The first pool of the Future wager this year February 10-12 has many familiar horses. The strong overall favorite and unbeaten Algorithms is rated top individual for the Derby Future Pool. Morning line odds are made by Mike Battaglia and are as follows:

#1 Algorithms 8-1

#2 Alpha 20-1

#3 Battle Hardened 30-1

#4 Creative Cause 20-1

#5 Discreet Dancer 15-1

#6 Dullahan 20-1

#7 El Padrino 20-1

#8 Empire Way 50-1

#9 Ever So Lucky 20-1

#10 Fed Biz 20-1

#11 Gemologist 20-1

#12 Hansen 12-1

#13 I’ll Have Another 20-1

#14 Junebugred 50-1

#15 Liaison 20-1

#16 Longview Drive 50-1

#17 Midnight Transfer 50-1

#18 Mr. Bowling 50-1

#19 Out of Bounds 20-1

#20 Rousing Sermon 30-1

#21 Sabercat 30-1

#22 Take Charge Indy 30-1

#23 Union Rags 10-1

#24 All other 3YO’s 9-5

The popular Kentucky Derby Future Wager offers fans to bet on candidates well in advance of the year’s premier sporting event. The famed 1 1/4-mile race for 3YO thoroughbreds at Churchill Downs on Saturday, May 5th Fans will receive the odds on their horse that are placed at the conclusion of wagering on each pool and those odds could be a lot higher than the odds on Derby Day!

Two Indiana Bred Quarter Horses have been nominated for American Quarter Horse Racing Association National honors. A Bitter Sweet Song and Lovemelikethat have both been nominated as the 2011 Three Year Old Filly Racing Champion of the Year. They join four additional horses on the ballot for this honor.

Bitter Sweet Song (Agouti – Whatasweetsong, by Shawne Bug), owned by Debbie Smith and Randy Haffner, accumulated $108,539 in earnings during 2011. The Haffner trained filly completed the racing year with eight starts that included four wins, one second and one third place finish. Her wins include the $100,000 Indiana Blue River Derby at Indiana Downs.

Lovemelikethat (Likenothinyoueversaw – First Smart Stride, by First Smart Money), owned by Cooter Daniel boasted $148,636 in earnings in 2011 resulting in career earnings of $236,280. The filly, trained by John McCreary, won not only the $100,000 Sterlie Bertram Memorial, but also QHRAI Derby at Hoosier Park completing the racing year with seven starts that included five wins and two thirds. Lovemelikethat was also recently recognized as the Quarter Horse Breed Development Three Year Old Filly Champion and Horse of the Year.

“These two horses are not only an extraordinary example of the quality of horses being produced, but also a great achievement for the Quarter Horse Breed Development Program in Indiana,” noted Jessica Barnes, Director of Racing and Breed Development for the Indiana Horse Racing Commission.

By Stuart Hirsch
The Herald Bulletin

Tourism has become big business in Madison County and Hoosier Park Racing & Casino is the star attraction.

That’s the conclusion of a recent report from the Anderson/Madison County Visitors & Convention Bureau, which looked at the economic impact of the tourism and travel industry here in 2008 and 2010.

Among the report’s key findings were that:

Tourism and travel contributed nearly $506 million to the local economy in 2010.
A total of 3,821 jobs exist here because of the industry.
Nearly one-third of them are high-wage earners, professionals, technicians, managers, sales and construction jobs.
Tourism-generated jobs provided more than $68.6 million in wages to Madison County workers in 2010, compared to $62.9 million in 2008.
More than 3.9 million people made Madison County a tourism destination in 2010, compared to 2.2 million in 2008, the year when the casino opened.
Tourism generated $22.9 million in revenue for county and municipal governments in 2010, compared to $14.8 million in 2008.
The report, prepared by Certec Inc., a market research company based in Versailles, Ky., concluded that “tourism impacts all sectors of the local economy.”

“The takeaway is that there has been an accelerated rate of change in tourism and its impact on economic development,” and George Vinson, incoming president of the visitors bureau board of directors.

Ralph Day, executive director of the visitors bureau, said the 2008 and 2010 study years were chosen specifically to look at the impact a casino would have at Hoosier Park.

“It has really made Anderson a destination,” Day said.

