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1998 Annual Report

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SealState of Indiana
Indiana Horse Racing Commission
Frank O'Bannon, Governor

Letter to the Govenor

April 15, 1999


The Honorable Frank O'Bannon
Governor of the State of Indiana
Room 206, The Statehouse
Indianapolis, IN 46206

Dear Governor O'Bannon:

The pari-mutuel horse racing industry moved forward at a rapid pace in 1998. The Commission has seen several promising trends develop which are indicative of a maturing and thriving horse racing industry in Indiana. Significant growth in size of foal crops, upgrading in the quality of stallions and higher prices paid for Indiana sired or bred horses are just a few indicators. Much of the racing industry's success is due to the revenue generated by the portion of riverboat admission tax that is allocated to the racing industry. This revenue has proved vital to both Indiana horsemen and Hoosier Park.

As in the past, the Commission continues to focus its energies on diligently regulating the pari-mutuel industry. The results of our regulatory efforts, along with statistics of interest, are highlighted in this report.

I am pleased to report that Indiana has gained a reputation throughout the Midwest for clean, honest and competitive racing. The Indiana Horse Racing Commission is determined to provide the strong leadership that is needed to assist in the continued success and maintain the integrity of our new pari-mutuel racing industry. Each Commissioner is proud and grateful to have the opportunity to serve you in this endeavor.

Respectfully submitted,

Michael G. Schaefer, Chairman
Indiana Horse Racing Commission

Table Of Contents

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Indiana Horse Racing Commission

Commissioners
Michael SchaeferChairman * (2000)
K. Clay SmithVice-Chairman * (1998)
Janet BozzelliSecretary * (2001)
Pete BeckMember * (2001)
Robert Ossenberg Member * (1999)
* Term expires September 1st of year indicated.
Staff
Joe Gorajec Executive Director
Kay Roberts Assistant Executive Director
Robert Smith Director of Security
Deena Pitman Director of Licensing
Kristen Perrel Controller
Ron Adams Investigator
Shirley England Licensing Supervisor
Jacki Brown Administrative Secretary
Carmen Willoughby Breed Development Clerk


To further assist the Commission with its regulatory responsibilities, the following individuals provided professional or technical service at Hoosier Park during the 1998 racing season.

Standardbred Judges
Timothy Schmitz, Presiding Judge
William Perkins, Associate Judge
Richard Williams, Associate Judge
Commission Veterinarian
David Younts, D.V.M.
Racing Inspectors
Paul Clark
Karla Vaughn
Standardbred Breed Development
Advisory Committee

Henry B. Blackwell, II
Ernest M. Gaskin
Nat Hill, IV
Thoroughbred Stewards
Leland Seba, Presiding Steward
Steve Pagano, Associate Steward
Gary Wilfert, Associate Steward

Veterinary Technicians
Stephanie Adams
Claudia Shaff
Marci Shaff

Thoroughbred Breed Development
Advisory Committee

Mari Hulman George
Ed Martin, Jr.
Timothy H. Sams

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Year In Review

May

  • Hoosier Park and its satellite facilities set a single day handle record of $1,881,082 on Kentucky Derby Day. The handle surpasses the record of $1,858,178 set on Derby Day in 1997.

July

  • On July 11th, a crowd of 7,472 on hand for the Dan Patch Invitational witness Pacific Fella and driver Cat Manzi shatter Hoosier Park's track record, pacing to victory in a time of 1:48.2.

August

  • Tony Morgan (252 wins) and Ernie Gaskin (82 wins) lead the driver and trainer standings for the second year in a row. Each also establish all-time Hoosier Park money earning records. Morgan's earnings total $3,015,716 while Gaskin becomes the first trainer to top the million dollar mark with an overall total of $1,324,519.

October

  • On October 3, Hoosier Park attracts the largest crowd in history of the facility for the $300,000 - added Indiana Derby. A total of 8,088 fans poured into the facility to see One Bold Stroke and rider Robby Albarado outduel Dixie Dot Com and David Flores.

  • On October 13, Vic's Rebel took a giant stride for the Indiana-Bred program by establishing a track record of 1:33.4 for the mile. Six days later, Vic returns to win the open $65,000 added Indy Mile.

November

  • Jon Court (118 wins) and Gary Patrick (22 wins) capture the riding and training titles, respectively. Court's 118 victories establishes a single season record, eclipsing the old mark of 91 he set in 1996.

    On November 6, Timothy H. Sams is appointed by Governor O'Bannon to serve a four year term on the Racing Commission. Sams replaces outgoing Commissioner K. Clay Smith who had served the Commission with distinction since its inception in 1989.

