(Tip Top Thomas wins the 2025 G3 Indiana Derby at Horseshoe Indianapolis / Photo by Coady Media)

From the Horseshoe Indianapolis Media Team / Tammy Knox:

Nearly $5 million in purses set for 2026 Premier Racing Schedule

at Horseshoe Indianapolis

 

SHELBYVILLE, Ind. (Tuesday, February 24, 2026) – More than $4.95 million is slated to be distributed for 47 premier Thoroughbred races during the upcoming 123-day season at Horseshoe Indianapolis. Racing begins Tuesday, April 7, kicking off the schedule with the $55,000 Brian Elmore and the $55,000 Merrill C. Roberts Handicaps.

The Grade III $300,000 Indiana Derby and the Grade III $200,000 Indiana Oaks highlight the premier racing schedule. Slated for Saturday, July 11, the afternoon racing program will feature eight elite races with purses topping $1.1 million.

“We have moved our Indiana Derby back one week this year, since its traditional place landed on July 4 this year,” noted Eric Halstrom, Vice President and General Manager of Racing. “Our Indiana Derby has become a popular destination each July, and we wanted to ensure racing fans could enjoy the event. We had a record crowd and handle during last year’s Derby with more than 5,000 in attendance and handle that exceeded $9 million, a new track record. We are already working on this year’s event and plan to expand seating options trackside in addition to elevating our indoor clubhouse experience.”

In addition to Indiana Derby Day, Horseshoe Indianapolis will host the seventh annual Indiana Champions Day Saturday, October 24, featuring the state’s top Thoroughbreds and Quarter Horses. The afternoon program will include six Thoroughbred premier races followed by six Quarter Horse stakes with purses exceeding $1.1 million.

“Our Indiana Champions Day has become an exciting afternoon of racing and gives us a chance to place the spotlight on our locally owned and bred horses,” added Halstrom. “We work closely with our horsemen’s organizations and Breed Development to showcase this day, which is a culmination of our state bred programs during the year. It is a great way to cap off our racing season and celebrate the success of horses who represent our state’s racing and breeding programs.”

Indiana’s richest day of turf racing has been modified. The $150,000 Cleopatra (BT) will now be the featured event Wednesday, May 13 during Caesars Day. It will be joined by two new handicaps, the $55,000 Onesmoothoperator and the $55,000 Corningstone, named after the two richest Indiana breds in state history.

In all, the Thoroughbred schedule includes two Graded Stakes, five Black Type races, and two Listed events. Out of 47 total races on the premier schedule, 38 are reserved for Indiana bred or sired horses to showcase the state’s rich and incentive-based breeding program.

For a full list of 2026 premier races for Horseshoe Indianapolis, go to the Website at www.caesars.com/horseshoe-indianapolis/racing.

The 24th season of live Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse returns Tuesday, April 7. For more information on racing at Horseshoe Indianapolis, visitwww.caesars.com/horseshoe-indianapolis/racing or find details on social media @HSIndyRacing.

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About Horseshoe Indianapolis
Horseshoe Indianapolis, owned and operated by Caesars Entertainment, Inc. (NASDAQ: CZR), holds multiple awards for customer service, entertainment, gaming, racing, dining, and diversity. Located just minutes from Indianapolis in Shelbyville, Ind., this one-of-a-kind property has wall to wall excitement on the 105,940 square foot gaming floor, featuring more than 1,600 slots and 72 table games along with a state-of-the-art World Series of Poker Room containing 20 tables. In addition, Horseshoe Indianapolis offers the only live Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing in the state showcased on a one-mile dirt racecourse and a seven-eighths mile turf course. Simulcast and sports wagering is offered year-round at Caesars Race & Sportsbook, also located on the casino floor, with additional gaming provided at Caesars Race & Sportsbook in Clarksville, Ind. Players can reap benefits from Caesars Rewards, the industry’s most lucrative bonus program now offered at more than 50 destinations. Please visit www.caesars.com/horseshoe-indianapolis for more information and find Horseshoe Indianapolis on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Must be 18 or older to wager on horse racing at racetracks and 21 or older to gamble at sports books and casinos. Please play responsibly. If you think you or someone you care about may have a gambling problem, call 1-800-9-WITH-IT (1-800-994-8448). ©2026 Caesars License Company, LLC.