Miss Fancy Nancy and Atlee Bender turned their winning performance into a fiesta during Cinco de Mayo at Oak Grove. The duo won by open lengths in a time of 1:52.3 in the $14,000 conditioned optional claimer. Two Indiana horses started side by side from post one, featuring Ponda Eagle, and post two with Miss Fancy Nancy. Bender had Miss Fancy Nancy ready to take off when the gate opened and was the first horse called by Track Announcer Peter Kleinhans. However, Ponda Eagle and Marcus Miller took a few extra steps to get going before powering out and taking over the lead heading into the first turn. Miss Fancy Nancy was taken back to third as the field passed by the quarter in :27.1. Miss Fancy Nancy was then out and on the move to take over in front of the grandstand the first time, sliding over with ease heading into the second turn. Once on the lead, Miss Fancy Nancy relaxed into her leadership role and had full control of the field. In the final turn, horses began to reposition themselves for the stretch drive. However, Miss Fancy Nancy had a lot of pace, striding home in :28.1 for the win by one and three-quarter lengths under wraps. Lyons Spirit and Darrell Moore moved up late to finish second while Ponda Eagle, a son of Capt Midnight, finished third. Miss Fancy Nancy was the favorite of the field, paying $3.02 for the win. The four-year-old daughter of JK Endofanera is owned by A Piece of the Action Stable and trained by Wayne Oke. A Sires Stakes contender last year at Harrah’s Hoosier Park, Miss Fancy Nancy picked up her first win of 2026 in the effort. She now has nine wins and nearly $300,000 in earnings. Her career best time of 1:50.2 was taken last summer at Harrah’s’ Hoosier Park. Duane Miller and Gene Borkholder bred and raised the mare, who is the last Indiana sired foal from the Somebeachsomewhere mare Singit Like Aretha. She has a half sister named Alwaysanun with a mark of 1:52.3 and earnings of more than $182,000.

Photo of Ray Allison, new executive director of the Indiana State Fair, addressing the ISA Board Monday, May 4 during their monthly meeting ISA Board of Directors hold May meeting The Indiana Standardbred Association (ISA)Board of Directors met for their monthly meeting Monday, May 4 at the ISA Offices in Greenfield. The meeting kicked off with a special guest speaker, Ray Allison, the new executive director of the Indiana State Fair, replacing longtime executive Cindy Hoye, who retired in March. Allison, who assumed his new duties April 1, has been with the Indiana State Fair in several capacities since 1993, starting off as a college intern. He has worked alongside Hoye for nearly two decades and noted he is tuned in to the history of Standardbred racing at the fair. ISA Director Doug Rideout, who oversees the county fair committee, asked Allison about the tent utilized last year during the Indiana State Fair for stabling during the races. Allison noted another 30 x 105-foot tent has been scheduled, which included 20 stalls. Rideout noted additional stalls were provided last year, but they did not have a cover and were not used because of that issue. Allison said they would be happy to talk about bringing in an additional tent for stabling during the races. Allison also noted the construction on Gate 6 is wrapping up soon and there will be no construction on the east side of the campus, which will alleviate transportation issues in and out of the speed barn areas. It was also noted to Allison that one barn will continue to be utilized for Speed Barn tours during the fair. Allison noted the current above ground electrical wires and poles will soon be placed underground, which will provide better and more efficient electricity to that area and with the poles removed, will make everything more accessible. Allison said an additional construction project will soon be implemented to remove the current old restrooms near the barns and a new restroom building will be constructed to include showers and individual bathrooms. He also said several of the barns are getting windows replaced that needed repair. Allison completed his talk by noting the State Fair grants, which are due soon, have been started. With the transition of new staff, they are getting caught up on several projects including the grants. Mike McDaniel, longtime lobbyist for the ISA, addressed the board for his last meeting. The 75-year-old will be retiring at the end of May, saying he has been connected to racing since he was a kid. He mentioned several mentors along the way, including Keith Bulen, Larry Borst, and Mitch Daniels, and noted Jack Holton brought him on board with the ISA as a lobbyist in 2010. During his time with ISA, he represented racing in the statehouse on many issues and projects. He was also responsible for the creation of the Governor’s Cup Championships, with points accumulating toward the finals at the State Fair, a project he was most proud of. McDaniel said he always tells people that the ISA was his favorite client because everyone loves what they do and they work so hard. That is why the industry is now a $2 billion business in the state. McDaniel also commended the board for hiring executive director Tony Renz and said they have a great team assembled and he is confident they will continue to do great things in the state. Adam Kallick, who is part of that team, updated the board on legislative issues and noted the primaries set for Tuesday, May 5, especially in the Senate, could see some changes. He noted it will be important for him and Matt Norris, the other lobbyist, to digest any changes and be adaptable and adjust as far as the leadership goes. Robert Taylor gave an update on projects on the backside at Harrah’s Hoosier