Indiana Grand Racing and Casino | Horse Racing Free Tips

Stewards to Provide Televised Explanations for Decisions at Indiana Grand

Indiana Grand Racing and Casino has implemented a new audio and visual system for the track's stewards which will allow Senior State Steward Eric Smith to provide a live, televised explanation from the steward's room on how officials made their decision during an infraction.

“We feel providing an explanation directly from the stewards is a great way to inform fans watching and wagering on our product,” said Eric Halstrom, Indiana Grand's vice President and general manager of racing. “They will now be able explain how they came to a conclusion on a specific ruling and give insight on the information they reviewed and gathered from the jockeys involved in the incident.”

Indiana Grand also announced Thursday it will be using a drone to offer enhanced camera angles for television production of its upcoming Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse meets.

“Our team has been challenged to take Caesars' racing to the forefront in technology and a drone is one step in doing so,” said Halstrom. “As we began to pull this new concept in, we started realizing how this drone could really showcase our racing program and set our TV production apart from others. It's important to note we do not plan on changing the way people watch our races but rather complement our current production with innovative views that nobody else is offering in their daily broadcasts. Lastly, we also view this as a potential way to assist the stewards in reviewing races, especially in areas where current camera angles are more difficult than others to see the full action of a race”

The Matrice 200 Drone, which is a little less than three feet in width and stands 16 inches high, is capable of zoom options with adjustable speed and is programmable from location to location. Operators are required to be licensed with the Federal Aviation Administration with a Remote Pilot Certificate. Three of Indiana Grand's audio-visual department team members recently completed training and are now licensed to fly the drone.

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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.

“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.”

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 Makes Meals on Wheels Donation

Indiana Grand Racing & Casino made a $5,000 donation to its local division of Meals on Wheels, which provides meals to the homebound in the Shelbyville area.

“Without the services Meals on Wheels provides, many individuals would either go hungry or would not follow appropriate dietary needs,” said Indiana Grand vice president of marketing Elena Lisle. “To think of someone not receiving this service really tugs at your heart. We see their van frequently traveling around town delivering meals and we want to ensure this service remains in place for the residents of Shelbyville and Shelby County.”

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Indiana Grand Donates to Cancer Relief

Indiana Grand Racing & Casino recently donated $5,000 to the Cancer Association of Shelby County, which provides assistance to patients currently fighting cancer. The Cancer Association of Shelby County was unable to hold its major fundraiser this year due to COVID-19 restrictions. The donation, part of Indiana Grand’s year-end initiative to give back to the local community, was made during a special presentation at the track.

“We have many team members that have battled cancer in the past or are currently dealing with the disease,” said Elena Lisle, Indiana Grand’s vice president of marketing. “We have recently lost a few fellow team members to cancer, and the impact of losing a loved one is a tremendous blow to any family, including a work family. Being able to step up and provide any assistance is so important and we are glad to help out in any way we can.”

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