Top stories from the 2024 racing season at Horseshoe Indianapolis

The 123-day racing season at Horseshoe Indianapolis concluded on Nov. 14. Here are the top five racing stories from this past season.

Record handle

For the fourth straight year, a record handle was recorded by Horseshoe Indianapolis.

A total of $282 million was wagered on racing compared to $279 million in 2023. The final tally does not include international money which is anticipated to boost the final total to more than $320 million. A total of 13 days showed handle of $3 million or more.

A total of 1,191 races were conducted with 971 dedicated to Thoroughbred racing. Average number of starters per race was 7.9, which is higher than the national trend. A total of 237 turf races were held in 2024.

For Quarter Horse racing, a total of 220 races were conducted compared to 215 in 2023. Average number of starters per race was 8.87, also trending above national figures.

Dragoon Guard wins Indiana Derby

Dragoon Guard (photo) rallied home as the winner July 5 to win the Grade 3 $300,000 Indiana Derby. Guided by Florent Geroux, the win by Dragoon Guard gave trainer Brad Cox back-to-back wins in the event, paired with Verifying, who won the 2023 edition.

Dragoon Guard became only the second grey horse to win the Indiana Derby in 30 years. He joins 2016 winner Cupid as a winner of Indiana’s biggest horse race. Dragoon also remains undefeated in three starts for 2024 and three for four overall. The sophomore colt more than doubled his career earnings in the race and now has more than $335,000 on his card.

The Indiana Derby capped off another record setting day, with total handle surging over the $8.147 million mark, compared to the record setting day for the 2023 Indiana Derby at $7.98 million. Supported by a visibly larger crowd, more than $1.1 million was wagered on the Derby alone during the 12-race program.

Total solar eclipse

Horseshoe Indianapolis was located on the path of totality for the Total Solar Eclipse, which came through Shelbyville April 8. The track was one of three on the direct line and the only track to encompass the event with racing both before and after the phenomena.

Six Thoroughbred races were held prior to the Eclipse, with a break filled in by live entertainment by The Endless Summer Band along with numerous giveaways. Following the Total Solar Eclipse at 3:04 p.m., live entertainment resumed until Quarter Horse racing could be conducted to close out the unique day of racing.

More than 4,000 people attended the event to witness history. The next Total Solar Eclipse doesn’t return to the United States until Aug. 23, 2044, but will not cover Indiana.

Quarter Horse racing offer two Grade 3 events

Indiana Quarter Horse racing boasted its first Restricted Grade 3 events during the meet, kicking off with a win by AP Political Patriot (photo) in the $212,170 QHRAI Stallion Service Auction Futurity on Aug. 31.

Ridden by Saul Lopez, the EOS A Political Win gelding was making his second career start. He is a homebred owned, bred and trained by Oscar Preciado, who campaigned the two-year-old’s mother, Shes a Real Patriot, to his first training victory.

AP Political Patriot was joined by the WRs Mynameisrip as the winner in the Restricted Grade 3 $235,600 Miss Roxie Little Futurity on Oct. 26. Trained by Natasha Perez for Gwen and Randy Williams’ Racing, the freshman gelding was guided under the wire by Juan Marquez.

The Miss Roxie Little Futurity offered its largest purse in the 16-year history of the race. Both AP Political Patriot and WRs Mynameisrip’s silks will be represented on the jockey statues around the winner’s circle, honoring the track’s Graded Stakes winners. The display also includes the Grade 3 Indiana Derby and Oaks winners for Thoroughbred racing.

Demolisher unbeaten

Demolisher, from the Cipriano Contreras Stable, was a perfect five-for-five in his career following his win in the $150,000 To Much Coffee Handicap during Hoosier Day on Oct. 2.

Unraced at two, the son of Dominus also died as a foal after contracting R Equi pneumonia. Thanks to the efforts of local vets near the home of Ken and Resia Ayres, the foal recovered and is now showing his talents on the track.

Demolisher, who is a son of the Ayres race mare Maggie Sue, boosted his career earnings to more than $300,000 with his win in the 27^th running of the To Much Coffee, named in honor of Indiana’s standout gelding from the 1990s. Manny Esquivel rode him in all five victories for the year.

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