$50,000 Road to Louisville offers chance to purchase an Indiana yearling

SHELBYVILLE, Ind. (Dec. 20, 2021) – Up to $50,000 in prize money will be offered in a unique contest coming to Indiana Grand Racing & Casino in early 2022. “Road to Louisville,” featuring 18 weeks of action beginning Saturday, Jan. 8 leading up to the Kentucky Derby Saturday, May 7, will include $20,000 in prize money with a unique twist thrown into the mix. The winner of the contest will have the option to purchase a yearling package at the 2022 ITOBA Fall Sale valued at $30,000 courtesy of the Indiana Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (ITOBA) along with Indiana Grand.

“Road to Louisville” is open to players both online and on-track at Indiana Grand and Clarksville OTB. Weekly and monthly prizes will be provided as points are cumulative throughout the event. The contest, which will include numerous races each week from select tracks, will be completed on Kentucky Derby Day to crown the overall winner of the $1,000 prize money and a chance to own a future Indiana racehorse.

“Our contests both online and on-track have become increasingly popular, and we wanted to do something to raise the stakes next season,” said Eric Halstrom, Vice President and General Manager of Racing. “After talking with ITOBA President Tom Mosley, we decided to partner with them on our current breeding and racing program, which is so lucrative right now. The idea was created to get one of our loyal racing fans involved with a hands-on ownership experience and enjoy a risk-free way to enjoy the thrill of Indiana Thoroughbred racing.”

If the winner opts in for the purchase of a yearling at the ITOBA Sale, they will receive up to $15,000 to purchase a yearling out of the sale, plus an additional $15,000 for care and training of the horse leading up to its racing debut in the summer of 2023. ITOBA is facilitating the details and assistance for the new owner and their new purchase.

“We are always looking for ways to promote our breeding and racing program and when Eric (Halstrom) came to us with this idea, we couldn’t think of a better way to introduce our program to new individuals,” said Mosley. “Giving someone a complete experience, from purchasing a yearling at the sale to watching it train and make it to the races is a great way to bring exposure to Indiana racing.”

“Road to Louisville” gets underway with the racing card from Gulfstream Park. Points are based on payouts for the selected horse in the contest races. Weekly prizes will be allotted to the top three players each week with the top handicapper receiving $150, second place receiving $100 and third place receiving $50. Prizes are doubled if the player is competing at either Indiana Grand or Clarksville OTB.

“We wanted to ensure the contest was available to all players everywhere who are 21 or older but we wanted to find a way to reward our racing fans who participate at Indiana Grand and Clarksville,” added Halstrom. “By doubling the prize money, this will entice those who live around either location to submit their entries in person. In addition to the weekly prizes, we will also offer a monthly prize of $250 for the player who has the most accumulated points. That amount will also double to $500 if the player is participating at Indiana Grand or Clarksville.”

A request for a list of rules and more details about “Road to Louisville” will be provided by sending an email to horseshoeindycontest@gmail.com. Entry forms and additional details will also be available soon on the website at www.indianagrand.com.