by Emily Gaskin, for Hoosier Park Racing and Casino

Anderson, IN — Hoosier Park Racing & Casino recently announced the addition of four overnight series to compliment Indiana’s most prestigious pacing race, the Dan Patch Stakes, on Friday (Aug. 14).

Boasting an increased purse for the 2015 edition, the Dan Patch Stakes will serve as Indiana’s richest harness race with an estimated purse of $300,000 and will now be supported by an all-star, 14-race card that includes Indiana Sires Stakes and overnight series action.

“With Dan Patch weekend being the biggest racing event of the year we wanted to put together a solid undercard for our signature race,” Hoosier Park’s Director of Racing and Racing Secretary Scott Peine noted. “In conjunction with the Indiana Sires Stakes, hopefully these additional overnight series will bring the best out of some of our most competitive classes.”

The Joe Patchen pacing series is open to horses that have started for a base claiming price of $15,000 or less in their last five starts (up to and including Aug. 5); $15,000 claimers are eligible also.

The Zelica pacing series is open to horses that have started for a base claiming price of $22,500 or less in their last start (up to and including Aug. 5); $22,500 claimers are eligible also.

The Oxford, Indiana pacing series is open to horses that have started for a base claiming price of $35,000 or less in their last start (up to and including Aug. 5); with $35,000 claimers being eligible also.

The Dan Messner pacing series is open to horses that are non-winners of $5,250 (Indiana-sired $6,500 and non-winners last three starts allow $750) in their last five starts (up to and including Aug. 5); horses that are non-winners of $1,500 per start in 2015 with a minimum of 12 starts are eligible also.

Each of the overnight series will be comprised of a preliminary leg slated for Friday (Aug. 7) with the finals being contested on Friday (Aug. 14). There will be a $50 entry fee for the preliminary legs. The overnight series will be included on Hoosier Park’s condition sheets and can also be found on Hoosier Park’s website.

The Dan Patch Stakes will be part of a special weekend tagged as the “Dan Patch Festival Weekend” and will feature extreme entertainment, giveaways, and racing. The thrill-themed weekend will showcase some of the most notable names in harness racing alongside free fireworks, giveaways, and interactive family-friendly entertainment. Also highlighting the weekend will be a concert by REO Speedwagon on Saturday (Aug. 15) as Hoosier Park continues its summer concert series line-up.

Live racing at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino will follow a Tuesday through Saturday schedule. With a daily post time of 5:15 p.m., the 2015 season of live harness racing will be conducted through Nov. 14.