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Indiana Grand Approved For 120 Race Dates In 2021

Indiana Grand Racing & Casino received approval for 2021 racing dates Thursday, Dec. 10 at the monthly Indiana Horse Racing Commission (IHRC) meeting held at Indiana Grand. The schedule will offer 120 days of Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing beginning Tuesday, April 13 and running through Thursday, Nov. 4, 2021.

Racing will start off with a hybrid schedule of Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday racing in April moving to the full schedule of Monday through Thursday in May. Post times of 2:25 p.m. will be held Monday through Wednesday while Thursdays will adopt a post time of 3:25 p.m.

“We worked off our successful schedule from 2020 in cooperation with our horsemen's groups to determine the best possible days of the week for racing for both Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing,” said Eric Halstrom, vice president and general manager of racing. “We feel we have found our niche during the week in those mid-afternoon start times. By moving Thursdays an hour later, we hope to attract the after-work crowd, which allows us to hold some fun events for the on-track racing guests and also puts us in an even better spot on the national simulcasting scene.”

A total of eight Saturdays will also be included on the schedule with Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing held on Saturday, May 1, which is Kentucky Derby Day, and Saturday, Oct. 30, which will be Indiana Champions Day. Post time for the two Saturdays featuring Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing is set for 12 p.m.

Six All-Quarter Horse days have been allotted throughout the meet. Dates set exclusively for the sprinters include Saturday, June 5, Saturday, July 3, Saturday, July 24, Saturday, Aug. 14, Saturday, Sept. 4 and Saturday, Oct. 9. Post times for the All-Quarter Horse dates is set for 10 a.m.

“We identified an opportunity to get our Quarter Horse signal out to more racing fans on Saturday mornings,” added Halstrom. “We saw tremendous growth in handle during this time and also saw good on-track crowds. We anticipate seeing even more growth for handle and on-track attendances for Quarter Horse racing in 2021.”

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Indiana Grand Sets Handle Record

Indiana Grand Racing & Casino capped a meet of broken records with a single-season all-sources handle record of $198,960,722. The 2020 figure was up 31% from the 2019 handle of $123,635,376. There were 26 fewer days in the 2020 meet, which concluded last Thursday.

Also during its 2020 season, Indiana Grand recorded its highest single program handle on the July 8 Indiana Derby card with a total of $5,979,952 wagered on the 12 races. The Indiana Derby race alone garnered $1,026,395, which was a single-race record for the track. The four-day race period also marked the best week ever in the 18-year history of racing for Indiana Grand, with a total of $13,176,192 wagered.

The final week of racing also established some records, with a total of $3,869,898 wagered on the final program of the year Thursday, marking the largest handle on a non-Indiana Derby racing card in the history of the track. In all, a total of six days in 2020 showed handle in excess of $3 million. A weather-shortened card of Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing was the only card which did not eclipse $1 million in total handle. The total of 91 days with handle in excess of $1 million is also a track record for Indiana Grand.

“To get 96 racing days in during these unprecedented times is a real credit to the Indiana Horse Racing Commission (IHRC) staff, our horsemen and our very dedicated group of employees,” said Eric Halstrom, vice president and general manager of racing at Indiana Grand. “When you consider that we did all of that while breaking every handle record on the books makes the season a success by any measure.”

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Despite Shorter Meet, Indiana Grand Sets Several New Wagering Records

Indiana Grand Racing & Casino in Shelbyville, Ind., completed its 18th season of Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing Thursday, Nov. 18. The abbreviated 96-day season offered 92 days of combined Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing along with four days dedicated directly to the sprinters to set a new wagering record of $198,960,722.

Record numbers were posted throughout the season. The track recorded its highest single program handle on the Indiana Derby Wednesday, July 8, with a total of $5,979,952 wagered on the 12-race card. The Indiana Derby race alone garnered $1,026,395, which was a single race record for the track. The four-day race period also marked the best week ever in the 18-year history of racing for Indiana Grand with a total of $13,176,192 wagered.

