Indiana Grand | Horse Racing Free Tips

‘Treasure Of The Midwest’: New Media Project Highlights Indiana Thoroughbred Industry

It's time for the little guy to be in the spotlight, and that's exactly what Champions of the Track is looking to do with their new multimedia project titled Treasure of the Midwest.

Champions of the Track is a digital media company based in Indiana with the sole purpose to promote horse racing around the world. With a strong love of the sport, the small team brings an “outsider's perspective” to the sport, hoping to encourage more “outsiders” to fall in love right along with them.

Treasure of the Midwest is a partnership between Champions of the Track, the Indiana Thoroughbred Alliance, Indiana Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association and Indiana Grand Racing & Casino to promote the breeding and racing of Thoroughbred horses in Indiana. The project will consist of a YouTube series showcasing some of the state's farms and horsemen, as well as written stories of Indiana-bred horses. The three-person team is currently visiting farms and Indiana Grand to gather stories and share the enthusiasm.

“Indiana offers such a large financial benefit to breeders, stallion owners and racehorse owners who choose to participate in the Indiana Thoroughbred Breed Development Program,” says Kaeli Bartholomew, owner and creative director for Champions of the Track. “Indiana's horseracing industry is a well-kept secret that we want to spread nationwide.”

One of the first Indiana farms featured was Springcliff Farm, owned by Christine Cagle in Martinsville, Indiana. In 2021, alone, Springcliff has foaled 50 future racehorses. The farm was originally established in 1864 by the Thomas family. The beautiful farm is adorned with red barns and several lush, green pastures dotted with healthy and happy broodmares and foals.

“I just love what I do, even with the long hours during foaling season,” says Cagle. “Indiana doesn't get as much credit for its racing program as we should. We're always growing. In fact, I have breeders from as far as across the globe sending their mares here to foal and be part of the program.

“Having this multimedia push from Kaeli and Champions of the Track will be such a help for the little breeders, owners and horsemen who maybe can't afford their own marketing plans,” Cagle continues. “It was a no-brainer for us to participate and to support this endeavor.”

Horses such as the beautiful gray filly, Piedi Bianchi, are also part of the highlights. Indiana-bred Piedi Bianchi stormed on the racing scene as a 2-year-old racing in California. She finished in the top five in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies in 2017 and has sense raced from California to Indiana to Florida, earning more than $610,000 in lifetime earnings for her owners. Veteran supporters of the Indiana program, Deann and Greg Baer, DVM, bred the super filly and have been excited to follow her progress.

“It's been a lot of fun, racing this filly,” owner Jay Oringer told Bartholomew. “It's exciting for my whole family and group of friends in Queens, New York, to follow her. She has a lot of fans!”

More information can be found on the Champions of the Track website (www.champsofthetrack.com) and on their social media platforms.

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Indiana Sired Stakes: Sky Judge Makes Up For Lost Time, Hungarian Princess Still On Top

After getting a late start to his racing career, Sky Judge is definitely making up for lost time. Making his first career stakes start, Sky Judge ruled over his opponents for the win in the eighth running of the $75,000 Sagamore Sired Stakes Wednesday, May 19. The event was one of two on the card, marking the first stakes races of the 2021 season at Indiana Grand.

Starting from post seven, Sky Judge and jockey Orlando Mojica left out of the gate with authority, grabbing the top spot on the inside before Binge and Joe Ramos joined them on the outside heading to the quarter. From that point on, the three-year-old Sahara Sky gelding took over, increasing his lead around the only turn of the five and one-half furlong race, the first time it has been conducted at this distance, moving from six furlongs.

In the stretch, Sky Judge was in front by more than four lengths, increasing to an even larger margin as the finish line neared, winning the race by seven and one-half lengths in 1:04.83. Manuelito and Tommy Pompell moved up quickly from the back to score the second-place finish by a neck over Royal Icing and Edgar Morales for third.

Because it was his first time in stakes company, Sky Judge was a bit of a surprise, paying $11.20 for the win. Bred by Samuel and William Martin Trust and Edmund Martin Trustee, Sky Judge is now two for three this year at Indiana Grand and is two for seven in his career.

“This colt (Sky Judge) was at my farm and nobody wanted to train him, so I took him,” said Roberts, who has a training center on the west side of Indianapolis. “The first of the year, he really woke up and started training better. I can't do all of this by myself and I have really good help that pays attention and helped me with this horse.”

