by Emily Gaskin, for Hoosier Park Racing and Casino

Anderson, IN — Training is officially underway for the upcoming season of live harness racing at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino as the seven-eighths-mile oval was opened to horsemen on Monday (March 17).

The track will remain open for training from 6 a.m.-12 p.m. the rest of the week, with weather permitting.

Stalls were allotted for the upcoming season by Hoosier Park Race Secretary Scott Peine and horsemen began moving in equipment on March 15. The barn area has since been opened for stabling and the dormitories have also been made available for occupancy.

The first round of qualifiers at Hoosier Park are slated for Wednesday (March 19) and again on Saturday (March 22), with an estimated start time of 10 a.m. Hoosier Park will also offer qualifiers on Monday (March 24) to allow horsemen another opportunity to qualify their horses.

A special evening qualifier is slated for Wednesday (March 26) beginning at 5:15 p.m. and will serve as a “dress rehearsal” for live racing. The qualifiers will be conducted on a Wednesday and Saturday schedule throughout the remainder of the meet. The entry box closes for qualifiers one day prior at 1 p.m.

All horses entering the grounds must have valid paperwork and all personnel must be licensed by the Indiana Horse Racing Commission before entering the grounds. The IHRC licensing office at Hoosier Park will open on Tuesday (March 18) from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. for anyone who needs to obtain a license.

Now in its 21st season of live racing, Hoosier Park is set to begin live racing on Friday (March 28) with a new, daily post time of 5:15 p.m. (EDT). The first condition sheet has been made available and can be found on Hoosier Park’s website or by clicking here.

Live racing at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino will follow a Friday/Saturday schedule the opening week, a Thursday, Friday, Saturday schedule the second week and then resume a Tuesday through Saturday schedule throughout the remainder of the meet. With an extended stakes scheduled offered for the first time, the live racing season will be conducted through Nov. 15.