Indiana Grand

One of the few major races left to win for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen is the most significant prize in racing, so a win in this year's GI Kentucky Derby would satisfy an ultimate career goal. But if he were to do it with Saturday's GI Arkansas Derby victor Super Stock (Dialed In), a horse with the Asmussen family's fingerprints all over him, it would represent the sentimental success of a lifetime. Wednesday, Asmussen joined the TDN Writers' Room presented by Keeneland to discuss Super Stock, the permanent...

Indiana Grand Racing & Casino recently made a $2,500 donation to the Shelbyville-Shelby County Animal Shelter, dedicated to assisting cats and dogs in the area. "Animal shelters in the area were hit hard in 2020 due to the pandemic and their numbers have continued to increase as a result, which has put a great strain on a lot of the facilities in the area," said Mike Rich, Senior Vice President and General Manager. "We recognized these hardships and wanted to step in to provide some monetary relief for several shelters...

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...

The 20th edition of the Track Superintendents' Field Day will take place June 14 and 15, 2021, at Indiana Grand Racing & Casino. The event brings together track superintendents and staff annually to discuss best practices related to track maintenance, safety and operational issues for racing and training facilities worldwide. "Because Track Supers Field Day is the only annual gathering for the hard-working men and women who help ensure the safety of our horses and riders, we felt it was important to have the event this year after being forced...

Indiana Grand Racing & Casino received approval for 2021 racing dates Thursday at the monthly Indiana Horse Racing Commission (IHRC) meeting. The schedule will offer 120 days of Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing beginning Tuesday, Apr. 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. First post will be 2:25 p.m. Monday through Wednesday and Thursdays first post will be 3:25 p.m. A total...

Being involved in a court case can be very intimidating for a child. The presence of the Court and Child Advocacy Group is essential in creating an environment that eases the stress for children going through difficult times. Their efforts were recently recognized by Indiana Grand Racing & Casino with a $5,000 donation to their organization. "They are a volunteer-based program and they speak for children in court who have been victims of abuse and neglect," said Lindsay Fish, director of sales and business development. "They give children a place...

Indiana Grand Racing & Casino recently donated $5,000 to the Cancer Association of Shelby County, which provides assistance to patients currently fighting cancer. The Cancer Association of Shelby County was unable to hold its major fundraiser this year due to COVID-19 restrictions. The donation, part of Indiana Grand's year-end initiative to give back to the local community, was made during a special presentation at the track. "We have many team members that have battled cancer in the past or are currently dealing with the disease," said Elena Lisle, Indiana Grand's...

DeShawn Parker, winner of 5,821 races and more than $74 million in earnings, captured his first leading jockey title at Indiana Grand Racing & Casino when the track wrapped up its 2020 racing season Thursday. The journeyman visited the Indiana Grand winner's circle 106 times this year. Parker, who led the nation in wins in both 2010 and 2011, plans to spend the winter at Turfway Park. "This is the best thing of the meet and of my year," said Parker. "I had some chances the past couple of years...

As in year's past, the jockey colony at Indiana Grand will provide toys for the local "Breakfast with Santa" event Saturday, Dec. 12. This season, the jockeys will donate a total of 61 toys, a new record for the annual toy drive. "I have three kids myself and we are fortunate enough to provide toys for them," said Manny Esquivel. "I come from a very poor place in Mexico, and just thinking about it, it's hard to think about kids not getting toys for Christmas. I used to play with...

Barbados native Rocco Bowen reached the 1,000th win of his riding career Wednesday, Nov. 11, at Indiana Grand Racing & Casino. He had stalled, going zero for 23, since getting his 999th win Nov. 4. It was a pick-up mount for trainer Tim Glyshaw in Wednesday's ninth race that netted the milestone win. Dox Folly (Paddy O'Prado) won the Indiana-bred starter allowance by 5 1/2 lengths. "I even changed my boots today," said Bowen. "This sign is going straight to my mom. Thank you to everyone. It's been such a...

Congratulations to Roy Smith, one of three finalists in the Leadership Award in Racing category of the Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards (TIEA), presented by Godolphin. The track superintendent at Indiana Grand Racing and Casino, Smith has been "a track man [his] whole life." He says he was born and raised at Indiana Grand, as his father was a trainer. He grew up walking hots, became a groom, ponied, became an assistant track superintendent, and did just about everything on the backside other than become a trainer, a route he knew...

The remainder of the racing program at Indiana Grand was canceled following the second race Tuesday, Oct. 20. The mutual decision was made between jockeys, track management and horsemen to call the cancellation of the remaining eight races, which included seven Thoroughbred and one Quarter Horse event. The area received several inches of continuous rain over the prior 36 hours with more in the immediate forecast. The cancellation will provide the track maintenance department adequate time to prepare for the Wednesday racing program with a 2:05 p.m. start. Racing is...