by Tammy Knox, publicity director, Hoosier Park

ANDERSON, IND. (April 7, 2004) — A start in the $200,000 Dan Patch Invitational Pace Saturday, April 10 means a listing in the record books for Swingin Glory. The 10-year-old will become the oldest horse to ever start in the event, which is now in it’s 11th season.

Swingin Glory has added a local flair to the race, making his fourth start at Hoosier Park this year in the Dan Patch. The Florida-bred son of Raging Glory competed all winter at Pompano Park in Florida before heading to Indiana in March. He finished third in his first start and has back to back wins carrying him into the Dan Patch. His time of 1:50.3 two starts back is the quickest mile over Hoosier Park’s oval this season, and his performances have been solid and impressive thus far.

“He (Swingin Glory) is the easiest horse I have ever driven,” said driver Ricky Macomber. “He does everything so easy. You can either race him from off the pace, or take him right to the front. He’s an old horse and he knows what needs to be done.”

Owned by Sylvia Burke and Lawrence Karr, Swingin Glory has earned 52 wins in his career and a total of more than $690,000 in earnings. His career best time was taken at the age of seven at The Meadowlands in a time of 1:49.4. He already has 13 starts this season and appears to be in prime shape heading into the Dan Patch.

“He is a very easy horse to take care of,” said Macomber. “We always give him two days off after he races. He gets time in the paddock out at Crimson Lane Farm. After his last race, I jogged him for the first time Tuesday (April 6) and he was feeling good. He had his tail up over his back. He knows how to take care of himself.”

Swingin Glory is trained by Macomber’s cousin, Brian Hauck. The duo works as a team, overseeing 25 horses between stalls at Hoosier Park and Crimson Lane Farm, a nearby training facility. A win in this year’s Dan Patch would be a boost for everyone involved.

“The night they claimed this horse at The Meadowlands, he took a bad step and hurt himself,” said Hauck. “They had to lay him off for a while. Mickey Burke is the one that trained him and claimed him. He sent him to Ricky last summer. We trained him all winter down at Pompano. That was just an unbelievable mile in his last start due to the weather conditions.”

Swingin Glory’s last outing was a sharp 1:51.2 mile amidst very strong winds and cold temperatures. He moved to the outside in the stretch, pacing his final quarter in :25.4 for his fifth win of 2004. He has been selected as the third choice on the morning line at odds of 4-1.

“We’ll just treat this like any other week,” said Macomber. “He gets jogged every day and his legs are done up every day. We’ll poultice his feet the day before. He knows the routine.”

A victory by Swingin Glory will also be an added achievement by Macomber. Macomber has two Dan Patch Invitational wins to his credit, guiding Royalflush Hanover to victory in 2000 and E Dee’s Cam in 2002. He is the only driver to have multiple victories in the Dan Patch.

The entire Dan Patch field with driver and odds in post position order includes: Sharky Spur (Irvine Jr.) 5-1; Cambest Prince (Grismore) 10-1; Luckyisasluckydoes (Saftic) 7-2; Life Sizzles (Cross) 8-1; Armbro Animate (Shetler) 15-1; Eaton Road Kill (Ledford) 6-1; Life Source (B. Miller) 2-1; Swingin Glory (Macomber) 4-1; Foxy Maneuver (Eash) 12-1. Approximate post time for the Dan Patch Invitational is 9:41 p.m. EST.

To help commemorate the race, a special Dan Patch Bobblehead will be available to the first 1,500 fans age 18 and over when gates open at 5 p.m. Also, fans will have an opportunity to register for a car, courtesy of Payton Wells Auto Group, that will be given away during Hoosier Cup Night Saturday, May 29. Ten semifinalists will be added to the drawing for the car.

Hoosier Park, a majority-owned property of Churchill Downs Incorporated (Nasdaq: CHDN), also operates simulcast-wagering facilities in Indianapolis, Fort Wayne and Merrillville, Ind. Hoosier Park’s Standardbred season runs through Saturday, June 12. Live racing is conducted Wednesday through Sunday with the first race going to post at 6:45 p.m. No racing will be conducted Easter Sunday April 11. Information about Hoosier Park racing and all of its facilities can be found on the Internet at www.hoosierpark.com.