News
Fifteen Graduate From HBPA’s Groom Elite Program
By Jada Buchanan
Its not May but it is graduation time at Hoosier Park Racing and Casino. Hoosier Park would like to congratulate the Groom Elite 101 Graduates on their recent honor. The program is sponsored by the Indiana Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association (HBPA.)
The first Groom Elite 101 program was offered as a six-week course for caretakers at Hoosier Park. The class met twice a week on the backstretch. Members of the class learned new techniques on taking care of horses and tips to polish their skills as grooms for Thoroughbred race horses. The class was conducted by Dr. Reid McLellan, who developed the program for the National HBPA. Other Groom Elite classes have been held at other racetracks in the United States, including Colonial Downs in Virginia and Calder Racecourse in South Florida.
The 15 graduates of Indiana’s Groom Elite program were honored at a special ceremony in the Homestretch Clubhouse following the races Friday, Sept. 25. Members of the graduating class are Gabriel Aranda, Erick Diaz, Todd Dunsmore, Amber Fransens, Jim Fransens, Tim Gilbert, Rogelio Gomez, Hugo Gonzales, Larry Hatt, Barbara Johnson, Cynthia Martin, Hector Perez, Terry Philips, Nick Powers, Mike Sexton and participant Claudio Jorquera. Steve and Mary Stults along with Randy Klopp assisted with the presentations to all graduates from the Groom Elite 101 course from the HBPA.
All Groom Elite 101 graduates received a certificate, jacket and t-shirt for completing the course. The second series of the class, Groom Elite 201, will be offered in 2010 for those completing the 101 portion of the series.
