The Herald Bulletin

Morning Update

Sports

Related Photos

  • Don Eash drives Practical Pete during a qualifying race at Hoosier Park on Saturday. Live racing starts on April 2nd. Don Knight / The Herald Bulletin

    SPT - HB0317 - Hoosier Park - 09 - DK.jpg

  • Chance Dillander leads at the start of a qualifying race driving VC Scooter at Hoosier Park on Saturday. Live racing starts on April 2nd. Don Knight / The Herald Bulletin

    SPT - HB0317 - Hoosier Park - 29 - DK.jpg

  • Trace Tetrick leads the field driving Victor Vuitton during a qualifying race at Hoosier Park on Saturday. Live racing starts on April 2nd. Don Knight / The Herald Bulletin

    SPT - HB0317 - Hoosier Park - 21 - DK.jpg

Discussion

March 16, 2013

Hoosier Park checks qualifications

Standardbreds getting ready for April 2 opener

By Rick Teverbaugh The Herald Bulletin

ANDERSON, Ind. — Harness racing returned to Hoosier Park on Saturday as qualifying races were held in preparation for the track’s April 2 opener.

Some standardbreds that have not raced in a while or that have broken stride in recent outings need to qualify before making para-mutual starts.

This will be the first time, since the year Hoosier Park opened, that there will be just harness racing at the track. The thoroughbreds will run at Indiana Downs. But it is a change that the horsemen universally seem to favor.

“This will cut down on our expenses,” said driver/trainer Ricky Macomber. “We don’t have to move around from one track to another.”

Since each track was going to one breed, Macomber is glad the standardbreds are going to be the one that remains at the Anderson track. “We always liked Hoosier Park better (than Indiana Downs),” he said. “We always thought we got treated better here. But now that both tracks are owned by the same people, it will probably change at the other track.”

Rick Moore, General Manager of Racing at Hoosier Park, also sees reasons why harness racing will call Anderson home.

“Our motto for this season is ‘Setting the new standard in standardbred racing,’” said Moore. “All our focus can now be on standardbreds. Our heritage in this state is with standardbred racing.”

Part of the problem in switching between the two breeds is that each one requires a different racing surface. Making that change twice each year made it difficult to keep the surface in the best shape possible. That is no longer a concern.

Jimmy Shelton is the Track Superintendent and the setup of the track for this season has been aided by Greg Coon, who according to Moore is “world renown for working on racing surfaces.” The result is a better surface, which proved itself on Saturday even though there was rain overnight on Friday.

“The surface is nice,” said driver/trainer Don Eash. “I’m not a track man, but it feels different in a good way. I think it will be better for the horses.”

“The surface is good and it will only get better,” said Trace Tetrick, who is returning as the defending driver champion from 2012. “It held up nice today after the rain.”

“First, the horses’ safety comes before everything else,” said Moore. “Secondly, we found some brown limestone. I think makes for a more appealing color than the lime gray.”

There were 10 qualifying races held Saturday morning.

Indiana stakes champions ABC Mercedes, Dontfusswithruss, and Rustles Chip were among the morning’s qualifying participants.

Millionaire trotter and multiple Indiana Sire Stakes Champion ABC Mercedes returned to the track with a second place finish in 1:59.3. Driven and trained by Tetrick, the three-time Indiana trotter of the year charged home in: 26.3 but was unable to track down Jessejo and driver Ed Hensley who finished a nose in front. Dontfusswithruss finished just behind the top pair in third for driver, trainer Joe Essig Jr.

Indiana Sire Stakes champion Rustles Chip romped to a four length triumph in a 1:55.4 in his qualifier for trainer, driver Don Eash. The 4-year-old gelding won the $200,000 Indiana Sire Stakes final for 3-year-old colt and gelding pacers in 2012 and has earned over $200,000 in his short career. The son of Art’s Chip is owned by Eash Racing Stable.

Text Only
Sports
  • NBA Finals for Online James helps Heat stave off elimination in Game 6 LeBron James led a title-saving charge, and now his crown will be on the line one more time in Game 7.

    June 19, 2013 1 Photo

  • SPT - HB0619 - golf classic - DK - 39 Butler's Clarke chasing NBA chance After leading Butler in scoring this season and proving himself as one of college basketball's most dangerous shooters, Rotnei Clarke is trying to find a home in the NBA.

    June 19, 2013 2 Photos

  • SPT - HB0618 - Lind photo - AP Surging Lind seeking All-Star support Former Highland star Adam Lind leads the majors in hitting since May 7.

    June 18, 2013 1 Photo

  • DelaBastide Ken Ken de la Bastide: Top Street Stock event this Saturday The marquee event for the Champion Racing Association's Street Stock Division will take place Saturday at Anderson Speedway with a 200-lap event.

    June 18, 2013 1 Photo

  • IU baseball.jpg Porter sends Miss. St. to 5-4 CWS win over Indiana

    Trey Porter surely made the home folks proud back in Hurley, Miss., population 950.
    With Porter driving in the go-ahead runs in the eighth inning, Mississippi State took control of its bracket in the College World Series with a 5-4 victory over Indiana on Monday night.

    June 18, 2013 1 Photo

  • SPT - HB0618 - PH football - DH IFCA endorses Heads Up Football The Indiana Football Coaches Association, and its counterpart in Minnesota, officially became the first state associations to endorse USA Football's Heads Up Football for their members on Monday.

    June 17, 2013 1 Photo

  • Shifting tides roll through NCC With conference membership changing across the state of Indiana, the proud North Central Conference in for at least three years of upheaval.

    June 17, 2013

  • SPT - HB0618 - Taliaferro - AP IU, Golf Channel celebrities headline Children's Clinic Golf Classic

    After the Children’s Clinic Celebrity Benefit and Pairings Party Monday evening at Anderson Country Club kicked off two days of fundraising for the St. John’s Children’s Clinic, the event’s finale will tee off Tuesday with the Children’s Clinic Golf Classic, featuring teams of five golfers, pairing locals and celebrities alike.

    June 17, 2013 1 Photo

  • SPT - HB0618 - Pagano photo - AP Pagano wins Halas Award for overcoming adversity Chuck Pagano's battle against leukemia served as inspiration for NFL fans across the nation last season as the Indianapolis Colts made a remarkable run to the AFC playoffs. On Monday, the Pro Football Writers of America honored Pagano as the 2013 George Halas Award winner. The Halas Award, in its 44th year, is given each season to the player, coach or staff member who overcomes the most adversity to succeed.

    June 17, 2013 1 Photo

  • SPT - HB0617 - Lind - AP Lind homers again as Jays sweep Rangers For the second day in a row, former Highland star Adam Lind homered as the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Texas Rangers 7-2 to sweep a four-game series.

    June 16, 2013 1 Photo