December

  • Governor O'Bannon reappoints Ernie Gaskin and Nat Hill to the Standardbred Breed Development Advisory Committee.

  • On December 4, 1998, the Indiana Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Commission in the first racing related action ever brought before the State's highest court. The high court denied a petition to transfer an appeal made by Cathy Rheinheimer regarding a wrongly issued injunction, thus letting stand an Indiana Court of Appeals decision in favor of the Indiana Horse Racing Commission.

  • On December 17, Robert Ossenberg is unanimously elected Vice-Chairman of the Racing Commission.

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Live Racing At Hoosier Park

Standardbred

 
Number of Dates 95
Total Handle $5,461,678
Average Daily Handle $57,491
Total Attendance 92,579
Average Daily Attendance 975

Thoroughbred

 
Number of Dates 58
Total Handle $5,335,290
Average Daily Handle $ 91,988
Total Attendance 76,524
Average Daily Attendance 1,319

Combined Standardbred and Thoroughbred

 
Number of Dates 153
Total Handle $10,796,968
Average Daily Handle $70,568
Total Attendance 169,103
Average Daily Attendance 1,105

The statistics above represent attendance and handle at Hoosier Park on live racing only. Thoroughbred handle includes Quarter Horse races. Additional wagering on Hoosier Park's live racing at Indiana OTB's is as follows - Standardbred ($2,050,349), Thoroughbred ($1,749,094) totaling ($3,799,443). Such wagering is included in OTB handle statistics on the following page.

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Simulcast Wagering by Location

 Hoosier ParkMerrillville OTB
Simulcast Dates319311
Total Handle$29,179,356$30,678,506
Average Daily Handle$91,471$98,645
 Ft. Wayne OTB Indianapolis OTB
Simulcast Dates271322
Total Handle$18,451,560$60,755,289
Average Daily Handle$68,087$188,681

Total Simulcast Handle       $139,064,711

Hoosier Park statistics represent all wagering on out-of-state simulcasts (no live racing). The number of simulcast dates at Hoosier Park reflect any dates on which full card simulcasting took place. Special race simulcasting at Hoosier Park is included in the handle, but not in the number of dates. All OTB statistics represent all wagers at each location on both in-state and out-of-state simulcasting.

Admission is not charged at the Indianapolis OTB, the Ft. Wayne OTB and at Hoosier Park for simulcasting. Consequently, attendance is not counted. Attendance at the Merrillville OTB was 92,609.

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Distribution of the Wagering Dollar

The following is a breakdown of the distribution of all monies wagered at Hoosier Park and its satellite facilities:

Returned to Bettors$ 117,032,914.00
Track Share20,492,185.00
Purses Earned7,366,834.00
Pari-Mutuel Tax4,096,088.00
Breakage873,657.72
Total Handle
$149,861,678.72

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State Revenues

The following are the direct state revenues collected in accordance with the pari-mutuel statute IC 4-31:

Pari-Mutuel Tax$4,096,088.00
Track Reimbursement for Officials227,346.58
Admission Tax26,179.40
Fines and Civil Penalties Paid21,950.00
Track Permit and License Fees8,000.00
Total Revenue
$4,379,563.98

The direct revenue received by the State of Indiana exceeded the cost of regulation. Indiana Horse Racing Commission expenditures for calendar year 1998 were $1,118,850.28.

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Breakdown of Handle by Breed and Type

Breakdown of Handle by Breed and Type
BreedLive Handle % Simulcast Handle % Total Handle %
Standardbred$7,512,0275.0$22,862,75215.3$30,374,77920.3
Thoroughbred$7,084,3844.7$112,402,51675.0$119,483,12479.7
Combined Breeds$14,596,4119.7$135,265,26890.3$149,861,679100.0

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Purses Paid

The following is a breakdown by breed of purses paid at Hoosier Park. Breed Development purse supplements and some horsemen's fees are included. Purse monies from Breed Development bonuses for Indiana sired or Indiana owned are not included. The Kentucky Sales Company's and Hambletonian Society's contributions ($1,258,995) are not included.
BreedDates Purse Paid Average Daily Purse Distribution
Standardbred95$12,186,805$128,282            
Thoroughbred58$11,468,830$197,738            

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Purse Trends

Purse Trends

Purse Trends

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Purses Earned by Type

Purse Earned by Type

Type Amount %
Riverboats (*)$ 12,084,16855.2%
Simulcast - Receiving6,763,26331.0%
Breakage & Outs (*)1,220,3425.6%
Live Racing (Intrastate)1,053,7544.8%
Simulcast - Host (Interstate)750,8173.4%
Total $21,872,344 100%

(*) Assumes 75% of breed development funds are allocated to purses.

