Indiana shines during Breeders Crown at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino
October 29, 2017,by Emily Gaskin, for Hoosier Park
Anderson, IN — It was definitely Indiana’s time on many platforms Saturday (Oct. 28) during the second of two nights of action for the Breeders Crown Championships.
The track pulled in a fantastic crowd that filled every portion of the grandstand and they were treated with three Indiana sired winners out of the six Breeders Crown races on the track.
Hannelore Hanover was victorious in the Open Trot, Fiftydallarbill gave the crowd a thrilling finish in the 2-year-old colt and gelding trot and it was hometown heroes Beckham’s Z Tam and Ricky Macomber Jr. who scored the most emotional win of the night, pouring it on in the stretch to win the 3-year-old colt and gelding pace. Macomber’s wife, Jamie, who is in her first year of training on her own after more than a decade with the Burke Stable, serves as the trainer of the horse to complete the husband-wife team in the winner’s circle.
“We had more than $4 million in handle over two nights of the Breeders Crown Championships,” said Jim Brown, President and COO of Centaur Gaming. “We set individual nightly records both evenings for our handle. The Breeders Crown brought in 400 percent more than our average weekend handle. We couldn’t be prouder of our team at Hoosier Park, our horsemen and horsewomen, and all of the sponsors that have been along for such an amazing ride in bringing the Breeders Crown to Indiana. It was an electric weekend led by three great performances by three outstanding Indiana bred horses.”
Over the last two evenings, more than $4 million was wagered on Hoosier Park in all sources handle, breaking record handle each consecutive night. On Saturday night alone, Hoosier Park set an all-time handle record for harness racing with $2.1 million wagered.
“The Breeders Crown in Indiana has been an extraordinary experience,” said Tom Charters, retiring president and CEO of the Hambletonian Society. “Four years ago, some would say it was kind of a leap of faith to consider having the Breeders Crown at Hoosier Park. After meeting with Rick Moore (vice president and general manager of racing at Hoosier Park) and Jack Kieninger (president of the Indiana Standardbred Association), it was amazing of the support of Hoosier Park and the Indiana horsemen and the Hambletonian board. I thought it was magical to have 10 Indiana breds make the finals of the Breeders Crown. Having three of them win is almost a fairy tale. I hope I’m back to attend the next one at Hoosier Park.”
Live harness racing at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino continues through Friday (Nov. 17) with a regular first post time of 6:30 p.m.
- Hannelore Hanover scores in Breeders Crown Open Trot (Saturday, October 28, 2017)
Hannelore Hanover became the first female winner of the Breeders Crown Open Trot in 19 years, beating Crazy Wow by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:52.1 in Saturday’s (Oct. 28) $526,250 final at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino. Marion Marauder was third.
- Fiftydallarbill upsets in Breeders Crown freshman male trot (Saturday, October 28, 2017)
Fiftydallarbill won the $600,000 Breeders Crown 2-year-old colt and gelding trot at Hoosier Park on Saturday night (Oct. 28) by 1-1/4 lengths over Met’s Hall in 1:55. Trace Tetrick drove the winner.
- Stay Hungry rallies to win Breeders Crown freshman male pace (Saturday, October 28, 2017)
Stay Hungry charged off the final turn to overtake Western Passage and then held off Shnitzledosomethin by a neck to win Saturday’s (Oct. 28) $600,000 Breeders Crown for 2-year-old male pacers in 1:50.4 at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino. Closing Statement was third.
- What The Hill posts 1:52.3 victory in Breeders Crown 3-year-old male trot (Saturday, October 28, 2017)
What The Hill dominated his divisional foes again as he won the $527,500 Breeders Crown 3-year-old colt and gelding trot at Hoosier Park Saturday night (Oct. 28) in 1:52.3. David Miller drove the winner.
- Beckhams Z Tam stops Downbytheseaside in Breeders Crown (Saturday, October 28, 2017)
Beckhams Z Tam out-dueled favorite Downbytheseaside down the stretch to win Saturday’s (Oct. 28) $527,500 Breeders Crown for 3-year-old male pacers by a quarter-length in 1:51.1 and touch off an emotional celebration at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino. Miso Fast was third.
- Longshot Split The House captures Breeders Crown Open Pace (Saturday, October 28, 2017)
Split The House made his second move worthy of winning the $421,000 Breeders Crown Open Pace at Hoosier Park Saturday night (Oct. 28) in a sparkling 1:48.1. Brett Miller drove the winner, who hit the finish one length in front of McWicked.