“Despite difficult weather conditions with rain in most of May and a string of 100-plus heat index days that forced us to either cancel or move post times away from the heat in June, we ended up showing a solid season of business in 2022,” said Eric Halstrom, Vice President and General Manager. “We have to thank the horsemen's organizations and the Indiana Horse Racing Commission for their partnership in achieving these numbers over last season, which was strong to begin with. It's definitely a group effort in moving the business levels forward in racing at Horseshoe Indianapolis.”

Included in the all-sources handle was a 6.2% increase in on-track wagering. A total of 1,192 races were held with an average field size of 8.06 horses per race, which was a marked improvement over 2021 when the average starters per race was 7.35.

The 21st season of live Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing at Horseshoe Indianapolis is expected to resume Tuesday, Apr. 18 for a 123-day meet. The Indiana Horse Racing Commission is set to review the proposal for 2023 at its next meeting Thursday, Dec. 1 at Harrah's Hoosier Park.

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In a related development, veterinarian Cynthia Diane Loomis has also been summarily suspended. The suspensions for both Johnson and Loomis began July 4.

Horses that Johnson entered on the July 4 and 5 cards at the track were ordered scratched.

When reached by the TDN, Johnson said “this is not a cheating matter.”

“On May 24, I had pelvic surgery that limited my participation at the barn,” Johnson said.  “On July 4, as I understand, the vet that I had used for the entire meet was observed treating a horse that was in that day, which is obviously against the rules. Whether she did that or not, that's what the investigators are saying. I am cooperating fully with the commission on this matter.”

When asked if he knew why Loomis had treated the horse, Johnson replied, “All I do is hire my vet to be responsible for me. I trusted her fully with the horses and the times that my horses get treated. All the naysayers will say he is cheating, he is cheating. This was not a cheating matter and I'm not hiding behind some lawyer.”

Senior State Steward Eric Smith said that, with an investigation on going, he could not divulge any details regarding the Johnson and Loomis suspensions.

“It's an on-going investigation, so there is nothing I can share at this point,” Smith said. “His horses have been scratched and he has been summarily suspended. The next step is for the investigation to conclude and then there will be a hearing in front of the board of stewards or in front of the racing commission, depending on what the investigation finds. Hopefully, this will be wrapped up soon and there will be more details. But at this point the investigation is on-going.”

The Indiana Racing Commission has posted rulings regarding Johnson and Loomis which states that the individuals were  “summarily suspended for actions not in the best interests of racing and which compromise the integrity of operations at a racetrack.” The ruling also states that “at a hearing on a summary suspension, the sole issue is whether the licensee's license should remain suspended pending a final disciplinary proceeding and order.”

Johnson has been training since 1974 and is a member of the Nebraska Horse Racing Hall of Fame. According to Equibase, he has 2,133 career wins. He is 18-for-94 at the Horseshoe Indianapolis meet.

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According to the ruling issued July 23, stewards reviewed video of he third race at Indiana Grand and found that Mojica twice “carelessly and recklessly steered his mount, Miss Mercken, into unacceptably tight quarters, needlessly endangering his mount, himself, and the other race participants.”

On video replay, Mojica and Miss Mercken can be seen at the back of the five-horse field sitting in the two path coming into the stretch. The pair appear to approach closely alongside behind eventual winner Strollin the Bayou when Miss Mercken clips heels with Strollin the Bayou and suffers a rotational fall.

According to the official Equibase chart, Miss Mercken was vanned off and according to the ruling was later euthanized. Mojica was unseated but returned to the jockeys' room under his own power and later completed riding engagements in the fifth and sixth races.

Mojica, who has been riding since 2000, has appealed the ruling. Officials with the Indiana Horse Racing Commission told the Paulick Report he requested a stay of suspension, which has been denied. The suspension began July 29 and according to the ruling is set to run through Aug. 27.

Last month, Indiana stewards suspended rider Gabriel Saez for 30 days for an incident that resulted in three riders falling, two with injuries. He was later granted an exemption to allow him to ride in out-of-state stakes races, provided he add one day of in-state suspension for each stakes.

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Aboard Justtequilatalkin in the 2-year-old maiden, Saez was out in front when his mount shifted toward the rail and caused three other horses and riders to fall. Jockey Joseph Ramos escaped unharmed, but Augustin Gomez broke his tibia and Albin Jiminez broke his eye socket and has five fractures in his back.

Two of the horses walked off the track, while a third was vanned off.

Saez is named on horses at Churchill Downs beginning Thursday, June 25, and is booked to ride multiple graded stakes winner By My Standards in Saturday's Grade 2, $500,000 Stephen Foster Stakes beneath the Twin Spires.

Read more at the Daily Racing Form.

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