Another record-breaking season at Horseshoe Indianapolis

For the fifth straight year, there was a record handle at Horseshoe Indianapolis.

A total of $287 million was wagered on racing compared to $282 million in 2024. The final tally does not include international money which is anticipated to boost the final total to more than $325 million. A total of 14 days showed handle of $3 million or more.

Total handle per race was up with a 6.39% increase of $252,886 compared to $236,886 last season. On track handle saw a slight jump to $4,818,434 compared to $4,724,140, a 2% increase year over year.

A total of 1,142 races were conducted with 931 dedicated to Thoroughbred racing. A total of 198 turf races were held compared to 237 turf races in 2024, specifically related to weather causing races to be taken off the turf.

For Quarter Horse racing, a total of 211 races were conducted compared to 220 in 2024.

Other top stories from the 2025 racing season at Horseshoe Indianapolis:

Tip Top Thomas tops record setting Indiana Derby

Tip Top Thomas and Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez won the 31^st running of the Grade 3 $300,000 Indiana Derby. The Todd Pletcher trained chestnut son of Volatile paid $7.40 for the win, his third in five career starts.

The winning effort by Tip Top Thomas also established a new track record in 1:41.15 for one and one-sixteenth miles. The previous record was set in 2011 by Brazilian bred Jardim in 1:41.19.

Estimated attendance for the afternoon program exceeded 5,100.

The Indiana Derby capped off another record setting day, with all-source handle surging over the $9.163 million, more than one million over the previous year’s total of $81.47 million. The 2025 Indiana Derby now marks the largest handle ever accumulated in the 23-year history of racing at the track.

Silks ‘N Roses

Horseshoe Indianapolis created a new event in 2025 dedicated to females in racing. The evening featured numerous activities geared toward women, including a flower bouquet station, Kilwin’s chocolate station, premier gift giveaway, and a silent auction for a lawn jockey painted in pink silks.

All proceeds were earmarked to Indiana Women in Need (I.W.I.N.) with more than $3,800 raised for the cause.

Part of the activities for the evening included a female handicapper challenge. A total of 15 handicappers from across the United States placed $100 wagers into the Pink Out Classic on the card and raised more than $1,300 to place into the money raised for I.W.I.N. A special handicapping contest was also held, attracting a total of 195 entries with $2,500 in prize money allotted to the top six finishers.

Quarter Horse completes record setting year

Indiana Quarter Horse racing took a step forward in 2025, recording the richest all-Quarter Horse racing program in track history. More than $1.273 million was wagered on the first of six days dedicated to the sprinters May 31, a new record.

The second Quarter Horse program of the year also eclipsed the $1 million mark, with $1.142 million wagered June 29. It was the first time in track history two Quarter Horse specific programs topped the $1 million mark in one season.

The second year of Restricted Grade 3 action for Quarter Horses was also held with A Flare for Politics and Jorge Torres winning the $230,111 Quarter Horse Racing Association of Indiana (QHRAI) Stallion Service Auction Futurity on Aug. 30.

The freshman son of Flare for Ivory owned by Phil Harrison was joined by Rock N the Beach, winner of the other Restricted Grade 3 event for Quarter Horses on Indiana Champions Day. The Escondido Beach freshman scored the win in the $359,600 Miss Roxie Little Futurity, the richest race ever recorded in Indiana for any breed. Rolando Pina was aboard for the win.

Tim Eggleston trains both horses and will have his silks displayed on both Quarter Horse jockey statues outside the winner’s circle depicting the two Graded Stakes winners.

The races were part of the richest Indiana Champions Day ever held with purses exceeding $1.4 million for the entire card and more than $2.765 million wagered, a new record for the event.

Community Center added to facility

Ground was broken March 5 for a new Community Center, which will benefit the horsemen and women on the backstretch. The facility will house all breed organizations with offices plus offer a new chapel for weekly Bible Study sessions as well as dedicated events for all participants who live and work in the barn area.

The project, which topped $1.4 million, was completed at the end of 2025. It was funded by the Racing Capital Fund Advisory Committee for specific projects related to racing over the course of 10 years, funded by Caesars Entertainment.

The structure, located just outside the stable gate to the barn area, is approximately 7,000 square feet and includes a kitchen with ample seating for specialty dinner programs provided throughout the racing year for the horsemen and women at Horseshoe Indianapolis. Elite provided the construction for the project.

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