Adjusted Indiana breed development program tops $15 million

by James Platz

Horsepeople competing in the Hoosier State this season will see a breed development program very similar in structure to that of past years. However, small adjustments have been made to the program in targeted areas with growth in mind. This year’s program, valued at over $15.2 million, was approved last month by the Indiana Horse Racing Commission (IHRC).

“I feel like the increases we have made for this year are strengthening an already strong program, and targeting specific areas in which we felt could see some growth,” said Jessica Barnes, assistant executive director for the IHRC. “The improvements we have made have been very targeted for specific outcomes in the program.”

The Indiana Sired Fair Circuit has undergone fine tuning in two areas. First, more funding is allocated to the program in 2026. Last season, $1.45 million was budgeted, but spending reached nearly $1.58 million as more divisions were offered than anticipated. In response, this year’s budget is set for $1.6 million. The fair schedule consists of a first series which culminates in the Governor’s Cup Championships at the Indiana State Fair. What follows is a second series that offers up to six racing programs from late August through early October. Last season this second series was limited to horses with earnings of $10,000 or less. This season, that cap has been lowered to $7,000.

“The main reason behind it was to divert more horses to Hoosier to help fill races during that time,” Barnes said. “The committee remains steadfast in the fact that we want to continue to put the best racing product out there that we can at the pari-mutuel track and it is finding the balance in doing so.”

Last year, 88 races were carded over six second series dates, with 482 starters lining up behind the starting gate. By comparison, in 2024 a total of 76 races were offered over five dates with 397 starters.

The Indiana Sires Stakes program, the state’s most lucrative with over $8.3 million available in purses, is unchanged for 2- and 3-year-olds. The structure for older horses, however, is modified for 2026. Previously, horses were entered into the $50,000 finals and a single elimination was held, if necessary, based on entries. With the new format, two $20,000 eliminations will be contested for each division in advance of the finals, now boosted to $75,000.

“With the increase in the quality of horses being produced in the Indiana program, the committee felt adding the additional opportunities was a great way to showcase those older horses in our home state,” Barnes said.

The other significant monetary change to the program is the pool of funds allocated for Indiana-sired overnight supplements and mini-series. Previously funded at a level of $3.5 million, that figure is $3.8 million for 2026. These funds are provided to Harrah’s Hoosier Park management to use in writing overnight races for Indiana-sired horses. The increase will aid them in increasing purses for 2-year-old races.

“I believe Indiana’s program is one of the strongest ones available,” Barnes said. “We continually strive to balance all aspects of the program to maintain balance for various types of horses competing.”