Park, noting the new tank project should be completed in the next day or so. They have been working on the water valve and water pressure. He also noted they are getting bids on asphalt for the barn area driveways. ISA President John DeLong gave an update on a new Blood Gas machine through the Indiana Horse Racing Commission. He recommends one that has been in place at Rood & Riddle in Lexington for the past five years and will continue to work with IHRC on this project. Yearling inspections for this fall’s Midwest Standardbred Horse Sale began Monday, May 4. Purdue Day at Kountry Lane Standardbreds is Thursday, May 7, and the Northern Indiana Yearling Speed Sale will begin accepting entries June 1 with the sale set for Monday, November 9 and Tuesday, November 10 at the Topeka Livestock Auction House. ISA Treasurer Rhys Helt provided an update on the new electronic payment system for ISA memberships, and the program is ready to launch. The board voted to implement it in the next few days. The ISA Office has provided flyers with QR Codes for easy access to the new online payment system. There is a $1.80 fee for online payments. ISA Director Doug Rideout noted there were 280 Elite nominations this year, up a few from the previous year. He also said Wickeys are locked in for seven fair dates this year to provide food on the Indiana Sired Fair Circuit. Yard Signs for the ISFC are also in production and will be available soon. ISA Director Carrie Hollman said they had a huge turnout for ISA Night at the Races with more than 140 in attendance. She also noted they received 11 memberships during the event, which brings the ISA up to 796 members. The next project for the promotions committee is Horse of the Month, featuring Little Rocket Man in May. The promotion is sponsored by Elite Nutrition. Tony Renz, Executive Director, also noted the upcoming Friday Night Owners Club this summer. President DeLong noted Harrah’s Hoosier Park’s handle has been strong so far, and they recorded their highest handle on a non-event night last Friday with more than $1.2 million wagered. He also said Gabe Prewitt of HHP had updated him on Fox Sports and they will have three premier shows this year, including the Dan Patch, Caesars Trotting Classic, and Hoosier Champions Night featuring Indiana Sires Stakes Finals. He also said Fox will feature HHP along with The Meadowlands on a two-track show Saturday, May 16. Renz gave an update on the Grattan Helmet promotion with ISA members still taking advantage of the initiative. So far, there have been 35-40 helmets ordered since the program was implemented last fall. The current program is scheduled to run through June, but the ISA is looking into extending it further to assist many more ISA members with highly discounted new helmets, which boosts safety measures for all participants on the track. The next meeting for the ISA Board is set for Monday, June 8. The date was moved due to the ISA Golf Outing, which is slated for Monday, June 1.

Skyway Freakshow and McGwire Sowers closed out the Sunday program May 3 with a win in the $4,800 conditioned pace at Bangor Raceway. The Indiana sired pacer trudged through the sloppy track for the open length win in 2:01.1. Skyway Freakshow began from post six and rallied out quickly when the gate folded to be a top contender in the race. Dark Eclipse N and Kevin Switzer Jr. was the quickest of all from the far outside and crossed over for the lead before the first turn, leaving Skyway Freakshow parked around the first turn before settling in third. Fractions of :28.2 and 1:00.1 were placed on the board before movement was detected at the back of the pack to the outside. The advancement by Sweet Scarlett and Andrew Harrington flushed out Bettor N Joy and Timothy Hudson, which eventually flushed Skyway Freakshow to the outside and into first over positioning. Around the final turn, Skyway Freakshow was in a big battle with Dark Eclipse N before taking over and moving out to the lead in solo fashion. She rallied home in :29.4 to score the win by two and three-quarter lengths over Dark Eclipse N. Bettor N Joy finished third. Skyway Freakshow paid $14.60 for the win. The four-year-old daughter of Freaky Feet Pete is a family owned horse, owned by McGwire and Autym Sowers with Autym serving as the trainer. Samuel Schrock bred and raised the mare who earned her second win of 2026. Overall, she has seven wins and more than $45,000 on her card with her career best taken at two at Harrah’s Hoosier Park in 1:56.1. She had six starts under the direction of trainer Henry Graber Jr. before moving to upstate New York and later Maine. She was sold from the Slabach Brothers Standardbreds consignment as a yearling, purchased by Eleven Star Stables for $7,000 late in the sale. She was the latest foal from the multiple stakes winner Marnie Hall, who was a millionaire while racing in all the major stakes, taking a mark of 1:49.0. She has several six figure earners including DA Delightful, a winner in 1:48.3. Earlier on the card, two Indiana sired pacers led the conditioned pacers to the wire for a one-two finish in 2:02.0. Holymotherofmoses and Kevin Switzer Jr. turned in a gate to wire effort for the win by two and one-half lengths over Kea Island and Andrew Harrington. Holymotherofmoses was the favorite, paying $2.40 for the win. She is the six-year-old daughter of Check Six owned and trained by Logan Lanpher. Alvin Fry and Lamar Miller bred the mare, who picked up her first win of 2026 and her 13 th overall. To date, she has more than $114,000 with a career best time of 1:54.2 taken last year at Vernon Downs. She began her career in Illinois and raced just a handful of times for Kevin Miller before shipping east.

