Timeline of Significant Events in Harness Racing Relating to Indiana

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2007  Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels signs House Bill 1835: Slots at racetracks into law - May 11, 2007

2007  Indiana Legislature passes bill for slots at the racetracks - April 29, 2007.

2006  Driver Elliott Deaton gets his 1,000th career win at Northfield Park with an Indiana-sired horse, Goodbye Mr. Yankee - November 28, 2006

2006  Driver Greg Grismore gets his 4,000th career win behind an Indiana-sired horse, Just Oui - February 20, 2006

2005  Indiana's Stephanie Black wins HTA Caretaker of the Year Award

2005  Indiana-sired Intendto's Majesty wins $88,000 2CP American National at Balmoral Park - July 23, 3005

2004  At 1:49.3, Indiana-sired Foxy Maneuver (Armbro Maneuver) set a new Track Record at Indiana Downs - August 8, 2004

2004  Winning in 1:49 at The Meadowlands, Premieronbroadway (Personal Power) became the fastest Indiana-sired horse EVER - July 17, 2004

2004  Foxy Maneuver (Armbro Maneuver) earned a second invitation to the Dan Patch Invitational - April 10, 2004

2004  Shelby County Fair (Shelbyville, Indiana) voted Blue Ribbon Fair  by USTA

2004  Two Levels of racing discontinued in ISFC Events

2003  With a win at Balmoral Park in 1:49.4, Foxy Maneuver (Armbro Maneuver) became the first Indiana-sired horse to take a record under 1:50. -  July 5, 2003

2003  Indiana-sired Big Boy Josh (Prince Pine) equaled the 3GT Track Record at Hoosier Park - 1:55.1

2003  Foxy Maneuver (Armbro Maneuver) became the first Indiana-sired horse to race in the Dan Patch Invitational - April 12, 2003

2003  John Simpson Stakes (Grand Circuit) & KY Standardbred Sales Co. events relocated to Indiana Downs

2003  Opening of Indiana Downs named Top Story of 2002 in Indiana & City of Shelbyville annexes Indiana Downs - Janauary 8, 2003

2002  Indiana Downs opened in Shelbyville, Indiana - December 6, 2002 (First race won by Crosswind)

2002  Indiana-sired Rights Tulip (Cold Warrior) won the Hayes Memorial 3FP at DuQuoin, Illinois

2002  Indiana-sired Electric Star (Electric Yankee) won Hayes Memorial 3CP at DuQuoin, Illinois

2002  Personal Hug (Personal Power) became highest priced Indiana-sired Yearling to sell at public auction - $40,000

2002  Indiana-sired The Chosen One (Electric Yankee) won The Fox Stake at Indianapolis

2002  Indiana-sired Duke Of Love (Noblette's Finale) equaled the 2CT Track Record at Hoosier Park - 1:58.4

2002  Indiana-sired Big Boy Josh (Prince Pine) equaled the 2GT Track Record at Hoosier Park - 1:58

2002  At 1:52.4, Fast Freddie Mojo (Till We Meet Again) became the first Indiana-sired 2-year-old to break the 1:53 barrier (in the Final of "The Red Sails")

2002  Duane Duane (Dakota Spur) became the first Indiana-sired horse to win the Great Midwest Trot in its 53 year history

2002  Indiana-sired Sheezhomewardbound (Vision's Pride) wins Dygert Trot Elimination at Hawthorne Racecourse

2002  USTA Directors Jerry Landess & Jay Cross collaborate to set mark at Hoosier Park -  Primetime Ranger (Super Star Ranger) 1:54.3.

2002  Indiana-sired Foxy Maneuver (Armbro Maneuver) stakes placed in the Motor City Pace at Hazel Park

2002  Indiana Trainer Bob Morrow & Driver Ricky Macomber won the Dan Patch Invitational at HoP with E Dee's Cam

2002  Harness Horse Youth Foundation relocated to Westfield, Indiana

2002  Jay Cross of Middlebury, Indiana appointed to USTA Board of Directors

2001  New Electric (Electric Yankee) became highest priced Indiana-sired Yearling to sell at public auction - $35,000

2001  First Indiana Standardbred Select Yearling Sale held

2001  Construction of Indianapolis Downs (later renamed Indiana Downs) approved by Indiana Horse Racing Commission

2001  Indiana-owned Eternal Camnation became the richest female pacer EVER

2001  Indiana-sired Electric Star (Electric Yankee) won an Elimination of the American National Stake at Balmoral Park

2001  Indiana-sired Electric Star (Electric Yankee) won the Hanover Stake at Balmoral Park

2001  Indiana-sired Delphi's Deal (Delphi's Oracle) won the John Simpson Stake for 2CT at Hoosier Park

2001  Indiana-sired Lady Oliver (Kentucky Spur) won the Red Rose Pace at Hazel Park

2001  Two Levels of racing introduced in ISFC Events

2001  On May 30th, the IHRC, on a 4-0 vote, approved a permit to Indianapolis Downs (later renamed Indiana Downs) to construct and conduct live pari-mutuel racing in Shelby County. The permit contemplates a harness meet at the new facility to open on or before December 6, 2002.