And Hoosier Park has been a terrific corporate citizen, he added.

Since the casino opened in June 2008, the complex has averaged 3.5 million visitors a year, said Grant D. Scharton, Hoosier Park’s director of public relations He also noted that the Indianapolis Business Journal has named it the Indianapolis area’s most popular tourist attraction.

“Hoosier Park Racing and Casino is very pleased with the response in the central Indiana region and the tourists who come and visit the casino,” he said.

Tourism and community amenities such as Hoosier Park are an essential component of economic development efforts, said Rob Sparks, executive director of the Corporation for Economic Development.

“I think that tourism is a really important part of branding our community,” he said.

Check out the excitement that is going on in February!

The 2012 racing dates for Hoosier Park Racing & Casino are finalized by the Indiana Horse Racing Commission. Standardbred racing returns Tuesday, March 27 and will conclude Saturday, July 14 while the Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing seasons begin Wednesday, Aug. 1 and runs through Saturday, Oct. 27.

The 19th season of Standardbred racing will offer 80 days of action Tuesday through Saturday. Post time each evening is slated for 5:30 p.m. Hoosier Park’s signature event, the $200,000 Dan Patch Invitational Pace is set for Saturday, June 2. The 2012 season will conclude Saturday, July 14 featuring Hoosier Champions Night and finals of the Indiana Sires Stakes.

The combined Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse meet will offer 64 days of racing with one of those days dedicated solely to Quarter Horse action. Racing will be held Tuesday through Saturday each week with a post time of 5:30 p.m. each evening except Saturday when racing begins at 12:30 p.m.

The highlight of the 18th season of Thoroughbred racing will be the Grade II $500,000-added Indiana Derby Saturday, Oct. 6. The day will also feature other stakes races including the Grade II $200,000-added Indiana Oaks, the $100,000-added Michael G. Schaefer Mile, and the $100,000-added Mari Hulman George Stakes.

The 16th season of Quarter Horse racing will be highlighted with the second annual All-Quarter Horse Stakes Day Saturday, Oct. 13. Post time for the event begins at 12:30 p.m.

Congratulations to our recent $100,000 Jackpot winnner, Laura!

Hoosier Park  was selected as one of 17 “super celebration sites” across the state that will act as a gathering place full of activities for those wanting to participate in the Super Bowl activities and be a welcome area for guests.
Buses will be providing transportation between area hotels and Hoosier Park — where the local activities are happening — and between Hoosier Park and downtown Indianapolis.

For the full article by the Herald Bulleting click below:

Hoosier Park named Super Celebration site for the Super Bowl

Winners Circle

Opening December 15 – Hoosier Park’s Winner’s Circle Pub, Grille & OTB – Hoosier Park Racing & Casino’s newest dining and entertainment hot spot right in the heart of downtown Indianapolis!
This new and exciting destination will wow guests with a top-notch American grille, a 21st Century pub featuring a one-of-a-kind LED bar top and a Las Vegas-style race wagering lounge. Guests will also enjoy ha…ssle-free parking via a connected garage and valet service.
The Winner’s Circle will encompass a bold and unique atmosphere, classic and innovative flavors, non-stop excitement and unbeatable customer service!
Just steps from Conseco Field House and Circle Center Mall, the Winner’s Circle is conveniently located downtown on Pennsylvania between Washington and Market Streets.

THE PUB 

Color, motion and intense action are what make this pub a unique and entertaining gathering place for all. Hand-crafted beers, premium liquor and signature cocktails will be accentuated by hi-definition televisions and leaderboards. This hot spot will be booming with action!

THE GRILLE

This top-notch American grille will make its mark on downtown Indianapolis with classic and innovative flavors complemented by the beauty and richness of American horse racing. With an expansive menu and first class service, entertainment never tasted so good!

THE OTB

Get ready for a new dimension of race wagering. This energetic, Las Vegas-style lounge will feature a gigantic media wall with more than 25 flat screen monitors bringing the intensity and action of horse racing to life. Guests will enjoy modern, personal betting stations equipped with individual lamps and monitors. Plus, guests will have easy access to the benefits and rewards of Club Centaur.

Check out our December calendar and plan your week around all the exciting promotions we have going on every day!