Horseshoe Indianapolis will welcome the 20th season of live racing with the biggest season of Quarter Horse racing in the history of the Shelbyville, Ind., track. A total of 29 stakes races featuring purses exceeding $1.9 million will be offered, highlighted by the AQHA Bank of America Challenge Championships headed to Indiana Saturday, Oct. 22, 2022.
The AQHA Bank of America Challenge Championships will be held in Indiana for the first time in the history of the series. Five graded stakes are included in the lineup: the G1 $250,000 Bank of America Challenge Championship for 3-year-olds and up, the G3 $150,000 Adequan Derby Challenge Championship, the G2 $125,000 John Deere Juvenile Challenge Championship, the G1 $100,000 Q-Racing Video Distaff Challenge Championship, and the G1 $100,000 Cox Ranch Distance Challenge Championship. The events, which will have trials across North America feeding into the finals, will be showcased during an evening program beginning at 7 p.m.
In addition to the Challenge Championships, Horseshoe Indianapolis will offer six undercard stakes, including the $100,000 Sterlie Bertram Memorial Final. Numerous activities are planned for the event to complement the richest day of Quarter Horse racing in Indiana history with more than $975,000 in purses slated for the program.
Plans for the Challenge Championships night have been in the works since last year at Horseshoe Indianapolis. The track announced last fall that any yearling purchased from the prestigious Heritage Place Sales in either September or November, will be eligible for a bonus in the John Deere Juvenile Challenge. The highest placing finisher from the sales will receive a $15,000 bonus, adding more incentive for out-of-state contenders to make their way to Indiana.
“We wanted to do something that would show how invested we are in making the 2022 Challenge Championships one of the highlights of the season,” said Eric Halstrom, vice president and general manager of racing. “Our program has been growing annually and we have some very nice Quarter Horses emerging in our state. To be able to bring this series to Indiana and add a little incentive, it will boost our local program and give our horsemen a chance to step onto the national stage.”
Three other programs throughout the season will include a cluster of Quarter Horse stakes. The first is set for Saturday, July 23 featuring four stakes finals capped off with the $150,000 Gordon Mobley Futurity, the $100,000 Jaguar Rocket Futurity, the $100,000 Heartland Futurity, and the $75,000 Horseshoe Indianapolis Classic. The day will begin at 10 a.m. as one of six all-Quarter Horse racing programs on the year.
Three Quarter Horse stakes are also slated for Saturday, Sept. 3 highlighted by the $100,000 QHRAI Stallion Service Auction Futurity and $75,000 QHRAI Stallion Service Auction Derby. The Quarter Horse stakes season will conclude on Saturday, Oct. 29 tagged as Indiana Champions Day with three finals in the lineup led by the $150,000 Miss Roxie Little Futurity, the $100,000 QHRAI Derby and the $100,000 Governor's Stakes.
All-Quarter Horse Saturdays will kick off June 4 followed by racing July 2, July 23, Aug. 13, Sept. 3, and Oct. 8. All-Quarter Horse Saturdays have a first post of 10 a.m.
The 20th season of live Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing begins Tuesday, April 19, and extends through Wednesday, Nov. 23. Live racing is conducted at 2:30 p.m. Monday through Wednesday with Thursday post times set for 3:30 p.m. For more information on live racing at Horseshoe Indianapolis, visit www.caesars.com/horseshoe-indianapolis.
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