from the Indiana Horse Racing Commission

Indianapolis, IN — The 2018 Indiana-Sired Fair Circuit is hitting the Central Indiana radio waves, bringing Hoosier homegrown horsepower to the ears of sports fans young and old, thanks to a partnership between the Indiana Standardbred Breed Development Program and Emmis Communications.

Throughout the Indiana-Sired Fair Circuit, Emmis Communications’ sports radio station, 1070 The Fan, will air the week’s “Homestretch Call” during the “Grady and Big Joe Show.” The show, featuring former Indianapolis Colt “Big Joe” Staysniak, airs weekdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. One race from that week’s county fair races will be aired on Friday, highlighting Hoosier Harness Racing Heroes. Later in the show, one of the show’s most popular daily features, the “Pop Quiz,” will feature a question related to the Homestretch Call, or Indiana harness racing in general. The winner that day will receive a prize pack sponsored by the Indiana Standardbred Breed Development Program and Hoosier Park Racing & Casino.

The Indiana-Sired Fair Circuit is a series of races held at ten different county fairs throughout the summer, starting in early June in Converse. The series is for Indiana-Sired and Bred Standardbred horses, meaning they were foaled (born) in Indiana and their sires stand in the state of Indiana. Races are held for 2- and 3-year-old pacers and trotters, and horses are nominated by their owners each year they race.

Eligible horses will compete to earn not only daily race purses, but points from each stop. The top eight in each division are invited to compete for the Indiana-Sired Fair Circuit State Championships, held during the Indiana State Fair in Indianapolis Aug. 9, where the winners take home $20,000 in purse money. The horses ranked ninth through 16th will compete earlier in the day in consolation races with purse money totaling $8,000.

“We really wanted to draw attention to our grassroots program here in Indiana,” said Megan Arszman, Communications Coordinator for the Indiana Horse Racing Commission and its breed development programs. “We are excited to work with Emmis Communications to shine a light on our Indiana-Sired and -Bred horses, as well as supporting our county fairs to draw more attention to their race cards.”

Listeners will be able to follow along throughout the summer, with an updated points page located not only on the IHRC website, but on the website of 1070 The Fan and social media. Starting in July, easy-listening station B105.7 will join its sister station in hosting two separate VIP Experience contests, urging the general public to sign up for their chance to win an exclusive VIP experience to the Indiana-Sired Fair Circuit State Championships. The experience includes four tickets to the Indiana State Fair, VIP seating, food and drink vouchers and a behind-the-scenes tour of the historic Speed Barns with Staysniak and the opportunity to meet drivers, see the horses up close, and more.

“We generally have good attendance for our State Fair races, but we really wanted to focus our efforts this year to introducing the general public to the excitement of harness racing,” said Rachel Klotz, Standardbred Breed Development Program Coordinator. “We’re still finalizing all of the activities we’re going to do at the State Fair, but I’m so excited to watch anticipation grow for everyone.”

Other items included in the promotion are three separate videos to be recorded with station talent to help educate and excite listeners and viewers about harness racing. From family friendly behind-the-scenes views, to slapstick neophytes trying to call a race and everywhere in between, the videos will be shared on both station web sites as well as social media for the breed development program.

Point standings will be updated after each set of races and posted on the Indiana Horse Racing Commission’s website: www.in.gov/hrc/2524.htm (a list of all eligible horses can also be found there).

For more information on the Indiana Sired Fair Circuit, reach out to the IHRC at 317.232.2897 or by emailing Standardbred@hrc.in.gov.