Hoosier Park Racing & Casino will introduce a new twist onto one of the premier races of the season as the $200,000-est. Caesars Trotting Classic, formerly known as the Centaur Trotting Classic, will be one of the featured events Friday, Sept. 21.
The Caesars Trotting Classic, formerly known as the Centaur Trotting Classic, will be one of several stakes races on the card Friday, Sept. 21 at Hoosier Park.
A total of 30 top older trotters in North America have been nominated to the event, including 25 horses and geldings and five mares. Of the five mares, three are Indiana sired with Hannelore Hanover, 2017 Horse of the Year, potentially making a return to Indiana for the event. Other mares on the list include Churita from the Rheinheimer barn and Satin Dancer from the Byron Hooley Stable.
Several other Indiana sired horses and geldings are also on the list of eligibles, including the Roger Welch trained Bridge to Jesse’s and Nutravictory from the Jeff Cullipher barn. Other standouts on the list include Trotting Triple Crown winner Marion Marauder and last year’s winner, Homicide Hunter, who stopped the timer in 1:51.2 with Brett Miller in the bike.
Hannelore Hanover trots right on past her male counterparts to win the Breeders Crown Open Trot in 2017 at Hoosier Park. (Photo by Dean Gillette)
The Caesars Trotting Classic, Hoosier Park’s richest trotting race, will join the $200,000-est. Kentuckiana Stallion Management Stakes, the $175,000 est. Jenna’s Beach Boy Pace, the $175,000 est. Hoosier Park Pacing Derby, and the $125,000 Elevation Pace on the card with purses that evening in excess of $1 million.
The stakes filled weekend is part of Hoosier Park’s 2018 Championship Meet, which features a lucrative $5 million stakes schedule. The 12-week championship stretch kicked off on Friday, Aug. 10 with the $325,000 Dan Patch Stakes.