Indiana Grand | Horse Racing Free Tips

‘It Means A Lot’: Indiana Grand Jockeys Host Annual Toy Drive

Collecting toys for local children has become an annual event at Indiana Grand Racing & Casino. As the 2021 racing season winds down, this year's jockey colony brought in over 75 new toys to distribute to area children just in time for the holiday season.

“We just want to see everybody have a good Christmas,” said Tommy Pompell, who owns a home locally in Shelbyville, Ind. “It means a lot for us to all come together like this for these kids in our area.”

The jockeys came together after the third race Wednesday, Nov. 10 and surrounded the pile of donated items that will be distributed to local children in need. Twelve of the jockeys joined Rachel McLaughlin, on-air racing analyst, for the presentation in the paddock. Jockeys included in the presentation were Jose Riquelme, Santo Sanjur, Marcelino Pedroza Jr., Alex Achard, Andrea Rodriguez, Tommy Pompell, Perry Ouzts, Rodney Prescott, Joe Ramos, DeShawn Parker, Agustin Bracho and Joshua Morales. Many of the jockeys grew up in countries where presents were sometimes not available around the holidays. Being able to share happiness during the holidays has become very important to them.

Alex Achard, a native of France, may be a long way from home, but he still knows how important it is to give back to the community he calls home six months out of the year. Achard donated several toys to the drive with hopes it will put smiles on the faces of kids around Christmas.

“It is a pleasure to help kids who need a little help,” said Achard. “For us, it is not much to do, but we hope for them it will mean a lot. We hope to give brightness to their Christmas.”

The 20th season of Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing is set to resume Tuesday, April 19 and run through Wednesday, Nov. 23. Racing will be held Monday through Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. with Thursday racing beginning at 3:30 p.m. A total of 12 Saturday racing programs will be held in 2022. For more information on events and racing, go to www.indianagrand.com.

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Indiana Grand: ‘Bettor Appreciation,’ Veteran’s Day Challenge Close Out Season

Indiana Grand Racing & Casino in Shelbyville, Ind., will wrap up its record-setting racing season Thursday, Nov. 11. Several promotions are included on the Veteran's Day program featuring “Bettor Appreciation” as a way to say “Thank You” to all the racing fans that have supported the program this season.

To help usher out the 19^th season, the Indiana Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association (HBPA) will sponsor a special $2,500 Veteran's Day Challenge handicapping contest open to players both online and on-track.

The Veteran's Day Challenge will be held on six races with players submitting their top selection for races five through 10. The event will end on the inaugural running of the $75,000 Salute the Heroes Stakes race with all veterans in attendance invited to come to the winner's circle to help present the trophy and blanket to the winner. The top 10 handicappers at the end of the contest will be awarded prizes with first place taking home the grand prize of $1,000 courtesy of Indiana HBPA.

The Veteran's Day Challenge is open to all players 18 years of age and older. All entries must be submitted by 4:25 p.m. to play with online individuals sending in selections to indianagrandcontest@gmail.com. Racing fans on track will submit entries to the first floor OTB counter by the deadline. All winners are subject to verification of identity and must adhere to contest rules to be eligible to play and win.

Joining Indiana HBPA's Veteran's Day Challenge will be a seeded $50,000 Pick 5. Indiana Grand will add $50,000 into the pool to kick off the wager, rewarding the fleet of loyal racing fans who have watched and wagered on Indiana's program this season. The Pick 5 begins in Race 6 on the program with an estimated post time of 5 p.m. EST.

To help boost the Pick 5, 20 handicappers from across the nation will submit Pick 5 tickets worth up to $250 each, courtesy of Indiana Grand. All proceeds from the wagers will be earmarked to Homeless Veterans and Families (HVAF) of Indiana.

Handicappers included in the lineup for the charitable wagers are Steve Byk, “At the Races;” Dan Dakich, 1070 The Fan ESPN Radio; Jeremiah Johnson, Indiana Pacers; Aaron Vercruysse, Southern California handicapper; Ellis Starr, Equibase; Gene McLean, The Pressbox; John Dooley, Fair Grounds Track Announcer, Jimmy McNerney, Ellis Park Track Announcer; Anthony Stabile, NYRA; Mike Penna, Horse Racing Radio Network; Sak, Social Media Influencer and Handicapper; Sarge, TVG; Dan Tordjman, America's Best Racing; Ed DeRosa, Horse Racing Nation; Louis Rabaut, Horse Racing Happy Hour; Briana Mott, Stable Duel; Big Mike, Horse Racing Happy Hour, Megan Devine, On-Air Host and Television Personality; Producer Kyle, WRTV Channel 6 and Dan Dakich Show; and Scott Ehlers, Daily Racing Form.

