Gregg Keidel new racing secretary at Hoosier Park

Gregg Keidel, longtime director of racing for Northfield Park, has been named racing secretary at Hoosier Park Racing and Casino. Keidel will step into his new role for the 2009 harness racing season, which begins Tuesday, March 24. Janice Lance has been named as assistant racing secretary.

A graduate of Ohio University with a degree in journalism, Keidel began at Northfield Park, Ohio’s largest harness racing track, in 1985 as publicity director. In 1987, he was named director of racing, a position he has held for the past 22 years. Under his regime, Keidel has introduced several marquee events for the Cleveland-area track, including the Battle of Lake Erie and the Cleveland Classic. He was also instrumental in the creation of Ohio Super Night.

“I’m very excited about the opportunity at Hoosier Park,” said Keidel. “The already attractive purse structure will be even better with the track’s 2,000 slot machines doing brisk business. I’ve been challenged to take the racing product to the next level, one of national prominence, and I believe that goal can be accomplished. The Dan Patch Invitational and the Hoosier Cup bring exposure to Hoosier Park a couple nights a year, but we want horseplayers across North America to think of Hoosier Park as one of the major staples in the Standardbred industry on a day-to-day basis, too.”

Keidel will be at Hoosier Park for live racing but then return to Northfield Park where, in addition to his work at that Cleveland track, he is past president and current director of the American Harness Racing Secretaries and has served as a Grand Circuit steward for more than 12 years. He held the position of racing director at Running Aces Harness Park in Minnesota during its inaugural season in 2008.

“I am elated to have Gregg join our team at Hoosier Park,” said Jeffrey Smith, general manager of racing. “Gregg brings in a vast wealth of knowledge about harness racing and has a great reputation as a director of racing in the sport. He will be a definite asset to our staff as we move into a new business phase with the addition of the casino to our facility.”

Keidel is also a former driver and trainer. He remains active in the CKG Billings Amateur driving series, winning the Amateur Driver of the Year award in 1999. Keidel has represented the United States at five overseas international amateur driving events in countries such as Germany, Sweden, New Zealand, and Italy. Keidel is scheduled to return to New Zealand in February 2009 to compete in an amateur driving event that he won four years ago. (with files from Hoosier Park)

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