“We are excited to have Dr. Peterson join our team at the IHRC,” said IHRC Executive Director Deena Pitman. “It is essential to have full-time guidance from a talented individual who has the necessary education and background to assist our agency in animal and safety welfare. Dr. Peterson will serve as an available regulatory resource in working with racing officials, practicing veterinarians and horsemen regarding current rules, proposed medication rules and assist the commission in navigating the safety and animal welfare issues being proposed nationally. This position is critical to Indiana maintaining the high level of integrity and standards we have built within our racing industry over the years,”

In her role as Equine Medical Director, Peterson will be providing oversight for all IHRC-related veterinary and equine health needs including testing procedures, compliance, enforcement of commission regulations and spearheading new programs affecting equine welfare. She will be dividing her time between Indiana's two pari-mutual tracks as well as the IHRC's Indianapolis office and can be contacted at KePeterson@hrc.IN.gov.

“I'm excited to join the Indiana Horse Racing Commission as their Equine Medical Director,” Peterson said. “Horse racing has always been a passion of mine. I'm looking forward to working with the Indiana horse racing industry stakeholders to help improve the safety and welfare of the horses and the integrity of the sport.”

The post Peterson Joins IHRC As Equine Medical Director appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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The two-year-old Breeders Crown finals will highlight the 15-race card on Friday evening while the sophomore and open competitors will take center stage on Saturday evening. The first Breeders Crown race will be race eight each evening and will have an estimated post time of 8:24 p.m. EDT.

In addition to the regular pick-4 sequence in races 3-6, two pick-4 sequences have been added to both Friday and Saturday's cards. A $20,000 Guaranteed Pick-4 will be featured in races 7-10 with a $40,000 Guaranteed Pick-4 in Races 12-15. Harrah's Hoosier Park will also guarantee their signature wager, the Hoosier High-5, at $20,000 each night and will be featured in Race 15 with a 12% reduced takeout.

A special all-stakes pick-8 has been added to the wagering menu for Saturday's card and will begin with the first Breeders Crown race, race 8. The pick-8 will be guaranteed at $10,000.

“Our racing fans will notice a number of additional wagering pools when they begin handicapping our Friday and Saturday Breeders Crown racing cards,” said Harrah's Hoosier Park VP and GM of Racing, Rick Moore. “We believe these pools will be well received and will provide value and liquidity for those participating and fortunate enough to select the winning combinations.

The entirety of our wagering menu is designed to bring added excitement to two incredible racing cards featuring the greatest equine and human stars our sport has to offer.”

The full list of multi-leg wagers for this weekend's Breeders Crown cards is listed below:

Friday:

• Early Pick-4 in Races 3-6
• Pick-5 in Races 1-5, 6-10 and 11-15
• $20,000 Mid-Card Pick-4 in Races 8-11
• $40,000 Late Pick-4 in Races 12-15
• Jackpot Pick-6 in Races 10-15
• $20,000 Guaranteed Hoosier High-5 in Race 15

Saturday:

• Early Pick-4 in Races 3-6
• Pick-5 in Races 1-5, 6-10 and 11-15
• $20,000 Mid-Card Pick-4 in Races 8-11
• $10,000 Guaranteed All Stakes Pick-8 in Races 8-15
• $40,000 Late Pick-4 in Races 12-15
• Jackpot Pick-6 in Races 10-15
• $20,000 Guaranteed Hoosier High-5 in Race 15

Harrah's Hoosier Park will provide a free live high-definition streaming of the entire Breeders Crown racing cards on YouTube and can be found by clicking here. The live stream broadcast will be part of a week-long coverage leading up to the Breeders Crown finals. Harrah's Hoosier Park's social media feeds will also stream the Breeders Crown event week festivities. In addition to live streaming, there will be over 500 outlets receiving the Harrah's Hoosier Park racing signal including Australia and for the first time the Harrah's Hoosier Park live racing signal will be seen in the Scandinavian countries of Sweden, Finland, Norway and Denmark.

Harrah's Hoosier Park Racing & Casino will host the 2020 Breeders Crown Finals with limited spectators, in accordance with the approved health and safety plan for the event.

“Our team at Harrah's Hoosier Park remains focused on hosting a highly-successful Breeders Crown, in partnership with the Hambletonian Society, the Indiana Standardbred Association, and the Indiana Horse Racing Commission,” Moore noted. “We will once again execute a top-notch, two-night event to decide year-end honors for the best harness racing athletes in North America, all while keeping the safety of our guests, team members, and racing community at the forefront of our event.”

The 2020 Breeders Crown event, presented by The Libfeld-Katz Breeding Partnership, will be the 37th edition of the $6 million event. For more information on the Breeders Crown or upcoming events at Harrah's Hoosier Park, please visit www.harrahshoosierpark.com.

The post Hoosier Park Announces Expanded Wagering Menu, Streaming Options For Breeders Crown appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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“While we appreciate everyone’s trust in the Commission’s ability to maintain Indiana’s high caliber racing program, we recognize the relationship between the casino and racing is a unique marriage,” stated Philip C. Borst, DVM, Chairman of IHRC. “This hand-in-hand partnership between the IHRC, horsemen and racetracks is necessary to succeed in moving Indiana racing to the next level.”

