Harrah’s Hoosier Park recently completed its 27th year of Standardbred racing Sat. Nov. 21 with impressive numbers over the abbreviated 111-day racing season. With opening day pushed back to Tuesday, June 16 due to COVID-19 restrictions, the meet posted an all-sources handle increase of more than 35 percent compared to 2019 figures.
Harrah’s Hoosier Park completed its 27th season of Standardbred racing with a 35 percent increase in handle in 2020. Photo by Dean Gillette
A total of $70,967,441 was wagered during the season. Average daily handle was $639,346 for 111 days compared to an average daily handle of $497,460 in 2019 for 160 days, which is a 28.5 percent increase. In all the track recorded five nights with handle in excess of $1 million, which also sets a new track record for most $1 million nights in one year.
Harrah’s Hoosier Park also recorded its biggest handle in the 27-year history of the track when a total of $2,639,903 was wagered Saturday, Oct. 31 on the second night of Breeders Crown Championship action. The figure was also part of a two-night record for the track with a total of $4,297,864 wagered on the Breeders Crown Championship weekend.
A total of 13 track records were equaled or bested during the season, including the overall track record of 1:47.2. Both Indiana sired Little Rocket Man and Cattlewash turned in miles to equal the overall track record. There is now a total of five horses who share the overall track record at Harrah’s Hoosier Park.