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Simulcast Handle Hoosier Park as Host Track

The following is a breakdown, by breed and track, of monies wagered out-of-state on Hoosier Park's live race meets.

Thoroughbred

Illinois *7,068,537
Ohio *6,358,332
Penn National3,467,283
Kentucky *3,312,325
Calder Race Course2,758,620
Philadelphia Park2,346,431
Sam Houston2,285,286
New Jersey *2,206,250
Lone Star Park1,752,335
The Meadows1,521,887
Las Vegas1,382,489
New England Hub1,199,349
Maryland*1,094,270
Nebraska *1,036,228
Connecticut OTB908,181
Atlantic City/Resorts793,497
Multimedia Games632,432
Washington*602,146
Evangeline Downs551,815
Delaware Park514,746
Les Bois421,957
Wisconsin *414,152
Canterbury Park401,776
Oaklawn Park372,433
Birmingham367,353
Prairie Meadows360,757
Southern Cal328,038
Blue Ribbon Downs319,038
Mobile Greyhound244,431
Juerez212,199
Wyoming OTB180,363
Southland Greyhound174,882
Tri-State Greyhound166,605
Multinoma Greyhound120,335
Freehold Raceway116,319
Hazel Park102,721
Maine*59,462
Dover Downs42,307
Detroit Race Course21,308
Total $46,218,875
* statewide system

Standardbred

Illinois *6,660,492
Ohio*3,645,432
Penn National1,166,575
The Meadows998,856
Michigan*774,829
New Jersey*708,594
Kentucky*669,705
Philadelphia Park651,867
Sportscreek Raceway469,185
New England *181,100
Atlantic City/Resorts143,886
Sam Houston118,629
Delaware (Ohio)117,368
Tri-State Greyhound103,151
Multimedia Games39,327
Evangeline Downs35,986
Freehold Raceway17,079
Total $16,502,061
* statewide system

Thoroughbred Daily Average (58 dates)
$796,877

Standardbred Daily Average (95 dates)
$173,706

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Simulcast Handle Hoosier Park as Receiving Track

The following is a breakdown, by breed and track, of monies wagered at all in-state locations on simulcasts originating from out of state.

Thoroughbred

Ohio 7 & 77,452,740
Churchill Downs7,294,729
Turfway Park6,268,055
Aqueduct6,028,998
Calder Race Course5,864,961
Santa Anita Park5,296,692
Hawthorne5,018,749
Gulfstream Park4,637,957
Belmont Park4,217,929
Sportsman's Park4,014,673
Fair Grounds3,779,122
Penn National3,730,903
Hollywood Park3,619,860
Laurel Race Course3,536,211
Ellis Park3,263,151
Sam Houston Race Park3,029,604
Lone Star Park2,788,956
Oaklawn Park2,787,109
Monmouth Park2,208,702
Saratoga Race Course2,070,597
Evangeline Downs2,005,276
Keeneland1,956,600
Del Mar Race Course1,743,938
Hialeah Park1,655,243
Delaware Park1,494,438
Meadowlands1,430,888
Golden Gate1,307,609
Bay Meadows1,261,249
Retama Park1,235,694
Louisiana Downs1,204,482
Pimlico1,147,773
Suffolk Downs1,085,954
Detroit Race Course1,001,744
Philadelphia Park969,957
Remington Park784,207
Turf Paradise749,971
Garden State Park732,931
Colonial Downs576,742
Fairplex Park554,378
Tampa Bay473,759
Prairie Meadows453,928
Emerald Downs437,948
Canterbury Park400,124
Rockingham Park334,559
Fairmount Park218,747
Delta Downs166,722
Finger Lakes107,957
Total $112,402,516

Standardbred

Balmoral5,413,543
Northfield Park4,621,705
Meadowlands4,067,589
Maywood3,173,824
Meadows1,558,043
Scioto Downs879,524
Garden State Park775,665
Northville Downs521,402
Pompano Park502,896
Fairmount Park455,274
Freehold Raceway321,388
Pocono Downs307,770
Red Milel54,567
Little Brown Jug61,119
Dover Downs48,443
Total$22,862,752

Hoosier's Top 3 Simulcast Circuit Choices

Kentucky (TB)
(CD, TP, EIP, & Kee)
$18,782,535
New York (TB)
(Aqu, Bel & Sar)
12,317,524
Southern Florida (TB)
(Crc, GP & Hia )
12,158,161

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Occupational Licensing

Pursuant to IC 4-31-6 and 71 IAC 5-1-1, all persons participating in pari-mutuel racing under the jurisdiction of the Commission are required to be licensed. The licensing process is the backbone of the Commission's regulatory efforts. Each prospective licensee is fingerprinted. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Indiana State Police provide the Commission with criminal histories of all applicants. The Commission may refuse or deny the application for licensure of any person whose criminal or racing violation record is contrary to the public's best interest.

