year, one of many adjustments the State Fair is making during a transition period it is currently undergoing.
“This is the second year of the expanded fair schedule,” said Andy Klotz, spokesperson for the State Fair. “As we expand programming, this allows us to be flexible.”
In 2009, the State Fair expanded from two weeks to three, with harness racing occupying a Thursday to Saturday schedule. The three-day meet consists of two Indiana-sired fair circuit championship programs and is capped with the Grand Circuit program, which features the Fox Stakes for 2-year-old pacing colts. In 2010 the ISFC championship programs will be held on Wednesday, Aug. 18 and Thursday, Aug. 19. In addition, the first post on the Grand Circuit program has been moved from 11 a.m. to 10 a.m. to be consistent with post times on Wednesday and Thursday.
The moves are all part of a reshuffling of programming at the State Fair as management works to add more events and activities and fully utilize the grandstand. With the expanded schedule, the tractor pull returned to the fair schedule last year after a 20-year absence. With the grandstand available on both Saturday and Sunday, the fair has the flexibility to build a motor sports weekend going forward. Klotz admits the revised schedule is a work in progress, and doesn’t rule out more changes in future years. Still, he noted the long relationship the State Fair has enjoyed as host of the Fox Stakes, now in its 84th running in 2010.
“We do have more options now, and it’s certainly part of the transition,” he said. “The Fox Stake is a premier race and we know the tradition it has here at the fair.”
What is yet to be determined is the impact the move will have on entries. With the ISFC championships, for instance, some horses will be coming off races at Portland, Ind., just four days earlier. The Grand Circuit schedule at Springfield wraps up Aug. 19, making an already small window even smaller. In the past, horses racing earlier in the week at Springfield have dropped in the box for the Grand Circuit program at Indianapolis. The one-day adjustment may make a significant impact.
“I have heard from a few horsemen that think we won’t get Springfield horses,” said Linda Dever, harness racing department manager at the State Fair.—By James Platz
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