Miss Fancy Nancy and Atlee Bender turned their winning performance into a fiesta during Cinco de Mayo at Oak Grove. The duo won by open lengths in a time of 1:52.3 in the $14,000 conditioned optional claimer. Two Indiana horses started side by side from post one, featuring Ponda Eagle, and post two with Miss Fancy Nancy. Bender had Miss Fancy Nancy ready to take off when the gate opened and was the first horse called by Track Announcer Peter Kleinhans. However, Ponda Eagle and Marcus Miller took a few extra steps to get going before powering out and taking over the lead heading into the first turn. Miss Fancy Nancy was taken back to third as the field passed by the quarter in :27.1. Miss Fancy Nancy was then out and on the move to take over in front of the grandstand the first time, sliding over with ease heading into the second turn. Once on the lead, Miss Fancy Nancy relaxed into her leadership role and had full control of the field. In the final turn, horses began to reposition themselves for the stretch drive. However, Miss Fancy Nancy had a lot of pace, striding home in :28.1 for the win by one and three-quarter lengths under wraps. Lyons Spirit and Darrell Moore moved up late to finish second while Ponda Eagle, a son of Capt Midnight, finished third. Miss Fancy Nancy was the favorite of the field, paying $3.02 for the win. The four-year-old daughter of JK Endofanera is owned by A Piece of the Action Stable and trained by Wayne Oke. A Sires Stakes contender last year at Harrah’s Hoosier Park, Miss Fancy Nancy picked up her first win of 2026 in the effort. She now has nine wins and nearly $300,000 in earnings. Her career best time of 1:50.2 was taken last summer at Harrah’s’ Hoosier Park. Duane Miller and Gene Borkholder bred and raised the mare, who is the last Indiana sired foal from the Somebeachsomewhere mare Singit Like Aretha. She has a half sister named Alwaysanun with a mark of 1:52.3 and earnings of more than $182,000.

Miss Fancy Nancy and Atlee Bender turned their winning performance into a fiesta during Cinco de Mayo at Oak Grove. The duo won by open lengths in a time of 1:52.3 in the $14,000 conditioned optional claimer. Two Indiana horses started side by side from post one, featuring Ponda Eagle, and post two with Miss Fancy Nancy. Bender had Miss Fancy Nancy ready to take off when the gate opened and was the first horse called by Track Announcer Peter Kleinhans. However, Ponda Eagle and Marcus Miller took a few extra steps to get going before powering out and taking over the lead heading into the first turn. Miss Fancy Nancy was taken back to third as the field passed by the quarter in :27.1. Miss Fancy Nancy was then out and on the move to take over in front of the grandstand the first time, sliding over with ease heading into the second turn. Once on the lead, Miss Fancy Nancy relaxed into her leadership role and had full control of the field. In the final turn, horses began to reposition themselves for the stretch drive. However, Miss Fancy Nancy had a lot of pace, striding home in :28.1 for the win by one and three-quarter lengths under wraps. Lyons Spirit and Darrell Moore moved up late to finish second while Ponda Eagle, a son of Capt Midnight, finished third. Miss Fancy Nancy was the favorite of the field, paying $3.02 for the win. The four-year-old daughter of JK Endofanera is owned by A Piece of the Action Stable and trained by Wayne Oke. A Sires Stakes contender last year at Harrah’s Hoosier Park, Miss Fancy Nancy picked up her first win of 2026 in the effort. She now has nine wins and nearly $300,000 in earnings. Her career best time of 1:50.2 was taken last summer at Harrah’s’ Hoosier Park. Duane Miller and Gene Borkholder bred and raised the mare, who is the last Indiana sired foal from the Somebeachsomewhere mare Singit Like Aretha. She has a half sister named Alwaysanun with a mark of 1:52.3 and earnings of more than $182,000.

