by Emily Gaskin, for Hoosier Park Racing and Casino

Anderson, IN — Hoosier Park Racing & Casino will once again highlight the 2013 Standardbred season on Saturday (Oct. 19) with Indiana’s finest trotters and pacers convening on Hoosier Park’s seven-eighths-mile oval for the annual Hoosier Champions Night, an evening with purse totals topping the $1 million mark.

A total of 14 races have been established and after the dust settles, four new Indiana Sire Stakes champions will be crowned. The first race will line-up behind the starting gate at 5:30 p.m.

All 2-year-old Indiana Gold Sire Stakes finals will go for purses of $200,000 while two $40,000 Indiana Silver Sire Stakes finals will also be contested on the evening.

“Our Hoosier Champions Night has become a much-anticipated event among horseman and racing fans alike,” Hoosier Park’s Vice President and General Manager of Racing Rick Moore noted. “The 2013 season has already exceeded my expectations and I am excited to offer racing fans another stellar night of racing. To have horses of this quality racing at Hoosier Park speaks volumes to where our racing program has come and where it is going.”

In its 20th season of live harness racing, Hoosier Park is in the midst of its fastest season to date. Hoosier Park’s track surface continues to sizzle as 24 track records have been re-established this season. Each of the $200,000 Indiana Gold Sire Stakes finals will feature a current track record holder at Hoosier Park.

Justice Jet and driver Ed Hensley will look to sweep the 2-year-old trotting colt division with a win in the $200,000 Indiana Gold Sire Stakes final from post five for trainer Roger Welch. Justice Jet was victorious in the first $200,000 final and will look to overcome the morning line favorite and current Hoosier Park track record holder Rose Run Parker from post nine.

Hudson Jesse will look to extend her win streak to five in the $200,000 Indiana Gold Sire Stakes final for 2-year-old trotting fillies with Jason Dillander at the lines. Starting from post five, Hudson Jesse is trained by William Crone and will face off with the current track record holder for 2-year-old trotting fillies, Andi’s Alana, who starts from post two for driver Marcus Miller.

Hoosier Park’s leading trainer Ron Burke will look to score with his freshman fillies, U R It BB and Always Dee One in the $200,000 Indiana Gold Sire Stakes final for 2-year-old pacing fillies.

Just one race later, Speed Trap will look to score his first Indiana Sire Stakes final win in the 2-year-old pacing colt division for the Ron Burke Stable as the 2-1 morning line favorite. Speed Trap recently re-established the track record for 2-year-old pacing colts after a 1:50.4 romp in Sire Stakes action.

In addition to the racing program that boasts lofty purses, racing fans will have the opportunity to venture out for a night of German-themed fun with a rock ‘n’ roll twist. Starting at 5 p.m., traditional German foods and a biergarten featuring international brews and hard ciders will be available as part of a special evening tagged “Rocktoberfest.”

The first 200 guests will receive free pumpkins and a painting station will be conveniently located in the Yard. Activities like cornhole, horseshoes and a high striker strongman game will add a competitive nature to the night. A live band will be on hand to accompany all the activities taking place throughout Hoosier Park’s Yard.

Guests can also enter to be a part of the popular “I Win, You Win” promotion. Just as it sounds, the “I Win, You Win” promotion gives patrons the chance to win a $25 Hoosier Park gift card if one of the All-Star Drivers wins a race on the Friday or Saturday night card.

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.