RECAP OF 2022 RACING SEASON AT HORSESHOE INDIANAPOLIS
SHELBYVILLE, Ind.; – Dec. 21, 2022 – Below is a list of the top five racing stories, quotes and a timeline prepared by the race marketing department at Horseshoe Indianapolis. The 123-day racing season was conducted from Tuesday, April 19 through Wednesday, Nov. 23.
TOP FIVE STORIES
1. Indiana Derby handle tops seven million
For the seventh straight year, the Indiana Derby program raised the bar in handle. Actuator and James Graham were winners in the featured 28th running of the Grade 3 $300,000 Indiana Derby Saturday, July 9. The $2,200 yearling purchase is now a Graded Stakes winner for his connections during a new record handle day of $7,201.564 for Horseshoe Indianapolis.
Moved back to Saturday since the 2019 running of the event, the program included numerous ancillary activities, including three - $1,000 Indiana Derby Megabet Win Wager drawings, a cigar rolling station, and a special $2,500 Indiana Derby Legends online handicapping contest with a record 317 players.
A total of eight stakes races were held on the card, including the 27th running of the Grade 3 $200,000 Indiana Oaks won by Interstatedaydream and Florent Geroux.
2. Bradshaw wins Road to Louisville including yearling from ITOBA Sale
Anthony Bradshaw, longtime horseplayer and factory worker of Louisville, Ky. topped a field of more than 450 players in the Road to Louisville to earn the grand prize of $1,000 and the option to purchase an Indiana yearling at the ITOBA Fall Mixed Sale in October. A total of $30,000 was granted to Bradshaw toward the purchase courtesy of Horseshoe Indianapolis and Indiana Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (ITOBA).
Bradshaw selected Trainer Tony Granitz and through consultation, purchased Hip No. 36, Jailhouse Justice, for $8,000 leaving $22,000 in his account for expenses incurred while the colt prepares for racing in 2023. Bradshaw immediately nicknamed the colt “JJ,” who was Bradshaw’s top pick for the sale.
“JJ” was transported to Elliott Farms following the sale to begin the process of breaking and training and the Harry’s Holiday colt will join the Granitz Stable in early 2023.
3. AQHA Challenge Championships attract some of the best horses in the nation
Five Graded Stakes races were held as part of the prestigious Bank of America Challenge Championships, the first time the event has been held East of the Mississippi in it’s 29-year running. The event attracted some of the nation’s top Quarter Horses, including World Champion Danjer, who was a winner in the Grade 1 $269,627 Bank of America Challenge Championship.
Other winners on the night included Dance the Dust Off in the Cox Distance Challenge, Meet Me Out Back in the John Deere Juvenile Challenge, Nothin Like You in the Adequan Derby Challenge, and Valiant Miss Priss in the Q Racing Video Challenge. The evening included giveaways and contests with a packed house on hand to witness the historic event.
4. Indiana Champions Day tops $1 million in purses
A total of seven stakes were featured for the third annual Indiana Champions Day placing the spotlight on the state’s top Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse athletes. More than $1 million was offered on the card, including the richest Indiana Quarter Horse stakes ever in the $201,500 Miss Roxie Little Futurity won by Winner Spirit and James Flores.
The highlight of the day was a special appearance by Forrie J. Smith, who portrays “Lloyd” on the hit television show “Yellowstone.” Smith presented the trophy for two stakes on the day, including the $250,000 Lady Fog Horn winner No More Fake News for jockey DeShawn Parker and Trainer Gary Patrick. Smith also met with numerous fans for autographs and photos.
Handle for the afternoon’s 12-race card topped $2 million.
5. Historic heat causes cancellations, changes in racing
Central Indiana was plagued with extreme heat on two separate occasions that canceled racing and caused adjustment for post times on others. Three days were canceled in mid-June with racing moved to an evening start for three days June 21 through 23.
Additionally, adjustments and cancellations were made in late July due to the heat indexes that reached triple digits. Racing was held in late morning July 20 to escape the hottest part of the day with safe racing conditions at top of mind for the human and equine participants.
