SHELBYVILLE, Ind. (Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2023) – The Thoroughbred Stakes Schedule has been set for the 2023 racing season at Horseshoe Indianapolis. A total of $4.75 million will be dispersed over 38 events led by the Grade 3 $300,000 Indiana Derby slated for Saturday, July 8.
The Grade 3 Indiana Derby and the Grade 3 Indiana Oaks will be part of the $1.1 million eight-stakes lineup for Indiana Derby Day. Joining the Derby and Oaks includes the $100,000 Michael G. Schaefer Memorial and the $100,000 Mari Hulman George Memorial, both Listed events. Also, four turf stakes are on the card led by the $100,000 Indiana General Assembly (Listed), the $100,000 Jonathan B. Schuster Memorial (Listed), the $100,000 Snack Stakes, and the $100,000 Ellen’s Lucky Star Stakes.
“Each year, Indiana Derby Day continues to grow and sets new handle records,” said Eric Halstrom, Vice President and General Manager of Racing. “Our racing office staff works very hard to assemble top quality fields for each of these stakes. With all the activities surrounding the event, Indiana Derby Day has become one of Indiana’s biggest summer sporting events and attracts some of the nation’s top three-year-olds. It’s definitely a day to put on your calendars each July.”
The 2023 stakes schedule also includes 10 stakes slated for the turf course. The turf stakes are led by the 18th running of the $150,000 Caesars Stakes set for Wednesday, May 17. The one-mile Black Type event leads four stakes on the day and will be joined by the $150,000 Horseshoe Indianapolis Stakes for the fillies, also running at one mile.
“We have a great balance of stakes for younger horses, older horses, and events on the dirt and the turf,” said Chris Polzin, Director of Racing. “We have moved a couple stakes to the day before Indiana Derby for the first time this year to create more stakes racing opportunities for those coming in for the Indiana Derby program. We work alongside our horsemen’s group to ensure we have the best possible schedule that accommodates everyone.”
Of the 38 stakes for the 123-day racing season, 28 stakes are dedicated to Indiana bred and sired horses. More than $2.9 million will be dispersed to horses that are part of the lucrative breeding program in Indiana.
The 21st season of live Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing will resume Tuesday, April 18 for a 123-day meet. The season extends through Friday, Nov. 17. Live racing will be held Monday through Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. with Thursday post time set for 2:10 p.m. Saturday racing will be held during the summer months featuring six all-Quarter Horse dates June 3, July 1, July 22, Aug. 12, Sept. 2, and Oct. 7 beginning at 10:45 a.m. Indiana’s featured event, the Grade 3 $300,000 Indiana Derby is set for Saturday, July 8 with a first post time of 12 p.m.
Photo by Coady Photography