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Penn Mile Returns In 2021; Race Scheduled For May 28 At Penn National

Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course announced today that the $300,000 Grade 2 Penn Mile and the $100,000 Penn Oaks will return again to the Grantville, Pennsylvania turf course after a one-year hiatus due to the Covid-19 shut down. The 2021 Penn Mile card will be contested on a Friday for the first time with the event slated for May 28.

“We are excited to once again offer the Penn Mile as it signals a return to normalcy,” said Eric Johnston, Director of Racing Operation for Penn National. “The race has quickly established itself on the national racing calendar by bringing the best horses, horsemen and jockeys to central Pennsylvania while also helping to establish some of the highest betting handles in Penn National history.”

The Penn Mile, first run in 2013, quickly achieved Grade 3 status in 2015 and was minted as a Grade 2 in 2017 by attracting notable Grade 1 winners such as Catch a Glimpse, Bobby's Kitten and Force the Pass. The 2019 edition of the Penn Mile produced the second largest betting handle in Penn National's 49 year history with the top five all-time wagering handles at Penn National Race Course all having occurred on the Penn Mile racing program.

“We are pleased with the success of the Penn Mile and appreciate the recognition it brings for our racing program, as a whole,” said Todd Mostoller, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania HBPA.

First Post for the day is scheduled for 6:00 P.M. EDT, with the Penn Oaks, also at one mile on the turf, being run at approximately 7:15 P.M. and the Penn Mile at 7:45 P.M.

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Caesars Announces $32.5 Million Expansion To Indiana Grand’s Casino

Strengthening its commitment to Indiana, Caesars Entertainment, Inc. shared plans today for a $32.5 million investment to expand and enhance the current casino gaming floor of Indiana Grand Racing & Casino. The expansion is projected to add more than 100 new casino jobs and millions to local and state gaming tax revenues.

Indiana Grand, located in Shelbyville, will add approximately 25,000 square feet to the north end of the casino making room for 100 brand-new slot machines and 25 more table games. Inside the new gaming floor and across the property, guests will enjoy significant updates to design and architectural features.

Additionally, the expanded gaming floor will feature the WSOP Poker Room, a live Poker Room named for and carrying the spirit of the legendary World Series of Poker, the largest, richest and most prestigious gaming event in the world. The new WSOP Poker Room will include 20 tables and offer a premium experience with ways to qualify for WSOP land-based tournaments including the Main Event in Las Vegas.

Wilhelm Construction of Indianapolis will begin work on April 1, 2021, with renovations set to be completed by the end of 2021.

Preliminary plans include:

A 5,000 square foot WSOP Poker Room featuring 20 tables
A 20-seat video poker bar with 65” LCD overhead screens
New table games, slots and gaming chairs
New design elements throughout the gaming floor
New surface parking
More than 100 new jobs added to the work force
Millions in local and state gaming tax revenue

“This investment at Indiana Grand is a testament to our continued commitment to Indiana,” said Anthony Carano, President and Chief Operating Officer of Caesars Entertainment. “We are dedicated to enhancing and upgrading our operations at all of our locations, and we're excited to start on several new phases of renovation and expansion in Shelbyville.”

“Since the implementation of table games in early 2020, we have looked forward to expanding our gaming operations,” said Mike Rich, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Indiana Grand. “This growth will allow us to accommodate more guests and add more talented Team Members to the Indiana Grand family, and with the addition of a state-of-the-art Poker Room, we will expand our casino offerings to include some of the most notable programs in the United States, including World Series of Poker.”

Additional details on new hospitality, entertainment, and culinary offerings are anticipated in the coming months, subject to City and Indiana Gaming Commission approval. For more information, please visit www.caesars.com/indiana-grand.

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Turfway Park: Four Horsemen Fined Over Protective Claim

Four horsemen at Turfway Park in Florence, Ky. have been fined for their roles in a protective claim scheme involving the 5-year-old gelding Unite The Masses, reports bloodhorse.com. Rules in the state prohibit claiming your own horse, that horse remaining in the same stable or being managed by the owner or trainer from whom it was claimed, and entering into an agreement to “protect” the horse in a claiming race.

Running for trainer Karyn Wittek and owner Brendon Cohen, Unite The Masses dropped in class from running for an $8,000 tag in January to running for $5,000 on Feb. 6 at Turfway, resulting in a 3 1/4 length victory. The 5-year-old gelding was claimed from the February race by Amalio Garcia as both owner and trainer, and returned to win for Garcia under the $8,000 tag on March 4.

However, officials discovered that Unite The Masses had remained in the possession of his original connections after the Feb. 6 claim.

“We had a lot of honest confessions. Everybody was very forthcoming with what had happened,” chief steward Barbara Borden told bloodhorse.com.

Cohen and Wittek have been re-established as the gelding's owner and trainer, respectively, while each was fined $2,000. In addition, Garcia and exercise rider Crystal Carmen (Garcia's fiancé) were fined $1,000 apiece.

Del Mar Expecting To Host Fans For July 16 Opening Of Summer Meet

With improving trends in public health data, growth in vaccination rates and the gradual relaxation of limits on attendance at sporting and performance venues in the state, Del Mar Thoroughbred Club officials are looking forward to a return of fans to the seaside track north of San Diego, Calif., when it opens for its 82nd summer season on Friday, July 16, track officials said on Tuesday.

Track personnel are planning for spectators on site when the racetrack kicks off a 31-day season that will feature 34 major stakes, a substantial increase in purses and a return to the sun and fun vibe that has been part of its culture since it first opened its gates in 1937.

“We will continue to follow the guidance of local health officials and our medical advisors, but based on what has been announced for other local attractions such as the San Diego Padres and SeaWorld, we are optimistic we will have fans in the stands this summer at some level,” said Del Mar president and COO Josh Rubinstein. “We have the advantages of a 350-acre site and a facility that can host people quite comfortably with appropriate social distancing as needed.”

With its traditional opening day feature – the Runhappy Oceanside Stakes – topping the bill, the Friday, July 16 kickoff will initiate a Friday-Saturday-Sunday beginning to the first two weeks of the season. The remainder of the meet will feature Thursday-through- Sunday racing weeks with a finale on Labor Day Monday, September 6. First post daily throughout the stand will be at 2 p.m. with the exception of Fridays in which first post will be at 4 p.m.

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