MEMORABLE QUOTES
Horseshoe Indianapolis’ new Track Announcer John G. Dooley on joining the team in Indiana: “I’m excited for this new opportunity to join the broadcast team for the newly branded Horseshoe Indianapolis. I think racing in Indiana is moving in a positive direction. Having lived and called races in the Midwest for the past 22 years, and knowing many horsemen and fans in the region, I look forward to being a part of the 20th anniversary season in Indiana.”
Eric Halstrom, Vice President and General Manager of Racing, on moving the Indiana Derby back to Saturday in 2022: “The past two years, we have held the Indiana Derby on Wednesdays which has appealed to our national audience and as a result, we set two consecutive track records for handle. By moving the event back to a Saturday, we hope it will provide a balance with our national followers along with our on-track customers who have historically packed our venue for the event. The Indiana Derby has a great appeal to spectators and has been tagged as one of the biggest summer sporting events in Central Indiana.”
Brian Arrigoni on joining the elite broadcasting team at Horseshoe Indianapolis: “As someone who is always learning and trying to apply new ideas and get better, I have leaned towards the low takeout wagers. I’m very appreciative of the opportunity I had with Canterbury to grow and fine tune my handicapping skills. With that opportunity, I’ve learned a lot and enjoy the satisfaction of stringing along multiple winners in a row, which has led me to often play Pick 5’s due to minimal takeouts. I’m very excited to join the team at Horseshoe Indianapolis and I’m ready to get to work adding support to both John (Dooley) and Rachel (McLaughlin).”
Anthony Bradshaw on winning Road to Louisville and an option to purchase an Indiana yearling from the ITOBA Fall Sale: “I really enjoy watching and wagering on the horses and it’s been a hobby of mine for a long time. I’ve never owned a racehorse and never even thought about it, but after all these years of betting, I’m very excited to be more involved and can’t wait to go to the sale this fall and experience a totally different side of racing.”
Former IMPD officer and high school coach Jim Leisure on winning the $2,500 Caesars Stakes Legends Contest sponsored by Indiana HBPA: “I’m a math guy and I break the fractions and odds down to come up with the best four horses in a race. I actually had that longshot Mansfield Tiger as the best horse in the race with my system.”
Vice President and General Manager of Racing Eric Halstrom on the decision to cancel racing due to extreme heat: “The safety of our equine athletes and those who are involved in the racing program is always at the forefront of our concerns. We are taking the proper steps to ensure everyone involved in conducting our racing program is safe from the anticipated temperatures on Tuesday.”
Jockey DeShawn Parker on earning his 6,000th career win and dedicating the victory to his father Daryl, longtime Ohio steward wo passed away in 2021 from cancer: “This means the world to me, and I was riding for my dad, because I couldn’t have been here without him. He knew I was getting close to this milestone, but he never said much about any of the milestones. He’s the one that kept me calm, and if I was getting worked up over something, I would give him a call and tell him what was going on and he’d calm me down. I miss not being able to do that.”
Steve Jarmuz, Senior Vice President and General Manager, on providing the donation to SCUFFY: “It’s important to us that Horseshoe Indianapolis continues its goal of being a good corporate partner in Shelby County. Allotting our funds coming directly from Caesars Foundation to SCUFFY plus an additional $15,000 from our local program only strengthens our commitment to the immediate community and ensures the organizations under the SCUFFY umbrella have the resources they need to provide much needed services.”
Indianapolis automobile body work and paint specialist David Zebrowski, winner of the second annual Fishing Derby on snagging a 4.94 pound catfish: “I caught that fish in the first 10 minutes of the contest. At the time, I was using bait mainly for catfish. This is the first time I’ve been in this contest, but I fish a lot. It’s definitely the biggest catfish I’ve ever caught.”
Jockey James Graham on winning the Grade 3 $300,000 Indiana Derby aboard Actuator: “I could feel them creeping up his inside. I knew he’d stay. His last work was fantastic. I’m just happy it paid off today. He doesn’t do everything he’s asked. He has to be told sometimes, which is a great thing.”
Owner Staton Flurry on learning patience from Trainer Brad Cox and winning the Grade 3 $200,000 Indiana Oaks with Interstatedaydream: “That’s kind of the motif that Brad has taught us: Be patient with them. Don’t try to throw them to the wolves every time there’s a race out there they fit in. Be patient, take your time between spots and they’ll reward you. Look at how we’ve done with Shedaresthedevil. That’s kind of the game plan we had in 2020, and it won us the Kentucky Oaks. It was a good finish today and I’m excited to see what the future holds.”
