chris polzin | Horse Racing Free Tips

Indiana Derby Day To Remain On Wednesday In 2021

Indiana Grand Racing & Casino is set to open its 19th season of Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing Tuesday, April 13. To complement 120 days of live action, a total of 40 stakes with purses in excess of $3.65 million will be offered led by the 27th running of the Grade 3 Indiana Derby set for Wednesday, July 7.

Six stakes will be featured on Indiana Derby Day. In addition to the Derby, the 26th running of the Grade 3 Indiana Oaks will be included on the program as the day embraces its new Wednesday slot.

“We moved Indiana Derby Day to Wednesday in 2020 due to crowd restrictions and other safety protocols in place due to COVID-19,” said Eric Halstrom, vice president and general manager of racing. “The move proved to be very popular with racing fans across the nation and the Derby program set an all-time track record for total handle, just missing the $6 million mark. We feel by moving our big day to mid-week, the program receives the recognition it deserves with such high-quality stakes on the card.”

Another big date on the schedule will be the $150,000 Caesars Stakes and the $150,000 Indiana Grand, Indiana's richest turf races. Set for Wednesday, Sept. 8, the two Listed events will be complemented by the $75,000 Back Home Again Stakes and the $75,000 Circle City Stakes, which sport new names in 2021. Both races were part of an online contest to rename several stakes, garnering more than 250 responses.

“Our online presence has jumped over the past year and we value the support of those racing fans,” added Halstrom. “We wanted to include them in revamping our 2021 stakes schedule and by offering a contest with a prize, it was a way to engage them in the process. We got some really good suggestions, which we have used on 12 stakes for the year.”

Four brand new open stakes have been added to the schedule in 2021 and were part of the online contest to create names for the events. Joining the list this year will be the William Garrett Stakes, the IU Hoosiers Stakes, the Send it in Army Stakes and the Clarksville Stakes. Each will offer purses of $65,000 in their first running in 2021.

“We saw an opportunity to add some open stakes to our summer lineup and we think this will create a lot of variety to our schedule,” said Chris Polzin, director of racing/racing secretary. “Plus, the Garrett and IU Hoosiers (set for Aug. 11) gives us two more stakes to showcase on our turf course.”

Indiana Grand will also place the spotlight on the state bred program with Indiana Champions Day Saturday, Oct. 30. The afternoon card will feature four stakes with purses in excess of $350,000, including the $100,000 Lady Fog Horn and the $100,000 Unreachable Star Stakes for Indiana sired fillies and colts, respectively.

“Indiana Champions Day will be a culmination of the season and a way for us to honor and showcase the top horses in the state,” added Polzin. “More than $2.25 million over 28 stakes are dedicated to the Indiana breeding program for horses either bred and/or sired in Indiana.”

A full list of Thoroughbred stakes for the 2021 racing season is now available at www.indianagrand.com.

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Expanded 2021 Stakes Schedule at Indiana Grand

The 2021 racing season at Indiana Grand Racing and Casino will feature an expanded stakes schedule of 40 races worth over $3.65 million. The stakes schedule is highlighted by the $300,000 GIII Indiana Derby, which will be held at mid-week for the second time when it is run July 7. That Wednesday card's six-stakes lineup also includes the $200,000 GIII Indiana Oaks.

“We moved Indiana Derby Day to Wednesday in 2020 due to crowd restrictions and other safety protocols in place due to COVID-19,” said Eric Halstrom, vice president and general manager of racing. “The move proved to be very popular with racing fans across the nation and the Derby program set an all-time track record for total handle, just missing the $6-million mark. We feel by moving our big day to mid-week, the program receives the recognition it deserves with such high-quality stakes on the card.”

The track's Sept. 8 card will include the $150,000 Caesars S. and the $150,000 Indiana Grand. Those stakes–the state's richest turf races–will be complemented by the $75,000 Back Home Again S. and the $75,000 Circle City S., which sport new names in 2021. Both races were part of an online contest to rename several stakes, garnering more than 250 responses.

New to the Indiana Grand schedule in 2021 are the William Garrett S., the IU Hoosiers S., the Send it in Army S. and the Clarksville S. Each will offer a purse of $65,000.

“We saw an opportunity to add some open stakes to our summer lineup and we think this will create a lot of variety to our schedule,” said Chris Polzin, director of racing/racing secretary. “Plus, the Garrett and IU Hoosiers [set for Aug. 11] give us two more stakes to showcase on our turf course.”

The complete stakes schedule is available here.

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Indiana Grand: Handicapping Contest Winner Donates Prize Money To Backstretch Worker

Indiana Grand Racing & Casino has been hosting an online handicapping contest this winter with the weekly winner receiving a $100 gift card. The contest has been attracting players from all across the country with an average of 70 participating in the event. Last week, the top handicapper, Terry Kinsley of Ohio, donated his card to a hard-working member of the backstretch at Indiana Grand. Lorenzo Jimenez of the Michelle Elliott Stable was the recipient of the card.

Jimenez, a native of Mexico, has been in the United States working with horses since 1995. His talents were mainly seen in Florida, but a few years ago, he moved over to work the sales near Ocala, Fla. and became acquainted with Elliott. As a result, he is now spending his second year working for her operation at Indiana Grand.

“Lorenzo is very hard working and is one of those unsung heroes you hear about on the backstretch,” said Dee Thoman, security shift supervisor. “He comes up every morning and gets his temperature taken and follows all the rules. He's a pleasure to have on the backstretch.”

Kinsley asked that a backstretch worker be selected on his behalf to receive the award. Lorenzo received the $100 gift card, which was presented by Chris Polzin, director of racing/racing secretary, Tuesday, Feb. 23.

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Chris Polzin Named Racing Secretary At Indiana Grand

Chris Polzin, longtime director of racing/racing secretary at Arlington Park, has accepted the same position with Indiana Grand Racing & Casino. Polzin will assume his new duties in Indiana beginning Monday, Oct. 26.

“I'm very excited and looking forward to joining the Indiana racing program,” said Polzin. “The breeding industry in Indiana right now is fantastic and the purse structure is very solid. I have also seen how dedicated track management is to the horsemen and the racing program. Their commitment to see the industry grow is very impressive. I look forward to being part of that vision.”

A native of LaGrange Park, Ill., Polzin has been associated with racing since the early 1980's. His father, Elmer Polzin, was a longtime turf writer and handicapper in Chicago, prompting the younger Polzin to seek a job in the industry after college. Polzin was a standout swimmer in Illinois and went on to a junior college national championship title for College of DuPage. He has held many positions at Arlington Park since the early 1980s, from press box statistician to clerk of scales and his most recent post was as director of racing/racing secretary, a position he held for the past 11 years.

“Adding Chris to our team is a big boost to our racing program,” said Eric Halstrom, vice president and general manager of racing. “He is very familiar with the industry in general and brings in a unique perspective of Midwest racing from his many years on the Chicago circuit. We feel the transition for him to transfer into Indiana racing will be a seamless move.”

Racing is held Monday through Thursday until Thursday, Nov. 19. All-Quarter Horse racing is set for Saturday, Oct. 3 and Saturday, Oct. 24. For more information, go to www.indianagrand.com.

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