1	2	3	4	5	6	7
8	9	10	11	12	13	14
15	16	17	18	19	20	21
22	23	24	25	26	27	28
29	30	31

Click here for RSS

Hoosier Park celebrates Sweet 15

Return Home

March 23, 2009

Send To A Friend | Print View

When Hoosier Park Racing & Casino opens its doors for a 15th season of harness racing on Tuesday, March 24, few aspects of the program will resemble what was offered in 2008. Much has changed since last July, with new officials overseeing the racing program, a new post time schedule and the promise of slots-enhanced purses. Based on the early response from horsemen, many are anxious to compete at Hoosier Park during the 80-day meet.

�We were deluged with stall applications,� commented Gregg Keidel, who took the helm of Hoosier Park�s race office after many years at Northfield Park. �Every one of our 840 stalls is allocated. I�m very optimistic.�

Hoosier Park has changed from its traditional Wednesday�Sunday schedule to racing that will be conducted Tuesday through Saturday each week. Officials also moved the first post on weekdays from 6:45 pm to 4:45 pm. Racing will begin on Saturdays at 12:45 pm. The track will also make a concerted effort to promote Tuesday cards as the highlight of the race week.

�We�re trying to make the best card of the week Tuesdays,� Keidel explained. �When you look at the schedule there is a lack of competition in the simulcast market on those days.�

One need look no further than the first race of the meet to see the change in emphasis. Hoosier Park will offer a 12-race card, kicked off with a $23,000 Invitational Handicap featuring a field of seven. In all, 100 horses dropped in the box for the opening program, with more entering in the following two programs. Eight of the 12 races carded for Wednesday will offer full fields, and nine of the 12 races programmed for Thursday have yielded 10 horses.

�I�m slightly disappointed with the first day. I probably overestimated the number of horses I had available,� Keidel said. �We�re tweaking the condition sheet, adjusting it slightly. It�s a work in progress.�

Late-closing series have been well-received early on. According to Keidel, of the nine new late closers that have been added for 2009, three have closed so far, garnering 164 nominations. Late closers begin the second night of racing as the Future Stars Series begins. The series, for non-winners of two or $10,000 lifetime, has attracted 28 trotters over three $6,000 divisions. Two preliminary legs will be offered leading up to a $15,000-estimated final. More late closers are slated to start in coming weeks.

�I knew we would have a lot of green horses. These late closers are going to work really well,� added the race secretary. �I�m very excited; I�m looking forward to a very successful meet.� � By James Platz

« Back