Category Count
Owner, Thoroughbred1,661
Owner, Standardbred1,659
Groom1,074
Trainer, Thoroughbred377
Stable Name342
Vendor Employee326
Owner/Trainer/Driver326
Owner/Trainer, Thoroughbred322
Track Employee230
Pari-Mutuel Clerk200
Owner/Trainer, Standardbred191
Driver/Trainer167
Jockey127
Trainer, Standardbred110
Asst. Trainer, Thoroughbred97
Track Security83
Driver72
Exercise Rider56
Commission Staff42
Vendor/Contractor40
Farrier36
Track Management30
Asst. Trainer, Standardbred28
Racing Official26
Owner, Quarter Horse26
Authorized Agent24
Jockey Agent22
Pony Rider16
Veterinarian13
Gate Crew13
Valet13
Other13
Trainer, Quarter Horse11
Owner/Trainer, Quarter Horse10
Vet. Assistant10
Apprentice Jockey9
Farrier's Assistant4
Stable Employee0
Total Licenses Issued:7,806
 19941995 1996 1997 1998
Licenses Issued1,9225,2696,2927,1527,806
Probationary Licenses Issued2154536880
Licenses Refused1610292621

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Equine Drug Testing

Pari-mutuel horse racing can succeed as a legitimate major league sport only if its races are perceived by the wagering public to be honest, competitive contests, free from manipulation by man or drugs. With the exception of furosemide (lasix) and phenylbutazone (bute), under regulatory restrictions, state law and Commission rules prohibit the presence of any drug in horses racing at a pari-mutuel track. The Commission's drug detection program is one of the nation's most comprehensive and its laboratory one of the most respected in the racing industry.

Truesdail Laboratory in Tustin, California, serves as the primary testing laboratory for the Indiana Horse Racing Commission. Truesdail Lab has been a leader in racing chemistry and drug-related research for over 50 years.

The following table indicates, by breed, the number of samples analyzed and the number of positive tests reported. In each instance, the offending horse was disqualified and placed last. In accordance with the pari-mutuel statute, all purse money earned is ordered returned and redistributed.

Breed Race Dates UrineBloodPositive Tests
Standardbred94191023437
Thoroughbred58100413033
Totals1522914364610

The table below represents a further breakdown, by breed, of the name and types of drugs reported by the laboratory.

Number of Violations ARCI 
Standardbred Thoroughbred Drug Classification Type
4-Banamine (Class 4)NSAID*.
1-Methocarbol (Class 4)muscle relaxant
2-Trichlormethiazide (Class 4)diuretic
-1Isoxsuprine (Class 4)vasodilator
-2Lasixdiuretic
* non-steroidal anti-inflammatory

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Human Drug Testing

Commission regulations provide that a licensee or an applicant for licensure may be required, if reasonable suspicion exists, to submit to a drug test. Commission rules require a minimum suspension of thirty (30) days for a positive test for an illegal drug.

Human Drug Testing 1994 1995 1996 19971998
Number of Samples Tested114153324
Number of Positive Tests0381412

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Breed Development Programs

Overview

Pursuant to IC 4-31-11, breed development funds have been established to promote the breeding of horses while stimulating the agri-business sector of the state's economy. All breakage and unclaimed winning tickets are statutorily earmarked for breed development. In addition, twenty percent (20%) of the riverboat admission tax allocated to the racing industry is distributed to breed development funds. Standardbred and thoroughbred breed development advisory committees make recommendations to the Commission regarding the distribution of these monies.

Standardbred

The Standardbred Breed Development Program continued with a lucrative program at Hoosier Park in 1998 that included a series of Early/Late Closing events, the GENESIS Series and the Indiana Sires Stakes. The Early/Late Closing events for Indiana sired, owned and bred horses, Indiana sired, owned or bred overnights and the GENESIS series competed for $3,481,877 in purse money. The GENESIS is a series of races for two and three-year-old Indiana owned or sired fillies, provided as an incentive to encourage ownership of fillies in Indiana to improve the quality of broodmares thereby enhancing the value and quality of yearlings produced in Indiana. Most important, the Breed Development program has provided an opportunity for the Indiana Sires Stakes to become one of the industry's premier programs. A total of $1,446,894 was paid in purses in 1998 to the Indiana Sires Stakes for two and three-year-old and aged Indiana sired horses. The success of the Indiana Standardbred Breed Development Program during 1998 has resulted in nearly five million dollars paid in purses at Hoosier Park and premium prices received for Indiana sired yearlings at the Indiana sales. More than 1,680 broodmares were bred to registered Indiana stallions in 1998, assuring continuous growth of our state's Standardbred industry.

