by Tammy Knox, publicity director, Hoosier Park

Anderson, IN — Indiana’s richest harness racing event will go to post on Saturday, May 30, with 12 horses entered into the $500,000 Hoosier Cup at Hoosier Park Racing and Casino. First race post time is 12:45 p.m. and the Hoosier Cup, slated as the 13th race on the afternoon program, will have an estimated post time of 4:33 p.m.

Headlining the 13th edition of the event is Sheer Desire from the Ron Burke Stable. The 3-year-old gelding is a son of Real Desire, 2001 winner of the Hoosier Cup. Sheer Desire caught attention last fall at The Red Mile when he scored a new world record for 2-year-old pacing geldings with a time of 1:49.3 in the Bluegrass Stake. Sheer Desire has drawn post seven in the 12-horse lineup and will begin at odds of 6-1. He will be driven by Ricky Macomber, 2007 leading driver and a two-time winner of the $200,000 Dan Patch Invitational Pace at Hoosier Park.

Trainer George Teague Jr. has entered three horses for the race, including Barber Pole, who has been selected as the morning line favorite at odds of 5-2. Barber Pole has won two of three starts in 2009 and five of eight lifetime. The Badlands Hanover colt won in an impressive new lifetime best time two starts back at The Meadowlands in 1:49, the fastest of the field. Barber Pole picks up the services of driver Brad Hanners from post 12, which is a second tier starter.

Other major contenders for the title in the Hoosier Cup include Annieswesterncard, trained by Joe Seekman. The sophomore son of Western Hanover comes into Hoosier Park off a win in the $230,000 Berry’s Creek final at The Meadowlands earlier in May. Annieswesterncard has only two starts in 2009, but was a winner in six of 13 starts last year at two, making him the richest horse of the field with more than $334,000 in career earnings. He will start from post six for Ron Pierce.

The Hoosier Cup field in post position order with driver and odds includes: Doubletrouble (Mark O’Mara) 8-1; Vertigo Hanover (Jody Jamieson) 4-1; River Shark (Daniel Dube) 10-1; Nittany Linebacker (Jason Dillander) 15-1; Sam’s Escape (Don Eash) 20-1; Annieswesterncard (Ron Pierce) 3-1; Sheer Desire (Ricky Macomber Jr.) 6-1; Standupnkissme (David Miller) 6-1; Mr Wiggles (Corey Callahan) 7-2; Chasin Racin (Peter Wrenn) 7-2; Nob Hill High (Peter Wrenn) 12-1; and Barber Pole (Brad Hanners) 5-2.

In addition to the Hoosier Cup event, several Indiana Sires Stakes preliminary legs will be held on the 14-race program. Also, Fab Five t-shirts will be distributed to Club Centaur Rewards members beginning at 12 p.m. while supplies last, and posters of the 2009 Standardbred Drivers at Hoosier Park will be distributed during the day. A special autograph session will take place immediately following the races.

Several children’s activities will take place outdoors in The Yard, located trackside. Younger racing fans will enjoy air brush face painting, balloon artists, interactive games, blow-up bounce and plays, and a visit from Hoosier Park’s mascot, Hoosier Buddy. Hoosier Park will also offer the “I Win, You Win” contest where fans can win a $50 Simon gift card each time a member of the Fab Five wins a race, and Stump Steve will offer one lucky fan the chance to go up against track announcer Steve Cross in handicapping the seventh race on the program.

The Hoosier Cup will be followed by a special performance by The Devonshires Saturday evening. The Devonshires will perform on the casino floor and offer three one-hour shows beginning at 8 p.m., 10 p.m. and Midnight.