Roberts, who runs his horses under his training center name of Indy Dancer's Training Center, has had horses in the past that have competed in the bigger stakes in the state of Indiana, including the Indiana Derby. Early indications are pointing Sky Judge to the same path.

“That's the plan, to point him toward the Indiana Derby,” added Roberts. “I have horses both on the track and at the farm, but he stays here. We'll see how he comes out of the race. We may take him home and let him eat some grass and relax.”

For Mojica, he fits Sky Judge like a glove. He is now two for two aboard the gelding and detected his talent early on.

“I've worked him two times in the morning,” said Mojica. “He worked great. He can be a little hyper at times, but he does everything right. We thought today we would just try to get to the lead because no one else seemed to want it. He was in front at the break and when I asked him to go, he took off. I looked up and saw on the tv (jumbotron) how far ahead we were, and I thought I'd better take hold and slow him down some near the finish. He just keeps getting better and better with every start.”

It's already been a big year for Mojica, who is a three-time leading jockey at Indiana Grand. Mojica scored his 2,500th career win to kick off the season in Indiana in mid-April. The Puerto-Rican born jockey is among the top 10 this season and his win aboard Sky Judge was his 31st stakes victory in Indiana Thoroughbred history.

Hungarian Princess, last year's 2-year-old filly champion of Indiana, is back. The heavily favored filly did not disappoint in her second start of the season, strolling to victory in the eighth running of the $75,000 Swifty Sired Fillies Stakes Wednesday, May 19 at Indiana Grand.

Starting from post nine in the nine-horse lineup, Hungarian Princess was one of the first ones out of the gate but backed off as Starlet Express and Marcelino Pedroza set the tempo on the inside. It only took a couple of taps of the whip from jockey Sammy Bermudez to signal Hungarian Princess to go and she was on a mission, moving up three wide around the turn.

At the top of the stretch, Hungarian Princess took over the lead and was seamless to the wire in the five and one-half furlong event, winning by one and three-quarter lengths in a time of 1:04.56. Pearl Tiara and Fernando De La Cruz made a surprise late bid to move into second as a longshot along with Miss Deputy Star and Alex Achard, also a longshot who held on gamely on the inside for third.

Hungarian Princess is trained by Kim Hammond for her owner-breeder Swifty Farms Inc. just off Interstate 65 in Seymour, Ind. She is now four for seven in her career and has been ridden in all of her starts by Bermudez.

“I think she's gotten better this year,” said Bermudez. “I've been on her a few times in the morning and worked her for Kim (Hammond). She just told me today to win. She was sharp and when you ask, she goes. She knows when it's time to go and she knows where the wire is. She's a fun horse to ride.”

Hungarian Princess increased her career bankroll to more than $180,000 with the win. It was her third stakes win in her career so far, which has all taken place at Indiana Grand.

The 19th season of Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing is now in progress and continues through Monday, Nov. 8. Live racing is conducted at 2:25 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, with first post on Thursday set at 3:25 p.m. A special Indiana Champions Day highlighting the state's top Thoroughbred and Quarter Horses will be held Saturday, Oct. 30, beginning at noon. More information about the 2021 racing season is available at www.caesars.com/indiana-grand.

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Harvard Has Them Seeing ‘Red’ In Maiden Romp

3rd-Indiana Grand, $31,000, Msw, 5-12, 3yo/up, 1m 70y, 1:43.45, ft, 4 1/2 lengths.
HARVARD (c, 3, Pioneerof the Nile–Sambuca Classica, by Cat Thief) finished second behind a good-looking debut from American Prince (Liam's Map) at Gulfstream Feb. 28 and was stretching out to two turns off a distant runner-up effort behind Triple Crown winner Justify (Scat Daddy)'s 'TDN Rising Star' half-brother Stage Raider (Pioneerof the Nile) in a sloppy seven-furlong maiden at Keeneland Apr. 10. Stage Raider, incidentally, is the morning-line 2-5 favorite for a one-mile Belmont allowance Friday afternoon. Pounded into 1-2 favoritism with blinkers going on for the first time, Harvard was urged along early between rivals to lead heading into the first turn and was allowed to dictate a very easy pace while traveling comfortably. Asked for his best in upper stretch, the bay put the race to bed within a few strides, accounting for 23-10 second pick W W Crazy (Jess's Dream) by 4 1/2 very comfortable lengths. Harvard is a full-brother to Classic Empire, Ch. 2yo Colt, MGISW, $2,520,220; and a half-brother to Exclamation Point (Concord Point), SP, $290,540; Anytime Magic (Fusaichi Pegasus), MSW, $202,945; and Uptown Twirl (Twirling Candy), MSW, $170,714, and is a maternal grandson of SW & MGISP In Her Glory (Miswaki). Sambuca Classic aborted to the late Pioneerof the Nile in 2019, but foaled colts by Justify in each of the last two years. Lifetime Record: 3-1-2-0, $42,800. Click for the Equibase.com chart.
O-WinStar Farm LLC & CHC INC; B-China Horse Club International Limited (KY); T-Rodolphe Brisset.