Photo of Ray Allison, new executive director of the Indiana State Fair, addressing the ISA Board Monday, May 4 during their monthly meeting ISA Board of Directors hold May meeting The Indiana Standardbred Association (ISA)Board of Directors met for their monthly meeting Monday, May 4 at the ISA Offices in Greenfield. The meeting kicked off with a special guest speaker, Ray Allison, the new executive director of the Indiana State Fair, replacing longtime executive Cindy Hoye, who retired in March. Allison, who assumed his new duties April 1, has been with the Indiana State Fair in several capacities since 1993, starting off as a college intern. He has worked alongside Hoye for nearly two decades and noted he is tuned in to the history of Standardbred racing at the fair. ISA Director Doug Rideout, who oversees the county fair committee, asked Allison about the tent utilized last year during the Indiana State Fair for stabling during the races. Allison noted another 30 x 105-foot tent has been scheduled, which included 20 stalls. Rideout noted additional stalls were provided last year, but they did not have a cover and were not used because of that issue. Allison said they would be happy to talk about bringing in an additional tent for stabling during the races. Allison also noted the construction on Gate 6 is wrapping up soon and there will be no construction on the east side of the campus, which will alleviate transportation issues in and out of the speed barn areas. It was also noted to Allison that one barn will continue to be utilized for Speed Barn tours during the fair. Allison noted the current above ground electrical wires and poles will soon be placed underground, which will provide better and more efficient electricity to that area and with the poles removed, will make everything more accessible. Allison said an additional construction project will soon be implemented to remove the current old restrooms near the barns and a new restroom building will be constructed to include showers and individual bathrooms. He also said several of the barns are getting windows replaced that needed repair. Allison completed his talk by noting the State Fair grants, which are due soon, have been started. With the transition of new staff, they are getting caught up on several projects including the grants. Mike McDaniel, longtime lobbyist for the ISA, addressed the board for his last meeting. The 75-year-old will be retiring at the end of May, saying he has been connected to racing since he was a kid. He mentioned several mentors along the way, including Keith Bulen, Larry Borst, and Mitch Daniels, and noted Jack Holton brought him on board with the ISA as a lobbyist in 2010. During his time with ISA, he represented racing in the statehouse on many issues and projects. He was also responsible for the creation of the Governor’s Cup Championships, with points accumulating toward the finals at the State Fair, a project he was most proud of. McDaniel said he always tells people that the ISA was his favorite client because everyone loves what they do and they work so hard. That is why the industry is now a $2 billion business in the state. McDaniel also commended the board for hiring executive director Tony Renz and said they have a great team assembled and he is confident they will continue to do great things in the state. Adam Kallick, who is part of that team, updated the board on legislative issues and noted the primaries set for Tuesday, May 5, especially in the Senate, could see some changes. He noted it will be important for him and Matt Norris, the other lobbyist, to digest any changes and be adaptable and adjust as far as the leadership goes. Robert Taylor gave an update on projects on the backside at Harrah’s Hoosier Park, noting the new tank project should be completed in the next day or so. They have been working on the water valve and water pressure. He also noted they are getting bids on asphalt for the barn area driveways. ISA President John DeLong gave an update on a new Blood Gas machine through the Indiana Horse Racing Commission. He recommends one that has been in place at Rood & Riddle in Lexington for the past five years and will continue to work with IHRC on this project. Yearling inspections for this fall’s Midwest Standardbred Horse Sale began Monday, May 4. Purdue Day at Kountry Lane Standardbreds is Thursday, May 7, and the Northern Indiana Yearling Speed Sale will begin accepting entries June 1 with the sale set for Monday, November 9 and Tuesday, November 10 at the Topeka Livestock Auction House. ISA Treasurer Rhys Helt provided an update on the new electronic payment system for ISA memberships, and the program is ready to launch. The board voted to implement it in