Indiana Downs Racecourse
Indiana Downs Racecourse is a 152-acre horse and harness racing property in Shelbyville, Indiana with a one-mile main track and a seven furlong turf track. Shelbyville is located 15 miles from the city of Indianapolis, and the track is situated at the intersection of I-74 and Fairland Road (Exit 109).
Indiana Downs Racecourse features thoroughbred, quarter horse and standardbred racing. Thoroughbreds usually race from April to May/June while harness racing is typically run from June/July to October.
Since opening in 2002, Indiana Downs Racecourse has hosted some of the state’s major stakes events, including the Indiana First Lady Stakes, the Governor’s Stakes, the Checkered Flag Stakes, the Shelby County Stakes, the William Henry Harrison Stakes and the Oliver Stakes.
Indiana Downs Racecourse currently has two satellite wagering facilities: one in Evansville, which opened in February 2003; and another in Clarksville which opened in March 2004.
Indiana Downs Racecourse is about 42 miles from Hoosier Park. Together, these two tracks contribute to the development of the horseracing industry of the state. Shelby County was selected to be the site of Indiana’s second horse track due to its sufficient population, direct interstate access, and welcoming community.
Following a series of major changes in ownership and structure, the venue shifted permanently away from standardbred harness racing to focus exclusively on thoroughbred and quarter horse meets, while its sister track, Hoosier Park, absorbed all harness racing operations. In 2014, the facility integrated its track and casino operations under the unified name Indiana Grand Racing & Casino. Caesars Entertainment acquired the property in 2018 and subsequently initiated a major expansion, adding thousands of square feet of gaming space alongside a dedicated World Series of Poker Room. The historic facility completed a massive corporate rebranding, officially changing its name to Horseshoe Indianapolis.
Indiana Downs Racecourse Facts
- Track Opened: December 6, 2002
- Speed Ratings: 1:59.2
- Length of Stretch: 900 feet
- Width of Homestretch: 80 feet
- Starters Behind the Gate: 9
- Hubrail: No
- "Open" Stretch: No
- General Admission: Free
- General Parking: Free
- Grandstand Capacity: 1,200
- Clubhouse Capacity: 400
- Parking Capacity: 1,700
Indiana Downs Racecourse History
2000 - In August, developer Paul Estridge Sr.'s proposal to build a standard bred track in Lawrence, Indiana was rejected by a 4 to 1 vote by the Indiana Horseracing Commission. They had decided that Lawrence was too close to the Anderson, Indiana where Hoosier Park is located. Hoosier Park was Indiana’s sole pari-mutuel track.
2001 - On May 30, the Indiana Horseracing Commission voted 4-0 to grant a license to the Estridge group to build a new track in Shelby County, instead of Lawrence. This ended Hoosier Park’s seven-year reign as the state’s only pari-mutuel track. Construction of Indianapolis Downs (later renamed Indiana Downs Racecourse) commenced shortly thereafter.
2002 - On December 6, Indiana Downs Racecourse opened in Shelbyville, Indiana. The first race ever held at the new track was won by Crosswind.
2007 – In April, a pivotal gaming bill passed by the Indiana General Assembly authorized up to 2,000 slot machines for each of the state's two racetracks. This monumental legislative change set the stage for Indiana Downs to evolve into a lucrative "racino."
2009 – On March 13, the property debuted its massive $250 million casino expansion right next to the racetrack. Originally operating under the name Indiana Live! Casino, the venue was later rebranded as Indiana Grand Casino.
2011 – The facility entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection to restructure its finances following rapid expansion. Despite the financial reorganization, both the racing calendar and casino operations continued running without interruption.
2013 – Centaur Gaming acquired the entire complex in February, uniting the operations under the new banner of Indiana Grand Racing & Casino. Following this acquisition, the Indiana Horse Racing Commission realigned the state's racing ecosystem: Indiana Grand was designated as the exclusive home for Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing, while Hoosier Park shifted solely to Standardbred (harness) racing.
2018 – Corporate gaming giant Caesars Entertainment purchased Centaur Gaming in a massive $1.7 billion deal. This acquisition placed the Shelbyville destination into a national portfolio and connected it to the popular Caesars Rewards loyalty program.
2022 – In late January, Caesars wrapped up a major $33.7 million expansion and officially rebranded the venue as Horseshoe Indianapolis. The upgrade injected 25,000 square feet of fresh gaming space, live dealer table games, and a premier 20-table World Series of Poker Room.
2026 – Now thriving as Horseshoe Indianapolis, the complex stands as Indiana's crown jewel for Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing. The venue continues to attract national attention, anchoring its calendar with the prestigious Grade 3 Indiana Derby alongside a record-setting schedule of Quarter Horse stakes.
Indiana Downs Thoroughbred Track Records
| Distance | Track Surface | Horse | Time | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 1/16 Miles (8.5f) | Main Dirt | Tip Top Thomas | 1:41.15 | July 5, 2025 |
| 6 Furlongs | Main Dirt | In the Wind | 1:08.23 | Aug. 14, 2012 |
| 5 Furlongs | Turf | Unbridled Note | 0:54.68 | May 24, 2014 |
| 1 Mile | Turf | Early Pioneer | 1:33.40 | June 18, 2010 |
Indiana Downs Quarter Horse Track Records
| Distance | Track Surface | Horse | Time | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 400 Yards | Dirt Straightaway | Whasup | :19.340 | Oct. 24, 2020 |
| 350 Yards | Dirt Straightaway | Pistolpackingpenny | :17.112 | Aug. 11, 2018 |
| 300 Yards | Dirt Straightaway | Beach Cartel | :15.086 | July 2, 2016 |