Quarter Horse Trainer Randy Smith on finishing first and second with Piloted by an Angel and Our Louisiana Girl in the Jaguar Rocket Futurity Final: “She (Piloted by an Angel) is a whale of a filly. When we got back (to Indiana) and started getting her in schooling races, we found out she had a little speed. I though the other filly (Our Louisiana Girl) ran a good race. I didn’t know which one of the two would win because they are pretty close.”
Caesars Entertainment Racing Senior Vice President Joe Morris on adding Tony Martinez to the staff as the new track superintendent: “Having a top-notch track man like Roy (Smith) is hard to replace. Being able to secure a talent like Tony (Martinez) is another way we can continue our upward momentum in the Indiana horse racing industry. It shows our continued commitment to both the Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse programs. We strive to provide the best possible racing surfaces and will continue that goal under the guidance of someone who is a third-generation track man and is invested in our vision in taking our program to the next level.”
Owner Tammy Rigney following the win by Fireball Baby in the $100,000 Hoosier Heartland Stakes after an 11-month layoff: “She’s been so special to our family and our daughter had plans to use her as a show horse. But she wants to run, so we brought her back. Our daughter will be moving up a class in dressage next year, so the timing probably won’t be right for her to become a show horse. We have plans now to breed her when she’s done racing.”
Resia Ayres, operations manager for Grayson-Jockey Club Equine Research, on the $9,099.50 donation to their organization from the third annual Grayson Grass Challenge: “This donation improves the lives of all horses. I’m very proud of what we are doing here, and letting people know what our mission is. It’s very important for our industry and we appreciate this donation very much.”
Anthony Bradshaw, winner of the purchase of an Indiana yearling through Road to Louisville, on getting his top choice at the ITOBA Fall Sale: “This has been the most thrilling experience of my life. It was a little nerve wrecking as the bidding was going back and forth because there was another person wanting the horse too. This is the horse I wanted. Tony Granitz looked at several of the yearlings prior to the sale and gave me a list of those he thought would be in my price range and this was one of them. Of all of them we looked at, this colt was my top choice.”
Quarter Horse Jockey Cody Smith on winning the Grade 1 $269,627 Bank of America Challenge Championship aboard World Champion Danjer: “He’s one of a kind. When you start riding him, you just don’t want to mess him up and let him do his thing. He slipped a little leaving, but it didn’t take him long to get his feet under him.”
Kelly Dobbs, assistant for Trainer Robert Dobbs Jr., following their win with Mr Chaos in the $250,000 Unreachable Star Stakes: “We are just thrilled with this horse and want to thank the owners, Judy (Dorris) and Ken (Sentel) for allowing us to train this horse. And Rodney (Prescott) did a great job. He knows this horse like the back of his hand. He’s a beautiful horse and we have big plans for him. He loves to do it and he’s excited to do it (race).”
Jockey Manny Esquivel on winning his 1,000th career race aboard Colonel Aby B: “This milestone came up pretty quick. I won two races at Hawthorne Sunday and was hoping to get a third but I’m glad to get it here (at Horseshoe Indianapolis). I have done well, and I love it here. I also want to thank my uncle Cipriano Contreras. He’s the one that got me started here in Indiana, and I appreciate that greatly. It was also important to me to have my wife and kids here for the win. I wanted to make sure they could take the picture with me.”
Gage Holmes on collecting peanut butter from the jockeys for Helping Veterans and Families Inc.: “This is a great way for us to get involved with the community. We’ve done a couple of fundraisers so far this year and are collecting toys right now for the kids in this area.”
Tim DeWitt, Security Shift Manager for Racing, on the $10,000 donation to the Mounted Patrol in Indianapolis: “Horses are close to our heart. Anytime we get the opportunity to support equine causes in our area, it’s very rewarding to be able to assist. I was very proud to represent Horseshoe Indianapolis with this donation to the Indy Mounted Patrol.”
Horseplayer Bernie McGuinness on his win in the $2,000 Racing Rachel’s Warriors Final:
“The real story here is my lucky shirt from Indiana Champions Day. That day was dedicated to the horse champions. Today was dedicated to the horseplayer champions so I made sure to wear it. I owe all my luck to the shirt.”
