by Emily Gaskin, for Hoosier Park

Anderson, IN — Grand Circuit racing action will return to Hoosier Park for the second time this season and with it, bring some of the top rated horses in North America to Hoosier Park as they convene on the seven-eighths mile oval in search of the lucrative purses offered on the card beginning at 5:45 p.m. on Saturday (Sept. 24). With purses topping the $1 million mark, Hoosier Park will host a standout card that includes the $220,000 Centaur Trotting Classic, the $246,000 Kentuckiana Stallion Management Stakes, the $170,000 Hoosier Park Pacing Derby, the $140,000 Elevation Pace and the $100,000 Jenna’s Beach Boy Invitational Pace.

Linscott Photography photo

Hannelore Hanover returns to Hoosier Park and will start from post six in the $220,000 Centaur Trotting Classic.

Millionairess and world champion, Hannelore Hanover will make her return to her home state to headline the entrants in Hoosier Park’s richest trotting event, the $220,000 Centaur Trotting Classic. The 4-year-old Indiana-bred daughter of Swan for All was a supplemental entry to the race and has taken the harness racing world by storm after winning 14 of 16 starts this season with 2016 purse earnings approaching the $800,000 mark. Trained by Hoosier Park’s leading conditioner, Ron Burke, Hannelore Hanover is scheduled to tackle the boys once again; starting from post six with Yannick Gingras slated to drive.

The $170,000 Hoosier Park Pacing Derby will feature another stellar match-up between aged pacing stars Always B Miki and Freaky Feet Pete. Always B Miki will start from the coveted rail position with David Miller in the bike for trainer Jimmy Takter. Freaky Feet Pete will look to score his second consecutive Hoosier Park victory from post three with Trace Tetrick handling the lines for trainer Larry Rheinheimer.

“Being able to attract the true superstars of our sport, such as Always B Miki and Hannelore Hanover, among many others, to compete on the same stage on the same night, speaks volumes as to what we have been able to accomplish with our open stakes program at Hoosier Park,” Hoosier Park’s vice president and general manager, Rick Moore noted. “Having the spotlight shine on Hoosier Park this Saturday evening gives the entire Hoosier Park team a deep sense of pride.”

In a continued partnership with Hoosier Park, the local news station WISH TV Channel 8 out of Indianapolis will provide exclusive coverage for all the Grand Circuit racing action at Hoosier Park on Saturday. WISH-TV will be on property to provide racing fans with exclusive coverage of all the festivities happening on and off the race track. Racing fans can also catch exclusive interviews from drivers and trainers racing at Hoosier Park throughout the evening. WISH-TV’s live coverage begins at 8:00 p.m. on Saturday and includes live coverage of the Hoosier Park Pacing Derby and the Centaur Trotting Classic.

Also making a special appearance during the night will be three local WISH-TV celebrities as they race for charity in the second annual charity exhibition race. The local personalities will climb aboard a double-seated jog cart accompanied by one of Hoosier Park’s drivers and compete against each other for a prize purse of $1,000 donated to their selected charities which include the Harness Horse Youth Foundation, Standardbred Retirement Foundation and Teachers Treasures. The celebrity exhibition race will take place before the start of live racing at approximately 5:30 p.m.

Along with the live racing action, guests can enter at Trackside Club Centaur from 6:00-9:00 p.m. for their chance to win $1,000. Additionally, the first 500 racing fans to visit Trackside Club Centaur on Saturday will receive a mystery voucher worth up to $500.

With a daily post time of 5:45 p.m., live racing at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino will follow a Tuesday through Saturday schedule and be conducted through November 12. For more information on the upcoming entertainment or live racing schedule, please visit www.hoosierpark.com.