Hoosier expands live schedule

Hoosier Park's live racing schedule will expand by 40 dates in 2002 under a compromise with Indiana regulators Tuesday.

Hoosier had initially applied for 120 dates, split equally between Thoroughbreds and Standardbreds, down from 193 live racing dates in 2001. Hoosier will now hold a 70-day Thoroughbred meeting, from Aug. 29 to Dec. 1, and a 90-day Standardbred meeting, from April 13 to Aug. 15, for a total of 160 live racing days.

Hoosier agreed to the compromise under two conditions. The first was that the commission would not alter how a subsidy from a tax on riverboat casinos in the state - expected to total $25 million in 2002 - is distributed. The second condition was that the commission would not award 2002 dates to Indianapolis Downs, a multi-breed facility that is scheduled to open in late 2002 or early 2003.