The Quarter Horse racing industry in the State of Indiana is on the move. Indiana Grand Racing & Casino will offer a record $2 million in stakes purses during the 120-day racing season, including two Regional Challenge races for the 2021 Bank of America Challenge Championships set for Oct. 23 at The Downs at Albuquerque.
“Being able to host two regional challenge championships for the first time in the history of Indiana Grand is a big boost to our Quarter Horse racing program,” said Eric Halstrom, vice president and general manager of racing. “It’s a great way to lead into the Bank of America Challenge coming to Indiana Grand in 2022. We are very excited and proud to host this event and showcase some of the best Quarter Horses in the nation at our track.”
The 2021 Regional Challenge races, the John Deere Juvenile Challenge and the Q Racing Video Distaff Challenge Finals, are both set for Monday, Sept. 20. Trials will be part of the all-Quarter Horse racing day set for Saturday, Sept. 4.
The 2021 Quarter Horse Stakes Schedule includes 21 stakes highlighted by the $150,000 Gordon Mobley Futurity and the $150,000 Miss Roxie Little Futurity. The 12th running of the Mobley Futurity Final for Indiana sired two-year-olds is set for Saturday, July 24. The day is one of six all-Quarter Horse racing Saturdays throughout the 120-day racing season. The 13th running of the Little Futurity for Indiana bred two-year-olds is set for Saturday, Oct. 30, earmarked as Indiana Champions Day featuring four stakes for Quarter Horses with purses in excess of $500,000 for the day.
“We have a full schedule of Quarter Horse stakes throughout the year,” added Chris Polzin, director of racing/racing secretary. “The first Quarter Horse stakes will be held during our first all-Quarter Horse Saturday on June 5. We are coming off a record year in handle for Quarter Horse racing and we hope to keep that momentum going in 2021.”
Pari-mutuel Quarter Horse racing is celebrating its 25th season of action in 2021. The first pari-mutuel races were held at Harrah’s Hoosier Park in 1997. Indiana Grand joined Hoosier Park in 2003 with Quarter Horse action before all Quarter Horse racing in the state was moved to Indiana Grand in 2013.
