For the fourth straight year, Madison County fourth grade students enjoyed a day at the races with a field trip to Harrah’s Hoosier Park. The first of two days set aside for the tours took place Tuesday, Sept. 17 with a second round of students coming in Wednesday, Sept. 18. In all, approximately 600 students will visit Harrah’s Hoosier Park in two days from the Anderson School Corporation.
ISA Director and trainer-driver Brandon Bates visited with fourth grade students during the annual field trip at Harrah’s Hoosier Park Tuesday, Sept. 17. Photo by Dean Gillette
Upon arrival, students pass through a series of stations showing different aspects of Standardbred racing. From harness demonstrations to learning about the history of Indiana racing, students enjoy a fast-paced day of learning and excitement. The most popular stop is a trip to the barn area where students interact with horses in the Jamie Macomber Stable. A lot of the kids actually touch a horse for the first time in their lives.
The day includes lunch in the Clubhouse and a mock race where students select a horse to cheer on to the finish. In addition to numerous volunteers from Harrah’s Hoosier Park, Harness Horse Youth Foundation, Indiana Standardbred Breed Development and Indiana Standardbred Association, various horsemen and horsewomen volunteer their time to the program, including drivers such as Brandon Bates, who talked with kids in the clubhouse about racing and training Standardbreds.