INDIANAPOLIS -- After negotiations, Hoosier Park came away from the Indiana Horse Racing Commission Wednesday with an equal split of racing days between standardbred and thoroughbred racing for 2004.
Conversely, Indiana Downs will continue to favor standardbred racing.
Overall, the commission approved 142 dates for standardbred racing and 108 for thoroughbred racing next year.
Hoosier Park will feature standardbred racing from March 20 through June 12 and thoroughbred racing from Sept. 2 through Nov. 21. Indiana Downs will be racing standardbreds from June 30 through Oct. 30 and thoroughbreds from April 9 through June 20.
To satisfy concerns among owners and trainers, the commission narrowed the down time for standardbreds between tracks from six to two weeks, said Joe Gorajec, executive director of the commission.
"It was determined the gap should be closed," Gorajec said. "We took the approach that both tracks should make some concessions."
The staff recommended that Hoosier Park move its standardbred meet back two weeks and Indiana Downs move up its meet by two weeks.
After some posturing, both tracks agreed.
Attorney Bill Diener, representing Hoosier Park, said Hoosier Park also will allow standardbred owners and trainers to keep and train their horses in Anderson for two weeks after the close of the racing meet.
Jon Schuster, general manager of Indiana Downs, said Indiana Downs had problems filling the fields during the standardbred meet, thus its request to reduce the number of standardbred racing days.
http://www.theheraldbulletin.com/cgi-bin/LiveIQue.acgi$rec=14651?hb_story
Conversely, Indiana Downs will continue to favor standardbred racing.
Overall, the commission approved 142 dates for standardbred racing and 108 for thoroughbred racing next year.
Hoosier Park will feature standardbred racing from March 20 through June 12 and thoroughbred racing from Sept. 2 through Nov. 21. Indiana Downs will be racing standardbreds from June 30 through Oct. 30 and thoroughbreds from April 9 through June 20.
To satisfy concerns among owners and trainers, the commission narrowed the down time for standardbreds between tracks from six to two weeks, said Joe Gorajec, executive director of the commission.
"It was determined the gap should be closed," Gorajec said. "We took the approach that both tracks should make some concessions."
The staff recommended that Hoosier Park move its standardbred meet back two weeks and Indiana Downs move up its meet by two weeks.
After some posturing, both tracks agreed.
Attorney Bill Diener, representing Hoosier Park, said Hoosier Park also will allow standardbred owners and trainers to keep and train their horses in Anderson for two weeks after the close of the racing meet.
Jon Schuster, general manager of Indiana Downs, said Indiana Downs had problems filling the fields during the standardbred meet, thus its request to reduce the number of standardbred racing days.
http://www.theheraldbulletin.com/cgi-bin/LiveIQue.acgi$rec=14651?hb_story