Overall, the track saw an increase of 60.93 percent over 2019. A total of $198,960,722 was wagered from all sources in 2020 compared to $123,635,376 in 2019 – with 26 fewer days in 2020.

Quarter Horse racing also saw a 17.33 percent increase in 2020. Total handle for Quarter Horse racing in 2020 was $20,143,348.30 compared to $17,168,338 in 2019 with two fewer all-Quarter Horse days held in 2020 compared to 2019. The track recorded its largest single card handle on an all-Quarter Horse day with $819,708.35 wagered on the Saturday, Aug. 8 program.

The final week of racing also established some records as a total of $3,869,898 was wagered on the final program of the year, Thursday, Nov. 19, marking the largest handle on a non-Indiana Derby racing card in the history of the track.

In all, a total of six days in 2020 showed handle in excess of $3 million. Only one card all season containing Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing did not eclipse $1 million in total handle, which was a shortened two-race day due to weather cancellation. The total of 91 days with handle in excess of $1 million is also a track record for Indiana Grand.

“To get 96 racing days in during these unprecedented times is a real credit to the Indiana Horse Racing Commission (IHRC) staff, our horsemen and our very dedicated group of employees,” said Eric Halstrom, vice president and general manager of racing. “When you consider that we did all of that while breaking every handle record on the books makes the season a success by any measure.”

Racing dates for 2021 will be reviewed and expected to be approved by the IHRC at their monthly meeting in December. Indiana Grand hopes to return to its regular 120- racing season including six days dedicated to Quarter Horse racing.

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‘This Is For Everyone That Has Been Supportive’: Rocco Bowen Hits 1,000-Win Milestone

Rocco Bowen has learned that good things come to those who wait. The native of Barbados was sidelined from a riding incident in September 2018 and was patient to get back in the saddle. He accomplished that goal this past spring and made the choice to ride at Indiana Grand in Shelbyville, Ind., this season. The return has paid off in many ways for Bowen. He is now a member of an exclusive club of jockeys with 1,000 wins in their career.

Bowen had been inching toward the milestone, winning consistently until he got to his 999th victory on Nov. 4. At that point, he was close in several of his 23 races, but it was a pick-up mount in the evening's ninth race at Indiana Grand aboard the Tim Glyshaw-trained Dox Folly that gave him the milestone Wednesday, Nov. 11.

“I even changed my boots today,” said a smiling Bowen regarding the gap between wins. “This sign is going straight to my mom. Thank you to everyone. It's been such a pleasure to be here and everyone has been so welcoming. I want to thank all the agents throughout my career and all the people that have been in my corner. This is for everyone that has been supportive.”

One of the stables that has supported Bowen's return to riding at Indiana Grand is the Paul Holthus Stable. Bowen was interviewed by Paul's wife, Nancy, who serves as the paddock analyst at Indiana Grand. She noted how pleased she was to do the interview to celebrate Bowen's milestone.

“You, Nancy Holthus, have been so welcoming,” said Bowen. “You gave me the same confidence that my mom gives me and she's 1,000 miles away. You encouraged me a few weeks ago when I was down, and I so appreciate that.”

Bowen noted he has felt “at home” since arriving in Indiana.

“For some reason, this has felt like home right off the bat,” added Bowen. “Indiana Grand has been so welcoming and I'm glad to call this new place home. I hope to build my mom a house here and now we are back on track for that.”

Eric Halstrom, vice president and general manager of racing, made the winner's circle presentation to Bowen following his win aboard Dox Folly. Bowen is currently among the top 10 jockeys in his first year riding in Indiana, and earlier this season, scored his first stakes win in more than two years at the track. His milestone win was the 36th of the meet and he is less than $120,000 from reaching $1 million in purse earnings this season at Indiana Grand with five racing programs left for 2020.

In all, Bowen has accumulated more than $11 million in purses throughout his career since arriving in North America in 2007. Since that time, he has been among the top 100 jockeys nationally five times with 2017 his best finish in 34th place among all riders in North America.

Racing continues through Thursday, Nov. 19. For more information, go to www.indianagrand.com.

Indiana Grand's Eric Halstrom with Rocco Bowen

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