The final installment of “Grand Mornings at the Track,” presented by the Indiana Horsemen’s Benevolence and Protective Association (HBPA), is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 22. The final session of 2018 will include a visit to the starting gate and the third floor of the grandstand, which includes the stewards stand and audio visual department.
“Grand Mornings at the Track” begins at 9 a.m. in the Always Turned On tent, located trackside at Indiana Grand. A free continental breakfast will be served followed by the program. The program will be held rain or shine, but the event may be altered due to inclement weather conditions. The event is generally completed by 10:30 a.m.
Morning training hours include gate schooling. Those in attendance for “Grand Mornings at the Track” will learn the process of teaching horses to break from the starting gate as well as offering refresher sessions for those horses that may need a little more “schooling” prior to a race. Ray Kuwick will provide information on his position as starter as well as the inner workings of the starting gate crew and the actual gate that the horses break from to begin their journey on a racetrack.
Guests of “Grand Mornings at the Track” will also take a look at several of the components of putting on a racing program, from the stewards stand to the brand new multi-million dollar audio visual department, which recently went through a transformation with updated equipment and video capabilities. Bill Jackson, manager of the audio visual department, will be on hand to provide information about the area.
The Indiana HBPA series is offered during the racing season each year on Saturday mornings. The purpose of the event is to grant guests an opportunity to see the inner workings of horse racing not readily available to the general public. The series is scheduled to return during the summer of 2019 during the racing season at Indiana Grand.
(from Indiana Grand news release)