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Elevating Horse Racing: How Indiana Grand’s Eric Halstrom Is Changing The Viewing Experience

Eric Halstrom, Vice President and General Manager of Racing at Indiana Grand Racing and Casino, is on a quest. He wants to create the kind of innovation that will make Indiana Grand not just the gold standard in horse tracks, but a point of reference in the larger entertainment world.

I had the pleasure of working with Eric when he led innovation at Harrah's Louisiana Downs, using new ideas to help drive a staggering 70% increase in its wagering handle.

In a time when our industry is at crossroads, Eric and his team are charging ahead with innovations like a new drone program, a new audio and visual system for the Indiana Horse Racing Commission stewards, and a robust social media presence.

Driving innovation in horse racing

Anyone working in horse racing knows our industry isn't quick to change. For years, production and distribution have been stuck in a standard definition and closed-distribution rabbit hole. This has hindered the industry from finding new destinations and audiences, as well as new opportunities to enter the wider sports betting market.

Remote production and high definition content distribution changes what's possible for the industry, and Eric and his team have jumped on the opportunity to delight fans and find a wider audience.

Being a horse racing enthusiast and sports bettor himself, Eric understood what customers want: a compelling viewing experience. That's true whether they're watching TV or at the track. And when it comes to wagering, the right camera angle can speak a thousand words. That's why Eric is so excited about Indiana Grand's deployment of a camera drone which will capture shots and angles that weren't possible before.

The Matrice 200 Drone features the latest capabilities in aerial production, including zoom options with adjustable speed. The device is a little less than three feet in width and stands 16 inches high. The drone project hasn't necessarily been easy to execute. Although drones have been deployed in a limited capacity at the Breeders' Cup, this is the first time one will be fully integrated into horse racing TV production.

Luckily, Eric's 15- strong team shares his ambition for innovating and Eric knew the camera drone idea had legs.

“You know your idea is good when it sparks excitement across the team,” he said. “Everyone immediately felt that deploying a camera drone would shake up the horse racing viewing experience.”

In addition to upfront investment in drone technology, Eric's team had to recruit three drone operators willing to go through 80 hours of training with the Federal Aviation Administration to be licensed a Remote Pilot Certificate.

Orlando Mojica in the Indiana Grand winner's circle with track executive Eric Halstrom

Geared to win

2020 has been a challenging year, with the industry relying on creative and passionate people like Eric to keep going while looking for new opportunities. Is innovation as easy as it sounds? Definitely not. Eric and his team are ready to up their game.

“We want to explore what shots are particularly interesting to our clients and deliver them consistently,” he said. “We appreciate that innovation is a trial and error process.

“As we continue to optimize the equipment, we'll discover opportunities with the drone that we aren't even aware of at this time.”

Rich Rosa is the Vice President of Business Development for Wagering and Simulcasting at LTN Global Communications. As LTN's horse racing industry lead, Rich partners with tracks across the country to help them create high-quality productions and find new distribution outlets to raise their profile — and ultimately their wagering handle. LTN offers centralized production and IP-based transport services to help tracks produce and/or distribute high-quality HD and 4K content.

About LTN Global

LTN® Global is a worldwide leader in video technology solutions for producers and distributors of broadcast-quality content. Built on the world's fastest and most reliable IP multicast network, LTN's universal media ecosystem unites modular services and integrates with other leading technologies to bring full-video-chain workflows, driving scale from creation and acquisition to monetization and delivery.

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