Three-Time Leading Jockey Marcelino Pedroza Jr. on donating toys to the local community each year: “It’s nice to help and I want to help out whenever I can. Giving back is important to me. It’s the way I was raised, and I want to help any way I can. I hope we can brighten the day of a few kids this Christmas.”
Jockey Joe Ramos on winning the leading jockey title with eight wins the final two days of racing: “I’m so blessed. I’m blessed to be healthy enough to be here and so grateful to all the outfits that had faith in me to give me the opportunities this year. Special thanks to my agent (Kerry “Bones” Wirth). I want to say a special thanks to all the fans and the horsemen and people who work at the tracks, too. We all work very hard to keep doing what we love. I’m very blessed to do this and keep watching me because I’m going to keep doing it.”
Eric Halstrom, Vice President and General Manager of Racing, on the success of the 2022 racing season: “Despite difficult weather conditions with rain in most of May and a string of 100-plus heat index days that forced us to either cancel or move post times away from the heat in June, we ended up showing a solid season of business in 2022. We have to thank the horsemen’s organizations and the Indiana Horse Racing Commission for their partnership in achieving these numbers over last season, which was strong to begin with. It’s definitely a group effort in moving the business levels forward in racing at Horseshoe Indianapolis.”
Joe Morris, Senior Vice President of Racing for Caesars Entertainment, on the final figures for 2022: “If you look at our estimated handle of $235 million that number is one of the strongest in the nation right now. And it also shows a fourth straight year of achieving a record handle. I applaud our horsemen and our racing team led by Eric (Halstrom) for a job well done and for their hard work throughout the season.”
Mike Gillum, winner of the NHC Qualifier, who also finished second and fourth from three entries in the local contest and will advance to the $3 million NHC Final in Las Vegas in March 2023: “This is only the third time I’ve placed in a live tournament. I generally play in tournaments online. I qualified for the NHC here in 2019 (Gillum finished fourth to advance). That’s my only time playing in the NHC final. I missed last year’s local contest due to a prior commitment. It was just one of those days where everything clicked. All three tickets connected. I’m excited to be heading to Vegas for the finals.”
2022 RACING TIMELINE
02/07 John G. Dooley is named new track announcer for Horseshoe Indianapolis.
02/17 Indiana’s 2022 $4.6 million stakes schedule is announced featuring the 28th running of the Grade 3 Indiana Derby July 9
03/03 Brian Arrigoni is added to the broadcast team as the paddock handicapper and wagering specialist.
04/06 Quarter Horse Stakes Schedule released featuring a record $1.9 million in purses highlighted by 29 stakes and the AQHA Bank of America Challenge Championships
04/19 Highest Praise and Joshua Morales were winners in the first race to kick off the 20th season of Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing.
05/02 Horseshoe Indianapolis announced a partnership with Fox Sports Network to feature part of the track’s racing program on the national broadcast on select days in 2022
05/07 Anthony Bradshaw of Louisville, Ky. was the overall winner of Road to Louisville, which included the option to purchase an Indiana yearling from the ITOBA Fall Sale. Also, Beach Blasts and Juan Marquez set a track record in the 350-yard dash at :17.270.
05/17 Kentucky Derby winning Jockey Sonny Leon aboard longshot Rich Strike, rides in Indiana, finishing second aboard the Kentucky Derby winning trainer Eric Reed’s Tiltingatwindmills and signs many autographs for his historic win at the Kentucky Derby 10 days earlier.
05/18 Stitched and Florent Geroux were winners in the 17th running of the $150,000 Caesar Stakes (Listed). The son of Mizzen Mast is trained by Greg Foley for owner-breeder Nathan McCauley. Heavenly Hellos won the 14th running of the Horseshoe Indianapolis Stakes for Edgar Morales and Rey Hernandez to cap off the richest day of turf racing for Indiana. Also, the Pick 5 had a record payout of $141,198.50 on the stakes races five through nine. And a total of $30,240 is earmarked for racehorse aftercare programs as part of Empire of Hope for the afternoon racing program.
05/31 Horseshoe Indianapolis donates a shuttle bus to the Indiana Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association (HBPA) for their benevolence programs.
