Indiana Grand: $4.4M in Thoroughbred Stakes

Indiana Grand Racing & Casino will offer 36 Thoroughbred stakes valued at more than $4.4 million during its 2016 racing season, the track announced Feb. 25.

The season, which begins April 19, will be highlighted by the $500,000 Indiana Derby (gr. II) July 16, a Saturday. In 2015 the race for 3-year-olds was moved from early October to the current summer date.

"The move of the Indiana Derby to July last year proved to be a great spot on the summer stakes calendar for 3-year-olds," said Kevin Greely, director of racing at Indiana Grand. "We had a strong field for the race and broke attendance records due to warmer weather.

"In addition, 20 stakes for Indiana-bred or -sired horses were raised from $85,000 to $100,000 in 2016, adding another boost to our stakes program."

The Indiana Derby will be joined by six other stakes on a program that will begin at 6:05 p.m. EDT. They are the $200,000 Indiana Oaks (gr. II) and four $100,000 events: the Mari Hulman George, Michael G. Memorial, Indiana General Assembly Distaff, and Warrior Veterans.

The $200,000 Centaur Stakes and the $200,000 Indiana Grand head the list of 10 stakes scheduled for the turf course in 2016. Both stakes will be Sept. 7 and be accompanied by the $100,000 A.J. Foyt Stakes and the $100,000 Florence Henderson Stakes, also turf events.

The afternoon racing card, which begins at 2:05 p.m, will mark the final stakes of the season on Indiana Grand's seven-furlong turf course.

"By showcasing a lot of our stakes on Wednesday afternoons, we have become known as one of the premier Thoroughbred tracks mid-week," Greely said. "This gives us the opportunity to showcase our races in front of a national audience. It also allows us to draw entries from some of the top operations in the Midwest that might otherwise be committed to weekend racing events elsewhere, which only strengthens are racing product."

Racing will be conducted Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 2:05 p.m. and Saturdays at 6:05 p.m. Thursday racing will be added to the schedule in July and August beginning July 7; post time will be 2:05 p.m.