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Indiana Grand Adjusts Race Dates, Off-Turf Wagering Rules, Cuts Pick 4 Takeout

Several changes for the upcoming 2021 racing season at Indiana Grand Racing & Casino were approved by the Indiana Horse Racing Commission at its Tuesday meeting regarding race dates and wagering and takeout rules. Indiana Grand was initially set to hold live racing Saturday, May 1 during GI Kentucky Derby Day. However, due to uncertainty directly related to COVID-19, a request was submitted to the IHRC to reallocate that date to Monday, Nov. 8, 2021, which will become closing day for the 19th season of Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing at Indiana Grand.

The IHRC also approved a rule change that dictates races taken off the turf once the wagering pools have closed for the Pick 4, Pick 5 and Pick 6 will now become “all” wagers. The Pick 6 will now become a scenario where “all” horses in that race will be considered a winner. Formerly, when a horse scratched from a race taken off the turf after the close of the wagering pools, the customer was given a substitute of the post time favorite.

Indiana Grand introduced a lower takeout for the Pick 5 in 2020 at 11.99%, which remains in effect. In addition, the IHRC approved a reduced takeout for the Pick 4 along with the Pick 6 Jackpot wagers to 15% beginning in 2021.

“We are always looking for ways to enhance our betting platforms and with the growing popularity of our multiple-race wagers, and we felt a reduced takeout on these two wagers would be very attractive to our racing customers,” said Eric Halstrom, vice president and general manager of racing. “We've seen a tremendous increase in interest in these types of wagers at Indiana Grand and are excited to make them a better value for our fan base.”

Live racing returns to Indiana Grand Tuesday, Apr. 13. Racing will be conducted at 2:25 p.m. ET Monday through Wednesday with first post on Thursday set at 3:25 p.m.

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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.”

The post Indiana Grand Approved For 120 Race Dates In 2021 appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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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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