the next few days. The ISA Office has provided flyers with QR Codes for easy access to the new online payment system. There is a $1.80 fee for online payments. ISA Director Doug Rideout noted there were 280 Elite nominations this year, up a few from the previous year. He also said Wickeys are locked in for seven fair dates this year to provide food on the Indiana Sired Fair Circuit. Yard Signs for the ISFC are also in production and will be available soon. ISA Director Carrie Hollman said they had a huge turnout for ISA Night at the Races with more than 140 in attendance. She also noted they received 11 memberships during the event, which brings the ISA up to 796 members. The next project for the promotions committee is Horse of the Month, featuring Little Rocket Man in May. The promotion is sponsored by Elite Nutrition. Tony Renz, Executive Director, also noted the upcoming Friday Night Owners Club this summer. President DeLong noted Harrah’s Hoosier Park’s handle has been strong so far, and they recorded their highest handle on a non-event night last Friday with more than $1.2 million wagered. He also said Gabe Prewitt of HHP had updated him on Fox Sports and they will have three premier shows this year, including the Dan Patch, Caesars Trotting Classic, and Hoosier Champions Night featuring Indiana Sires Stakes Finals. He also said Fox will feature HHP along with The Meadowlands on a two-track show Saturday, May 16. Renz gave an update on the Grattan Helmet promotion with ISA members still taking advantage of the initiative. So far, there have been 35-40 helmets ordered since the program was implemented last fall. The current program is scheduled to run through June, but the ISA is looking into extending it further to assist many more ISA members with highly discounted new helmets, which boosts safety measures for all participants on the track. The next meeting for the ISA Board is set for Monday, June 8. The date was moved due to the ISA Golf Outing, which is slated for Monday, June 1.

Skyway Freakshow and McGwire Sowers closed out the Sunday program May 3 with a win in the $4,800 conditioned pace at Bangor Raceway. The Indiana sired pacer trudged through the sloppy track for the open length win in 2:01.1. Skyway Freakshow began from post six and rallied out quickly when the gate folded to be a top contender in the race. Dark Eclipse N and Kevin Switzer Jr. was the quickest of all from the far outside and crossed over for the lead before the first turn, leaving Skyway Freakshow parked around the first turn before settling in third. Fractions of :28.2 and 1:00.1 were placed on the board before movement was detected at the back of the pack to the outside. The advancement by Sweet Scarlett and Andrew Harrington flushed out Bettor N Joy and Timothy Hudson, which eventually flushed Skyway Freakshow to the outside and into first over positioning. Around the final turn, Skyway Freakshow was in a big battle with Dark Eclipse N before taking over and moving out to the lead in solo fashion. She rallied home in :29.4 to score the win by two and three-quarter lengths over Dark Eclipse N. Bettor N Joy finished third. Skyway Freakshow paid $14.60 for the win. The four-year-old daughter of Freaky Feet Pete is a family owned horse, owned by McGwire and Autym Sowers with Autym serving as the trainer. Samuel Schrock bred and raised the mare who earned her second win of 2026. Overall, she has seven wins and more than $45,000 on her card with her career best taken at two at Harrah’s Hoosier Park in 1:56.1. She had six starts under the direction of trainer Henry Graber Jr. before moving to upstate New York and later Maine. She was sold from the Slabach Brothers Standardbreds consignment as a yearling, purchased by Eleven Star Stables for $7,000 late in the sale. She was the latest foal from the multiple stakes winner Marnie Hall, who was a millionaire while racing in all the major stakes, taking a mark of 1:49.0. She has several six figure earners including DA Delightful, a winner in 1:48.3. Earlier on the card, two Indiana sired pacers led the conditioned pacers to the wire for a one-two finish in 2:02.0. Holymotherofmoses and Kevin Switzer Jr. turned in a gate to wire effort for the win by two and one-half lengths over Kea Island and Andrew Harrington. Holymotherofmoses was the favorite, paying $2.40 for the win. She is the six-year-old daughter of Check Six owned and trained by Logan Lanpher. Alvin Fry and Lamar Miller bred the mare, who picked up her first win of 2026 and her 13 th overall. To date, she has more than $114,000 with a career best time of 1:54.2 taken last year at Vernon Downs. She began her career in Illinois and raced just a handful of times for Kevin Miller before shipping east.