Eric Halstrom

Eric Halstrom is vice president and general manager of Caesar's Horseshoe Indianapolis, a position he's held since 2020. He previously served in several executive positions in horse racing, including vice president of racing at Canterbury Park, vice president and general manager of racing at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, assistant director of racing at Prairie Meadows, and vice president of operations at Harrah's Louisiana Downs. Halstrom, who graduated from the University of Arizona's Race Track Industry Program, is a native of Bloomington, MN, and is a die-hard fan of...

Tony Martinez has been named the new track superintendent at Horseshoe Indianapolis. Martinez is set to replace current track superintendent Roy Smith, who announced his retirement at the end of the Indiana track's 2022 season. Martinez has been involved in track maintenance for more than 30 years and brings more than 15 years of experience as a track superintendent. The third generation track man has expertise in all surfaces and is especially know for his work in fine grading, track moisture evaluations, extensive harrowing, and soil composition. He has been...

Indiana Grand Racing & Casino will be hosting a "Road to Louisville" contest beginning in early 2022 and offering up to $50,000 in prize money. The 18-week contest begins Jan. 8 and continues to the Kentucky Derby May 7. The winner of the contest will have the option to purchase a yearling package at the 2022 ITOBA Fall Sale valued at $30,000, courtesy of the Indiana Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (ITOBA) along with Indiana Grand. "Road to Louisville" is open to players both online and on-track at Indiana Grand...

The Indiana Horse Racing Commission (IHRC) approved racing dates for the 2022 racing season at Indiana Grand Monday. A total of 127 racing days-including 12 Saturdays--are set for the Shelbeyville oval's 2022 season. Racing runs through Tuesday, Apr. 19, concluding Wednesday, Nov. 23, 2022. According to Eric Halstrom, Indiana's vice president and general manager of racing, "We feel our racing schedule offers a great balance that will appeal to a wide range of racing fans in 2022. We want to thank both the Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing organizations for...

Indiana Grand's 2021 meet concluded Thursday. Randy Klopp, frequently towards the top of the standings, took home his first Thoroughbred trainer's title this year with 59 victories--12 more than the next conditioner--and earnings over $1.2 million. Klopp also teamed up to earn the owner's title with Roger Spiess's Spiess Stable. They partnered for 31 victories at the stand, finishing in the money 59% of the time and racking up more than $621,000 in purse earnings. Marcelino Pedroza Jr. took home his third Indiana leading Thoroughbred rider title with 105 victories,...

The University of Louisville Equine Industry Program (EIP), in conjunction with Horse Racing Nation, released its free Fall 2021 speaker series, which will be held in person this year on the UofL campus. The series includes panel discussions on the "Super Card" trend in racing and growing racing through diversity and inclusion. The final event in the series will be an interview with Houston business owner, philanthropist and horse owner Jim "Mattress Mack" McIngvale. The events will be held from 5:30-6:45p.m., and will be broadcast live on the Horse Racing...

Indiana Grand Racing & Casino has announced purse increases for both Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing, effective Tuesday, July 6. The increase will add 10% onto all Thoroughbred overnights and roughly $1,000 to each Quarter Horse overnight and trials, which reflects approximately a 6% increase for the sprinters. "We have had a great season so far in 2021 and we are pleased to announce this purse increase across the board for our horsemen," said Eric Halstrom, vice president and general manager of racing. "This boost is a direct result of...

Indiana Grand Racing and Casino has implemented a new audio and visual system for the track's stewards which will allow Senior State Steward Eric Smith to provide a live, televised explanation from the steward's room on how officials made their decision during an infraction. "We feel providing an explanation directly from the stewards is a great way to inform fans watching and wagering on our product," said Eric Halstrom, Indiana Grand's vice President and general manager of racing. "They will now be able explain how they came to a conclusion...

The 2021 racing season at Indiana Grand Racing and Casino will feature an expanded stakes schedule of 40 races worth over $3.65 million. The stakes schedule is highlighted by the $300,000 GIII Indiana Derby, which will be held at mid-week for the second time when it is run July 7. That Wednesday card's six-stakes lineup also includes the $200,000 GIII Indiana Oaks. "We moved Indiana Derby Day to Wednesday in 2020 due to crowd restrictions and other safety protocols in place due to COVID-19," said Eric Halstrom, vice president and...

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...

The "Grayson Grass Challenge," a five-week handicapping contest benefitting the Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation and sponsored by Indiana Grand Racing & Casino, kicks off the week of Aug. 10. Participants will submit selections on two specified turf races each week at Indiana Grand through the week of Sept. 7. Each contestant will be given a $500 bankroll provided by Indiana Grand, of which $100 can be wagered each week. The bankroll can be used for win, place, show, exacta, trifecta, and superfecta wagers. At the end of the five weeks,...

Indiana Grand Race Course will host a 94-day meeting in 2020, beginning Monday, June 15 through Wednesday, Nov. 18, on a Monday-Thursday schedule, after the Indiana Horse Racing Commission formally approved the schedule Thursday. There will also be four special Saturday programs for Quarter Horses only over the course of the meet. Also approved was a Pick 5 wager on the final five Thoroughbred races each day which will offer takeout of 11.99%, believed to be the lowest takeout on any wager in the country. The Pick 5 will be...