Horseshoe Indianapolis sees bump in total handle, per-race handle compared to 2024

Total handle, handle per race, and average purse per race were all up at the recently concluded meet at Horseshoe Indianapolis in Shelbyville, Ind., according to an analysis by Daily Racing Form.

Total handle increased 2.3 percent compared to last year, to $263.3 million, despite Horseshoe running 40 less races this year. The average amount bet per race was up 6.7 percent, to $282,842, according to the analysis.

While the total amount of purses distributed declined slightly due to the lower number of races, the average purse was up 1.6 percent, to $33,139. Purses at Horseshoe are subsidized by revenues from the track’s casino.

Horseshoe ran 117 dates this year, including several cards dominated by Quarter Horse races. Last year, the track ran 115 dates.

Key metrics at Horseshoe have increased year-over-year for four straight years. The track runs most of its cards early in the week to capitalize on lower competition in the simulcast market.

Field size this year was identical to last year, at 7.82 horses per race. The track ran 198 turf races this year, compared to 237 last year. Most of the Midwest was in a prolonged drought this summer.

On the track, Fernando De La Cruz took the rider’s title with 120 wins, winning at a 20 percent clip. Randy Klopp won 67 races to take the trainer’s title, while Haran Thoroughbreds won the owner’s title with 38 wins from 209 starts.

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