Hoosier Park History

It was in 1992, when the decision of opening a racetrack in Anderson, Indiana was granted. This is , in fact, the first racetrack outside Kentucky owned by Churchill Downs since 1939 and eventually in 1994 a contract was signed for construction of the Hoosier Park. Hoosier Park Racetrack opened to a crowd of 7,633 on September 1st 1994.

Off-track betting facility started nearly four months after inauguration of the racetrack at 7610 Broadway in Merrillville. On the eve of its first anniversary, Hoosier Park Racetrack introduced thoroughbred racing meet and a crowd of 5283 turned out to see Minnatoga win the first race. The largest trifecta payoff in history of the track was recorded in 1996 setting $31,775.20 for a $2 ticket. The richest night in the history of quarter horseracing event was recorded on September 21st 2002. The track announced to open four off-track betting facilities in Indiana. The first Indiana Derby was run in this racetrack on October 7, 1995.