Indiana Thoroughbred Program Eyes Growth of $2.4m

Owing to the introduction of table games at the state's racinos, the Indiana Thoroughbred Breed Development (ITBD) Advisory Committee has been able to put together a racing program that will reward more breeders with additional races and more money.

Thanks to breed development and track contributions, the 2020 program will be valued at over $17.4 million, an improvement of $2.4 million–or nearly 14%–over last year's program.

“The 2020 program is a work in progress as we find ourselves in a position of estimating table games revenue this first year,” explains Jessica Barnes, Director of Racing and Breed Development for the IHRC. “The Thoroughbred Breed Development Committee intends to hold monthly meetings during the 2020 race meet to monitor this activity. As we receive more information regarding the adjusted gross receipts for table games, we may go back to the IHRC with additional improvements.”

The 2020 program includes:

• The addition of two Indiana Signature Stakes races for Indiana-sired horses, each worth $150,000, bring the total number of restricted stakes to 28 for a total of $3.1 million in prize money.
• Breeders' awards payable to the second- and third-place finishers, excepting horse entered for $10,000 claiming and lower
• An 8% increase for Indiana-bred overnight races (purses for Indiana-sired raced will be run for an additional 12%)
• An increase in the total of restricted overnight races to be run, including the addition of mid-level races for sired horses. A total of 110 Indiana-sired and 194 Indiana-bred (both -bred and -sired horses are eligible to race in 'bred' races) overnight races are scheduled to be contested, for a total of 304, an increase from 297 ran during the 2019 meet.

The 2020 program is set to pay $5,094,660 in awards, an increase of more than $1.7 million over the nearly $3.4 million paid in 2019. A cap of $10,000 to an individual breeder has been added for 2020 ($15,000 for the aforementioned $150,000 Indiana Signature Stakes).

“Whether you are wanting to invest as an owner, breeder or stallion owner, this lucrative program provides great incentives for all participants,” says Bruce Murphy, Chairman of the Indiana Thoroughbred Breed Development Advisory Committee. “We are excited for the growth it offers.”

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