College students filled the space between the regular attendees at Hoosier Park, a horse-racing arena in Anderson, on April 17. The free student night enticed more than 2,000 Ball State students to attend.
"We had a blast; once you got there, it was a Ball State event," junior Clayton Smith said. "We had a good time."
Prizes were raffled off, and the winners received $500 scholarships, computers, digital cameras, watches and golfing gift cards.
"I placed eight bets. I had no wins and lost $20, but I won a raffle and won a $250 watch," Smith said.
It may have been the first time at Hoosier Park for many students, but the Churchill Downs-owned racing venue has been around for nearly a decade.
As the seasons change, so do the racing styles. The spring is standardbred season, so the riders are pulled behind the horses in a cart. This varies drastically from thoroughbred season in the fall when the jockeys ride on the horses.
Throughout the student night, several students placed their first-ever racing bets to enhance the experience.
"Everyone told me that it's not that exciting unless you have a bet placed," freshman Christine Lindner said. "It's true. I was screaming."
Students took many factors into consideration while deciding how to place their bets.
"I chose based on horses' past statistics," Smith said.
While some people prefer strategy, it's not a necessity for Hoosier Park gambling. In fact, many students had a more lax approach to choosing a horse.
"I chose my horse by the name," Lindner said.
For one Ball State student, Hoosier Park is much more than a place to go to watch the races: it is a job. Senior Leigh Young is currently interning there in the marketing department of the park and is greatly enjoying the experience.
"The most fun thing about working there in the marketing department is the promotions we brainstorm and actually execute," Young said. "I get to give my input in the meetings, which is exciting. Our goal is to promote HP more efficiently on campus so that students realize what HP is and come out on the weekends."
In the past, country music legend George Strait has visited Hoosier Park and has had some of his horses race in the Indiana Derby. Soon, other celebrities will be making the voyage to the track.
On May 29, Rupert from the reality show "Survivor" will be on hand for Hoosier Cup Night. Actress Bo Derek will help the park celebrate its tenth anniversary in October.
Race fans in East Central Indiana can only hope that the next ten years at Hoosier Park will be just as enjoyable as the first ten...2."+â-Å{+â-ìN+â-ï-á[6+â-ÿ]+â-¦}+{Y^-¦+â-Åu5To'-¦+â-¦[+â+â-+/s+â-ú-¿?]^Xp+â-ú-¦'??+â-êi7s+â+â-ñ|1=+â-ï+â-¦+â-Ü--+â-¦*FC+â-ïf+â-ƒ-¦5+â-¿1ti=?%+â-èssn~fFx?'y*.+â-Ü+â-á+â-º+â-ä+â-ÿ+â-î>+â-¿i-ú++#+â-«?+â-è+â-è"N?>"k+â-î+âv+âc+â-¦-«)+â-+X> +â-¬+â-¿~-¦"""|*-++â-ü+â-+s-¦-¿+â-ª+â-¼n-¦-¦-¿]+â-ÿ'}+â-¢oo..."--oE+â-¿-+â-åL-ó™d+â-+y'~j ...+â-úy*-¦ 'F_hoosierpark_30DNEditorial..2+â-+%v2AUDT +â-ä+â-+\
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