Hooser Park Begins Casino Work

October 18, 2007



Hoosier Park has broken ground on a 92,000-square-foot casino building.

"This is the start to a new beginning, and it also represents the connection between horse racing and gaming," Rick Moore, general manager of racing for Hoosier Park, said during the groundbreaking ceremony Tuesday.

The Indiana General Assembly approved a bill in April authorizing slot machines at Indiana's two pari-mutuel horse racing tracks, Hoosier Park in Anderson and Indiana Downs in Shelbyville.

The $30 million Hoosier Park expansion is scheduled to be completed by June. The track's grandstand building is also being remodeled. Officials say the addition of slot machines could bring up to 500 additional jobs to Hoosier Park about 25 miles northeast of Indianapolis.

Indiana Downs plans to build its casino development along Interstate 74 in phases, completing it by late 2008 or early 2009.