The post Indiana Racing Commission Approves Transfer in Ownership of Tracks appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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A report from commission staff last week highlighted a series of concerns about Eldorado's past management of racetracks it has owned, including Pompano Park, Scioto Downs, Presque Isle Downs, and Mountaineer Park. While the report noted representatives of Eldorado had presented come exciting plans and promises to the commission about its commitment to the future of Indiana racing, there were concerns about its financial liquidity and tendency to reduce staff and other costs, to the disadvantage of racing operations.

“I will tell you, I read Executive Director Pittman's report, I've read the Reed report. I'm not going to stand in front of you and offer excuses,” said Tom Reeg, chief executive officer at Eldorado. “I know the Reed report was not acceptable to me, it's not acceptable to this commission, and you've seen us make changes immediately upon the issuance of it. But also understand you can't fix those issues in a couple of months by hiring one guy. We've seen the list of conditions in Executive Director Pittman's report; we understand that the commission, if they give us the opportunity to own these tracks, they'll hold our feet to the fire. We are ready and willing to accept all of the conditions in that report.”

One of the newer company developments highlighted by Eldorado to reassure Indiana's racing industry was the hiring of Joe Morris as its senior vide president for racing operations. Morris formerly held the title of senior vice president of West Coast operations at The Stronach Group before departing in 2017. Morris admitted that when approached for the position earlier this year, he had reservations.

“Eldorado and the tracks lacked expertise in their management,” said Morris, who said he too studied the company's racing history with concern. “The managers did lack authority, and they were mired in bureaucracy. It took too long to get a decision made.

“When I was talking with Anthony [Carano, COO of Eldorado] about taking this position, I had the same three concerns [as consultant Doug Reed]. The racing people need to be making racing decisions and we've fixed that in this case. The corporate structure actually mandates that.”

Morris pointed to increases in daily handle at Scioto Downs, which was the first North American harness track to reopen after the COVID-19 shutdown. He attributed the improvements to new wagering menus, better analysts guiding horseplayers through the track's card, and an adjustment in post times to address computer wagering. Morris also said he brought in new surface experts to Scioto and would plan to do the same in Indiana.

In addition to a $20 million to $25 million commitment to an escrow account for racing, the company plans to allot $60 million for facility improvements across racing and casino operations. Morris spoke of additional barns and dormitories at Indiana Grand, as well as a need to stimulate Indiana-based ownership across all three racing breeds.

“The future of racing is very bright here,” said Morris. “There's nothing to fix; I think we can polish it up a little bit.”

Several speakers, including horsemen and commissioners admitted that they were initially skeptical of Eldorado's ability to avoid a repeat of the mistakes outlined in last week's staff report. But many said after intense discussions with Eldorado management, they have instead become hopeful the company will boost racing in the state with careful oversight from the commission.

A couple of speakers said they were not convinced.

“I'm hearing some good stuff. I'd love to believe it,” said Nat Hill, longtime horseman in the state and one of the directors at the Indiana Standardbred Association.

“No horseman's group can afford to publicly oppose the acquisition of Caesars by Eldorado. A horseman makes his living at the track, and a track has the absolute ability to refuse entries. Over the years, horsemen and horsemen's groups have learned to go with the flow. In no circumstance will they ever likely oppose a change in ownership.

“Perhaps most disturbing to me personally is the lawsuit instituted by Eldorado to kill harness racing in Florida by replacing it with jai alai. How can it be overstated that Eldorado is using every legal means possible to kill harness racing in Florida? What will their plans be in Indiana in years to come?”

Ultimately, the commission's approval included a list of conditions, including all 22 requirements suggested by commission staff. Eldorado will therefore be committed to getting NTRA Safety and Integrity Alliance for its racetracks, required to keep ownership of both Hoosier and Indiana Grand, will be required to maintain existing staffing levels. Eldorado representatives also committed to continuing a program launched by Caesars to improve gender and racial diversity in its company's management.

The post Indiana Racing Commission Approves Eldorado Acquisition Of Racetracks — With Conditions appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Both Hoosier and Indiana Grand will operate at reduced capacity, in accordance with State of Indiana and the Indiana Horse Racing Commission guidelines. All guests will be strongly encouraged to wear face masks in all locations, and will be required to wear face masks while indoors at both venues except while consuming food or beverages. Sports book operations at both properties remain closed until further notice. For a full list of all the amenities that will be available, visit www.harrahshoosierpark.com or www.IndianaGrand.com.

For additional updates on Caesars Entertainment’s response to COVID-19, click here.

The post Spectators Return to Hoosier Park, Indiana Grand July 4 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Both Harrah's Hoosier Park and Indiana Grand will operate at reduced capacity, in accordance with State of Indiana and the Indiana Horse Racing Commission guidelines. All guests will be strongly encouraged to wear face masks in all locations, but will be required to wear face masks while indoors at both venues except while consuming food or beverages.

Harrah's Hoosier Park and Indiana Grand remain committed to following all safety protocols outlined by the State of Indiana and have implemented Caesars Entertainment Corporation's (“Caesars Entertainment”) new health and safety protocols, which enhance its existing plans and practices in these areas. Both properties are focused on the well-being of team members, guests and their communities, and are working to create environments with enhanced standards of sanitization and physical distancing practices.

Further updates on Caesars Entertainment's response to COVID-19 can be found at: https://www.caesars.com/corporate/coronavirus-guest-information.

The post Indiana Grand, Hoosier Park To Welcome Spectators Wearing Face Masks Beginning July 4 appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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