06/11 Team Puerto Rico was the winner for the second straight year in the 8th annual World Jockey Challenge during International Fest. The team included Andrea Rodriguez, Joe Ramos, Sammy Bermudez, and Joshua Morales, who all added points to the team.
06/13 Racing is canceled for three straight days due to elevated heat indexes making conditions unsafe for human and equine participants in racing. A second wave of heat caused extreme heat indexes two weeks later, pushing post times to early in the morning and at night to escape the hottest part of the day and get racing programs completed.
06/16 Caesars Foundation and Horseshoe Indianapolis provided a $70,000 donation to the Shelby County United Fund for You with a presentation held in the winner’s circle during racing.
06/20 Vincent Cheminaud rode Cloudy to a new track record for the one-mile turf in 1:33.19.
06/21 DeShawn Parker scored his 6,000th career win aboard For Mama to become one of only 20 jockeys in Thoroughbred history to hit the milestone.
07/02 David Zebrowski of Indianapolis bested a field of 95 to win the second annual Fishing Derby. Juan Marquez scored six wins on the program to mark a new record for most wins in one day by a Quarter Horse jockey. Trainer Randy Smith scored seven wins on the program to equal his record set twice before for most wins on one program by a trainer of any breed in Indiana.
07/09 Actuator and James Graham score the title in the 28th running of the Grade 3 $300,000 Indiana Derby. Interstatedaydream and Florent Geroux won the Grade 3 $200,000 Indiana Oaks. Wagering for the evening topped $7.2 million to set a new handle record, which also established a new “best week ever” record of $14,168,849 over five days of racing. Ivar and Joe Talamo also set a new track record for the one and one-sixteenth mile turf in 1:39.49.
07/20 Another round of extreme heat indexes hit Central Indiana, causing an adjustment to post times to a mid-morning start and postponing Wiener Dog racing set for Saturday, July 23.
07/23 Piloted by an Angel and Juan Marquez remained undefeated in three starts the Jaguar Rocket Futurity. HF Whoopi and Edgar Diaz were winners in the Gordon Mobley Futurity, the richest Indiana Quarter Horse race ever at the time with a final purse of $200,400.
08/01 Grayson Jockey Club Research Foundation and Horseshoe Indianapolis will team up for the third annual Grayson Grass Challenge featuring seven handicappers providing wagers on 10 Indiana turf races in August. The program raised more than $9,000 for the cause in 2021.
08/03 Exmark is named the official sponsor of the seven-eighths mile turf course. Latigo and Joe Ramos score the win in the $250,000 Governor’s Stakes, joining the Unreachable Star as the second richest race for Thoroughbreds in Indiana.
08/06 Caesars Entertainment, Horseshoe Indianapolis and Indiana HBPA donated more than $53,000 to the Permanently Disabled Jockey’s Fund during PDJF Night at the Races.
08/13 Jack, a one-year-old Dachshund from Brookville, Ind., was the winner of the second Hot Diggity Dog Wiener Dog races filled with 17 dogs for the eliminations leading into the final.
08/15 Tony Martinez is named new Track Superintendent to replace Roy Smith, who announced his retirement at the end of the 2022 racing season.
08/18 A Pick 4 carryover record was set at $28,764.67.
09/17 BP First Money, consigned by Randy Haffner was the highest priced yearling at the QHRAI Speed Sale, selling to Gordon Timm and Debbie Smith for $60,000.
09/22 Extermynator and German Rodriguez, One Cold Hearted Diva and Giovani Vazquez-Gomez and Prize Kiss and L.D. Martinez won the regional qualifiers for the Bank of America Challenge set for Horseshoe Indianapolis in October and will provide local representation for the event. The track also hosted the equine studies classes at Ivy Tech with a tour.
09/29 WRs Valentino and Juan Marquez set a new track record in the 440-yard dash at :21.611. Marquez also set a new record for most wins in one season by a Quarter Horse jockey and became the first Quarter Horse jockey to go over $1 million in one season for earnings.
10/03 Anthony Bradshaw, winner of Road to Louisville and the option to purchase an Indiana yearling, announced he was selecting Tony Granitz as the trainer of the horse he will purchase at the ITOBA Sale in mid-October.