2000  Indiana-owned Eternal Camnation won the Jugette in Delaware, Ohio

2000  Indiana Trainer/Driver Ricky Macomber won the Dan Patch Invitational at HoP with Royalflush Hanover in 1:49.4

2000  Driver Don Irvine, Jr. wins race number 5,000 of his career with Great Sahbra at Hoosier Park - April 14, 2000

2000  At 1:50.2, Brooklets Redneck (Armbro Century) became first Indiana-sired horse to take a record below 1:51

1999  Indiana-owned Eternal Camnation won Two-year-old Pacing Filly Breeders Crown

1999  Indiana-owned Mid-Western Charm paced fastest last 1/4 EVER by a mare at :25.2 at Hoosier Park

1999  Indiana-owned mares, Extreme Velocity & Mid-Western Charm, placed in Galleria's 1:49.1 World Record mile

1999  Elkhart County Fair (Goshen, Indiana) voted Blue Ribbon Fair  by USTA

1997  Indiana-owned Extreme Velocity won Aged Pacing Mare Breeders Crown 1:50.3

1997  John Simpson Stakes, Grand Circuit events,  relocated to Hoosier Park

1996  Indiana-sired I'm In A Hurry (Armbro Marcus) finished third in Lifelong Victory's 1:54.1h World Record mile in Delaware, Ohio during Little Brown Jug Week

1996  Hoosier Park Leading Driver Gregg Haston killed in a tragic afternoon automobile accident

1996  Viking Commander (Indiana-owned & Indiana-bred) raced in Dan Patch Invitational at Hoosier Park with Hoosier Gregg Haston aboard

1995  Joe Blocker retired from the Elkhart County Fair after years of service

1995  Indiana-owned Viking Commander set 2 Heat World Record for 3CP at DuQuoin, IL - 1:51 and 1:51.1

1994  Hoosier native Gregg Haston won first pari-mutual race in Indiana at Hoosier Park with BK Bentley

1994  Hoosier Park opened in Anderson, Indiana - September 1, 1994

1993  Single G float appeared in 500 Festival Parade

1992  Indiana's Stacey Ruddick wins HTA Scholarship

1992  Indiana's Tomi Gillespie wins the Red Smith Caretaker of the Year Award

1992  Indiana Governor Evan Bayh signed House Bill 1050, paving the way for pari-mutuel racing

1992  Indiana State Fairgrounds celebrates a Century of Blue Ribbon Tradition (1892 - 1992)

1990  Harness Horse Youth Foundation moved National Headquarters to Indiana

1989  First Members appointed to Indiana Horse Racing Commission (IHRC)

1986  Indiana Standardbred Hall of Fame was started

1985  Jerry Landess of Portland, Indiana elected to USTA Board of Directors

1985  Nihilator National Horse of the Year

1978  Abercrombie National Horse of the Year

1976  Hoosier Horse Review started by Kathryn Bonham

1975  Rambling Willie National Horse of the Year

1968  Nevele Pride set world record for age & gait (Indiana State Fairgrounds)

1956  At 1:59.4, Torpid won the Fox Stake in the first time under 2:00.
            (World Record for a 2-Year-Old Pacer in a race)

1938  First Horseman Stake held (Indiana State Fairgrounds)

1931  New grandstand built at Indiana State Fairgrounds

1927  First Fox Stake held (Indiana State Fairgrounds)

1927  Indiana Trotting & Pacing Horse Association Incorporated

1910  World Champion pacer Single G is born in Indiana - April 4, 1910

1907  Western Horseman (predecessor to The Horseman & Fair World) begins publication in Indiana

1907  First Horseman Futurities held (Indiana State Fairgrounds)

1896  Dan Patch foaled in Oxford, Indiana - April 29, 1896
        The legendary pacer lowered the world record four times from 1903-05.
        (Inducted into Indiana Hall of Fame 1986)

Thank you to Ellen Taylor, Harness Horse Youth Foundation, for her contributions & input!

If you would like to suggest an addition to this listing, please contact us.