The successful county and state fair purse supplement programs were continued with increased purses to the fairs. Owners of Indiana sired horses winning in open company at Hoosier Park received a bonus award. Breeder awards were made to the breeders of the winning Indiana sired horses of the finals of the Sires Stakes and the Indiana sired Early/Late closing events. Through these continued efforts, the Standardbred Breed Development Program is developing and promoting a fast growing and high quality Standardbred industry in the state of Indiana.

1998 Distribution of Awards
Purse supplements - Hoosier Park$1,514,100
Purse supplements - County Fairs338,500
Purse supplements - State Fair140,000
Indiana Sired & Breeder Awards70,715
Total
$2,063,315

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Breed Development Programs

Thoroughbred

The Thoroughbred Breed Development Program provides incentives and awards to three important elements of the Indiana Thoroughbred industry: the owner, the breeder and the stallion owner. Indiana bred or owned horses earned over $5,000,000 during the 1998 Hoosier Park meet. Seven of the top ten money earning horses of the meet were from Indiana bred or owned. In 1998, the program initiated out-of-state breeder awards to breeders of registered Indiana bred horses winning races during the time there is no Thoroughbred racing at Hoosier Park.

The highlight of the 1998 Thoroughbred racing season was "Indiana Championship Day" held on September 13, 1998. Eight stake races for Indiana owned and foaled horses were contested and purse money totaled in excess of $600,000 for the championship day events. Trainer Bob Baffert and jockeys Pat Day and Shane Sellers appeared in conjunction with the festivities for the day's events sponsored by the Thoroughbred Breed Development Program.

1998 Distribution of Awards
Purse Supplements$ 2,920,331
Owners Awards324,528
Breeders Awards324,143
Stallion Owner Awards28,336
Out-of-State Awards3,798
Total
$3,601,136

Purse supplements include $600,000 distributed on Indiana Championship Day.

1998 Breed Development Fund Revenue
BreedBreakageOutstanding
Tickets *
Riverboat Revenue Total
Standardbred436,828.86376,732.502,123,003.092,936,564.45
Thoroughbred436,828.86376,732.502,123,003.092,936,564.45
Total873,657.72753,465.004,246,006.185,873,128.90

* Outstanding ticket revenue is based on tickets purchased in 1997 which expired in 1998.

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Blood Gas Analysis Program

The purpose of the Blood Gas Analysis (BGA) program is to deter and detect the practice of "bicarbonate loading" or what is known in the racing business as "milkshaking." This practice generally entails giving a horse a large quantity of an alkaline substance, usually baking soda, prior to a race. The alkaline substance neutralizes the lactic acid that is produced during exercise and, as a consequence, delays the onset of fatigue. Research has demonstrated that this practice induces some horses to race faster times. Bicarbonate loading can give a horse an unfair competitive edge and thus compromise the integrity of the sport. This practice is strictly prohibited by the rules of the Commission.

The BGA Program is operated by the Commission in a small laboratory located in the paddock at Hoosier Park. Blood samples of selected horses are analyzed prior to the race on a state-of-the-art blood gas analysis machine. Each sample is analyzed by a certified lab technician under contract through St. John's Hospital in Anderson.

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Riverboat Revenue

The statute permitting riverboat gaming in Indiana earmarks sixty-five (65) cents of the three dollar admission tax to the pari-mutuel horse racing industry. These funds are distributed to various segments of the racing industry in accordance with Commission rule 71 IAC 12-2-15.

1998 Riverboat Revenue Allocation to Racing
From Admission Tax (65 cents)
Purses 40%  $8,899,664.26
Standardbred $4,449,832.13 
Thoroughbred 4,449,832.13 
Track30% 6,674,748.17
Breed Development20% 4,449,832.10
Standardbred $2,224,916.05 
Thoroughbred 2,224,916.05 
Promotion Fund 10% 2,224,916.06
Total100% $22,249,916.59

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1999 Hoosier Park Live Race Dates

Standardbred - 103 dates (April 9 - August 25)
Thoroughbred - 65 dates (September 10 - December 5)
1999 Hoosier Park Live Race Dates

Red indicates Standardbred Dates Green and Underlined indicates Thoroughbred Dates

Post Times
5:30 p.m. Sundays
7:00 p.m. Weekdays & Sundays
* Denotes Special Post Times

Approved - December 17, 1998

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