News
Wild West Adventure Saturday
Hoosier Park Racing and Casino will go on a Wild West Adventure Saturday, Sept. 5. The entire racing program will be complemented by activities off the track, including a mechanical bull, an exhibition mule race, a strolling trick roper, and an extended menu in the Western Grill, located in The Yard. All activities begin at High Noon.
Racing fans can test their skills on the mechanical bull beginning at 1 p.m. The bull will be available until 4 p.m. Also, trick ropers will be strolling in the area, displaying their roping talents for guests. A special western trio will provide entertainment as well, featuring old-time folk and country sounds. Younger racing fans will enjoy face painting and other activities geared toward children.
The Western Grill will feature such favorites as grilled corn, short ribs, Kansas City BBQ sandwich, BBQ chicken sandwich, and cheeseburgers. Guests can enjoy the “OK Corral” type atmosphere in the area, which is located on the north end of the grandstand. Guests can use their Perk Points from Club Centaur Rewards at the Western Grill.
The exhibition mule race will be contested between races two and three on the racing program. Nine mules will line up in the stretch and dash for the cash, including last year’s winner, Red, from post three for rider Ed Powers.
Quarter Horse racing will take center stage, featuring the $100,000 Grade III QHRAI Stallion Service Auction Futurity. The race is slated as the 11th on the 12-race program for the 350-yard dash. Happenedindamoonlite, the quickest trial winner, and jockey Harold Collins have been selected as the early choice for the race, Indiana’s richest Quarter Horse race ever. The pair will start from post one for trainer Ron Raper, who leads the standings for all Quarter Horse trainers this season with nine wins. Collins also leads the standings for all jockeys, just one win ahead of Carter Riley, who is in second place with five wins.
Go Southern Chickie looks to be the biggest threat to Happenedindamoonlite. The two-year-old is one of five fillies in the field, and she turned in the third fastest trial time of :18.095. Rodney Prescott rides Go Southern Chickie from post four for trainer Randy Haffner.
The $50,000 Stallion Service Auction Derby will also be featured on the program in race 10. Patriot Warrior and rider Richard Gillard are the early choices in the nine-horse field running at a distance of 400 yards. Raper also trains Patriot Warrior, the fastest Derby trial winner with a time of :20.573. The three-year-old gelding goes for his third straight win in the Derby final.
