Horseshoe Indianapolis recently concluded its 22nd season of Thoroughbred and quarter-horse racing, achieving remarkable feats. With a total of 124 days of racing, including six dedicated to quarter-horse events, the season was a resounding success. Domestic handle exceeded $282 million, surpassing the previous record of $279 million in 2023.

Strong Team Effort and Fan Support

Eric Halstrom, vice president and general manager of racing, expressed pride in the season's achievements. "Once again, we are very proud of our racing program this season, and it is the result of a strong team effort between our staff, horsemen and the Indiana Horse Racing Commission," he said. "Everyone contributed to our success this season, which is clearly shown in our wagering results. We genuinely appreciate the support of all fans across the world in watching and wagering on our races. It’s very gratifying to see such positive results for the hard work we all put in throughout the season."The final wagering tallies will be available later in the year. Currently, the tally stands at $282 million, and it is likely that international numbers will push the total into the range of $320 million. Average total handle per race was $236,886, showing a 1.60 percent increase over 2023.A total of 1,191 races were conducted. In 2024, 971 Thoroughbred races were held compared to 983 in 2023. The average number of starters per race was 7.9, higher than the national trend. Ten fewer races were held on the turf in 2024 due to the impact of weather on several racing days.

Highlight of the Year: Indiana Derby and Oaks

The highlight of the year was the 30th running of the Grade 3 Indiana Derby and Indiana Oaks (G3) on Saturday, July 5. More than $8.1 million was wagered on the day, setting a track record for a single card handle in Indiana history. In total, 13 days during the year topped $3 million in handle. "Indiana Derby Day continues to grow each year and has definitely captured the attention of the racing world on the first Saturday in July," Halstrom said. "We have a tremendous crowd on track in addition to the multitude of locations taking our racing signal throughout the world. Our staff and horsemen put on a great show that day."

Racing Achievements and Titles

Randy Klopp earned his third title in the past four years in the leading trainer category, while Alberto Burgos won his first Leading Jockey title. John Haran was awarded top owner of the meet. Oscar Villarreal secured the 10th annual Juan Saez leading apprentice title as the top apprentice rider. The top horse of the meet was Cupid’s Runaway, winning seven of his eight starts during the course of the meet. The Cupid gelding was ridden by Burgos for Klopp and owner Reese Ranch.On the quarter-horse side, five more races were held in 2024, with 220 races loaded in the gate compared to 215 in 2023. The average number of starters per race was 8.87 in the quarter-horse ranks, also above the national trend.

Return of Racing

Racing is set to return to Horseshoe Indianapolis on April 15, promising more excitement and records to come.