The 20^th season of Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing is set to resume Tuesday, April 19 and run through Wednesday, Nov. 23. Racing will be held Monday through Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. with Thursday racing beginning at 3:30 p.m. A total of 12 Saturday racing programs will be held in 2022. For more information on events and racing, go to www.indianagrand.com.

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‘It’s A Great Feeling’: Rodney Prescott Rides 4,000th Winner Thursday At Indiana Grand

Rodney Prescott, Indiana's all-time leading jockey in wins, hit another milestone in his career Thursday by recording his 4,000th career victory aboard We All See It at Indiana Grand.

Prescott came into the day needing one win to achieve the 4,000-milestone. He was scheduled to ride in five of the nine races, but it was a late pick-up that brought him the special win aboard We All See It for trainer Eddie Kenneally in the $34,000 2-year-old maiden in the fourth race of the day.

Starting from post seven, We All See It made his presence known early and was in contention for the lead in the one-mile event. Heading into the final turn, Prescott was able to take over and was on top of the field by more than four lengths at the head of the stretch. He extended his lead to over 11 lengths at the wire for the win over Ronnie's Vice and Emmanuel Esquivel and Rowley's Dream and Fernando De La Cruz for second and third respectively.

We All See It is owned by Rick and Ron Rashinski's Homewrecker Racing and Brad Anderson's Anderson Stables. It was the third career start for the freshman son of Street Sense, who was purchased for $250,000 at the Fasig Tipton Select Yearling Sale last fall.

“They didn't give me many instructions,” said Prescott, who has competed in more than 31,000 career races. “They said to let him break and put him where he's comfortable and set off the pace if we could. I knew we were in front quite a ways in the stretch before I uncocked my stick. I just wanted to keep his attention in case someone came flying up at us late.”

Prescott is currently among the top 10 riders this season at Indiana Grand. He has won three leading jockey titles at the track (2004, 2005, 2018) and has been among the top 10 in all 19 seasons of racing. A native of Portland, Ind., he began riding in 1994 and has competed in all 27 years of pari-mutuel racing in the state of Indiana. In all, he has won more than 1,150 career races at Indiana Grand and purse earnings in excess of $23.8 million. He also has several leading rider titles to his credit at River Downs and Turfway Park.

“When I started off in 1994, I had no idea how long I would be riding and if you'd told me I'd still be riding 26 years later, I wouldn't have believed it,” added Prescott, who is 47. “It's a great feeling to have the career I've had. I plan on riding a few more years.”

Prescott was greeted in the winner's circle by many of his fellow jockeys for the celebration. He was presented with a big sign to commemorate the 4,000-win milestone.

Prescott recently purchased a farm in nearby Franklin, Ind. Earlier in the day, his Rottweiler had 12 puppies at the farm, so adding his 4,000th win to the afternoon completed a good day for Prescott.

The 19th season of Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing concludes Thursday, Nov. 11. Live racing is conducted at 2:25 p.m. Monday through Wednesday and Thursday, Nov. 11. First post all other Thursdays leading up to the end of the meet begin at 3:25 p.m. More information about the 2021 racing season is available at www.caesars.com/indiana-grand.

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Bettor Appreciation: $50,000 Seeded Into Closing Day Pick 5 At Indiana Grand

Indiana Grand Racing & Casino will wrap up the record setting season of Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing Thursday, Nov. 11 for a special Veteran's Day celebration beginning at 2:25 p.m. The day will also feature a Bettor Appreciation program with Indiana Grand placing $50,000 of added money into the Pick 5 in recognition of the racing fans who supported the 19th season of Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing in 2021.

“We have had such a good year and we've been looking for a way to give back to all of the racing fans who supported us this year,” said Eric Halstrom, Vice President and General Manager of Racing. “We have saved this money for the Pick 5 pool as a way to say, 'thank you' to those who have been so loyal in watching and wagering on Indiana Grand this season.”

The Pick 5 pool will consist of the final five Thoroughbred races on the program. To take the promotion a step further, 20 handicappers from across the nation will be given $250 to place into the wager with all proceeds from those tickets going directly to Homeless Veterans and Families, Inc. (HVAF) of Indiana.

“We wanted to honor those who served our country with something special on Veteran's Day,” added Halstrom. “HVAF provides so much for veterans in our region, from assistance with accommodations and food to employment and extended education programs. A few years ago, our jockeys collected more than 360 pounds worth of peanut butter for HVAF, a staple in their food bank. We will earmark these Pick 5 tickets from some of the top handicappers in the nation directly to the programs at HVAF.”

In addition to the $50,000 added money for the Pick 5, the inaugural running of the $75,000 Salute The Heroes Stakes race will be contested. Also, an ice scraper mitt and Veteran's Day tumbler will be given away to racing fans on track while supplies last. Finally, a special $1,000 Veteran's Day Warriors Handicapping Contest will take place for racing fans both on-track and online with the top five handicappers receiving a share of the $1,000 prize money.

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