by Emily Gaskin, for Hoosier Park Racing and Casino

Anderson, IN — Hoosier Park Racing & Casino, in its 20th season of live harness racing, will kick start summer weekends with a mix of ‘family fun’ promotions, entertainment and Indiana Sire Stakes action beginning Wednesday (June 5) and continuing each weekend through the end of the racing season.

One of the season’s most anticipated match-ups is set for Wednesday (June 5) as two Indiana Sire Stakes champions square off in the second round of the $30,000 Indiana Gold Sire Stakes action for 3-year-old trotting fillies.

A winner in the first of two $200,000 Indiana Sire Stakes finals for 2-year-old trotting fillies, Ajuama will start from the coveted rail position for driver Trace Tetrick in the evening’s tenth race. Trained by Steve Carter, Ajuama sports a career bankroll of more than $190,000 and enters Wednesday’s race fresh off a win in the opening round of the sire stakes action.

Jesse Lane, the winner of the second $200,000 Indiana Sire Stake final, will also line-up behind the gate in the tenth race and start from post three. Trained by Robert Reeser, Jesse Lane has bankrolled more than $190,000 for her connections. With Mark O’Mara at the lines once again, Jesse Lane will make the third start of her sophomore season as she looks to make amends for a costly break in the opening round of the sire stakes action.

The Indiana Gold Sire Stakes action will continue on Thursday (June 6) as two divisions of 3-year-old trotting colts will go postward for $30,000. Both of the Indiana champion 2-year-old trotting colts will be included in the action as Russell Mania starts from post five in the evening’s 12th race and Natural Herbie starts from post two in the 10th race.

The 3-year-old pacing fillies will follow suit and highlight Hoosier Park’s card on Friday (June 7).

Fridays at Hoosier Park, dubbed ‘Fan-tastic Fridays’, feature $1 beers, $1 hot dogs and $1 live racing programs starting at 5 p.m. In addition, guests will be welcomed to enter the ‘Beat the Big Guy’ promotion for a chance to win up to $750. To enter, guests must submit their designated win selections for races three through eight. The participant who earns the most in winnings and beats Rod ‘The Big Guy’ Ratcliff, Hoosier Park’s chief executive officer, will win $250 in race wagering. All participants earning more winnings than ‘The Big Guy’ will have a chance at another $500 in a next day drawing.

The popular ‘I Win, You Win’ promotion is also back, featuring all of Hoosier Park’s celebrity Standardbred drivers. Guests can enter nightly during live racing at Club Centaur for a chance to win a $25 gift card each race.

The Indiana Sire Stakes Gold level action for 3-year-old pacing colts will continue on Saturday (June 8).

The first round of the $200,000 gold-level Indiana Sire Stakes finals are slated for Saturday (July 20) at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino.

Hoosier Park’s ‘Family Fun Days’ return this Saturday and will continue each weekend throughout the entirety of the Standardbred meet. Activities will include a bounce house, face painting, jugglers, live entertainment, games and winner’s circle giveaways. The official Hoosier Park mascot, Hoosier Buddy, will be on hand to entertain.

Huey Lewis & the News will kick off the summer concert series on Saturday (June 8) with their “Sports” Anniversary Tour, named after their seven-time platinum 1983 album. With the show set to begin at 8 p.m., tickets are still on sale through Ticketmaster and Shelby’s Gifts.

Live racing at Hoosier Park will follow a Tuesday-Saturday schedule, with a daily post time of 5:30 p.m. The 160-day, all harness racing meet will be conducted through Nov. 9. For more information on the upcoming entertainment and live racing action, visit www.hoosierpark.com.