Hoosier Park Race Track
First opened as a thoroughbred and standardbred racing venue, Hoosier Park is now the premier facility for trotters and pacers in the State of Indiana. Built on a 110 acre parcel of land, donated by local developer the late Virgil E. Cook in 1990, inaugural races went to the gate in September 1994 under the guidance of Churchill Downs Incorporated. The Centaur Group purchased the facility for $8.2 million in 2007 and in 2008 added the exciting Hoosier Park Casino.
Hoosier Park Horse Racing
Opting out of thoroughbred and quarter horse racing to concentrate solely on standardbreds in 2013, Hoosier Park is located in Anderson, Indiana. Home to the Dan Patch Invitational, the oval track measures seven-eights of a mile with pacers and trotters running on a dirt surface.
Major Races and Events
Home to Championship Harness Stakes racing, boasting 21 such events on the 2014 racing schedule, Hoosier Park is a full service entertainment facility. In addition to fantastic horse betting action Hoosier Park also offers 2,000 slot and e-Table games in the Casino as well as headline entertainers on the Music Center outdoor stage or indoors in the Terrace Showroom.
Dan Patch Invitational
As one of the signature racing events at Hoosier Park, the standardbred horse racing industry flocks to the Dan Patch Invitational on an annual basis for a shot at the DPI purse that grew to $250K in 2014. Open to 4-year old and up pacers, and named for one of the best pacers ever (Dan Patch 1896 - 1916) the 20th running of this prestigious event was held in 2013 as Bolt The Duer tracked down the field late to win in a final time of 1:49.3 by 1 1/2 lengths over Fred and Ginger. Top Dan Patch pacers often look to compete in the Breeders Crown racing series.
Kentuckiana Stallion Management Pace
Open to all 2-year old filly pacers, the Kentuckiana Stallion Management Pace hits the track at Hoosier Park every September. Another triple-digit purse is on the line as this race is serviced by the Hambletonian Society and sponsored by the Kentuckiana Stallion Management group with support from Indiana Downs. Act Now, bred at Brittany Farms and piloted by Ron Pierce, won the 2013 KSMP event in a time of 1:53:3 over Uffizi Hanover and Instant Respect.
Carl Erskine Trot
Trotters take center stage for the Carl Erskine Trot during the season ending celebrations at Hoosier Park. Featuring top 3-year old colts and gilding's "The Erskine" is one of the richest buggy battles in Indiana. Exhibiting why it's such a sparkling jewel of the Hoosier Park meet, the trotters put on quite a show down the stretch during the 1-mile trot in 2013. In a clash of the top two favorites, Creatine went gate to wire as he gamely fought off a hard charging Blue Chip Spider in a spectacular race that required a photo-finish to decide the winner. Stick with us for additional Champion Stakes horse betting updates from the great State of Indiana.