10/05 Local handicapper Mike Hurst was the winner in the $1,000 All Stakes Legends Contest, including a $1,000 wager offered by Caesars Racebook.
10/08 A total of $9,099.50 was donated to Grayson Jockey Club Equine Research from the third annual Grayson Grass Challenge. Resia Ayres, operations manager for Grayson, accepted the donation from Eric Halstrom in a special winner’s circle presentation.
10/15 Anthony Bradshaw was the winning bidder on Jailhouse Justice, Hip No. 36 at the ITOBA Fall Mixed Sale for $8,000. Bradshaw will have $22,000 left toward expenses for “JJ.”
10/18 Quarter Horse Trainer Randy Smith surpasses his total for most wins and purses in one year to establish a new record.
10/19 A special draw for the Bank of America Challenge Championships was provided in the Clubhouse with more than 50 people in attendance.
10/22 Five Graded Stakes are held for the first ever Bank of America Challenge Championships in Indiana. World Champion Danjer led the winners in the $269,627 Bank of America Challenge Championship as the winner for Jockey Cody Smith.
10/23 Trainer Kim Hammond and Standardbred trainer Don Eash were inducted into the Indiana Horse Racing Association Hall of Fame during a special ceremony at Harrah’s Hoosier Park.
10/27 The Straight Fire 6 payout was a record payout at $178,948.02 paid out. Horseshoe Indianapolis hosted more than 200 students for tours from the National FFA Convention.
10/29 Yellowstone star Forrie J. Smith was a special guest during the third annual Indiana Champions Day featuring seven stakes with purses over $1 million. Winner Spirit and James Flores scored the win in the $201,500 Miss Roxie Little Futurity, the richest Indiana Quarter Horse race ever held.
11/08 Jockey Emmanuel Esquivel scored his 1,000th career win aboard Colonel Aby B.
11/11 A total of $1,517.50 was raised for HVAF from a special Pick 5 contest featuring 11 handicappers across the nation with Horseshoe Indianapolis supplying $250 tickets for the cause. Five of the handicappers cashed tickets to raise the funds. Also, jockeys collected 84 jars of peanut butter totaling 210 pounds for the food pantry at HVAF.
11/15 Matt Vassar, Director of Security, and Tim DeWitt, Security Shift Manager for racing, presented a $10,000 donation to the Indianapolis Mounted Police Department during the Thanksgiving Breakfast with a Cop.
11/16 Bernie McGuinness wins the $2,000 Racing Rachel’s Warriors final.
11/22 More than 80 toys were collected for the Shelby County CASA by the jockeys at Horseshoe Indianapolis during the annual toy drive to assist kids in the community.
11/23 In dramatic fashion, Jockey Joe Ramos won eight races on the final two days of racing to score the Leading Jockey title by one win over Marcelino Pedroza Jr. Other winners for the meet included Randy Klopp (Leading Trainer), Klopp and Spiess Stable (Leading Owner), Gage Holmes (Leading Apprentice Jockey), Longleggedlaverne (Leading Horse) and in the Quarter Horse division Juan Marquez (Leading Jockey), Randy Smith (Leading Trainer), Campos Family Ventures (Leading Owner) and Winner Spirit (Leading Horse).
11/29 Final figures are released for the 20th season of racing showing a new all sources signal sales record of more than $235 million, an increase of 5.2 percent over 2021.
12/01 The Indiana Horse Racing Commission approved racing dates for 2023. A total of 123 racing days will be conducted from Tuesday, April 18 through Friday, November 17.
12/02 Nine team members participate in the annual Christmas parade on horseback in downtown Shelbyville led by Outrider John Neal and Equine Maintenance Supervisor Terril Gabbard.
12/03 Indianapolis native Mike Gillum scored three of the top four positions in the NHC Qualifier. Gillum finished first, second and fourth to advance to the $3 million final in Vegas on March 10-12, 2023. Joining Gillum as a qualifier is third place finisher Jay Lietzau of Minnesota and David Sellner of Illinois, who finished fifth and will fill the third spot to the final.
12/16 Eric Halstrom, Vice President and General Manager of Racing, made a presentation to Helping Veterans and Families Inc. (HVAF) from the Veteran’s Day program. A total of $1,517.50 was presented along with 210 pounds of peanut butter donated by the jockeys.
Photos by Coady Photography
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