by Emily Gaskin, for Hoosier Park Racing and Casino

Anderson, IN — It is nothing out of the ordinary to see a field of eight horses assemble behind the Hoosier Park starting gate, but when the eighth race goes to post at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino on Thursday (Oct. 31) racing fans will have the chance to see something they have never seen before. A field of eight grey pacers will line up behind the starting gate to contest the first annual $10,000 “Grey Ghost Halloween Pacing Derby” at Hoosier Park.

Hoosier Park’s Racing Secretary Scott Peine assembled a field of eight “ghostly” pacers in honor of the Halloween holiday. According to the United States Trotting Association, less than five percent of all harness horses are grey in color. Slated as the eighth race on the 14-race card, the “Grey Ghost Halloween Pacing Derby” has an estimated post time of 7:50 p.m.

Jason Dillander has been enlisted to drive the morning line favorite, Silver Devil, from post eight for trainer Nick Giberson. The 3-year-old gelded son of Duneside Perch will look to make it back-to-back wins at Hoosier Park after scoring in a division of the Circle City stakes in 1:53.1 on Oct. 26.

Hoosier Park’s leading driver, Tyler Smith, will drive Tommy Two Shoes from post five for trainer Steve Main and they have been tagged as 5-1 on the morning line.

The entire field, in post position order, is as follows: 1. Lady Of The West (Chad Clark), 2. Gunnin’ Forafight (Pete Wrenn), 3. Strawberrys On Top (Josh Slater), 4. Crime Of Passion (Trace Tetrick), 5. Tommy Two Shoes (Tyler Smith), 6. White Ruler (Trent Stohler), 7. Rockin Glory (Robert Taylor) and 8. Silver Devil (Jason Dillander).

Along with winner’s circle giveaways and promotions, Hoosier Park’s Halloween card will also feature the $22,000 Preferred Trot for fillies and mares. Love N Lindy will look to score her second consecutive victory at this level from post eight with Jason Dillander in the sulky.

Just one day later, Hoosier Park will offer arguably the best 14-race card in its 20-year history on Friday (Nov. 1) as Grand Circuit racing action returns to the seven-eighths-mile oval. Hoosier Park will host a standout card that includes the $286,500 Carl Erskine Trot, the $252,000 Monument Circle Pace and the $223,500 Hoosier Park Pacing Derby.

Live racing at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino will follow a Tuesday-Saturday schedule with a daily post time of 5:30 p.m. The 160-day, all harness racing meet began on April 2 and will be conducted through Nov. 9.