Here and There

Hoosier Park has introduced the official Indiana Derby Drink, the Derby Jack. The drink consists of pink lemonade mix, raspberry mix, and Mountain Dew along with Jack Daniels. It will be offered year round at the track and will be served in an Indiana Derby glass during Indiana Derby weekend. The $300,000 Indiana Oaks will be contested on Oct. 4 and the grade III Indiana Derby will be run the following night. Post time for both races will be 9:40 p.m. Also, as part of Indiana Derby weekend, Hoosier Park will offer a Jon Court Bobblehead to the first 2,500 fans in attendance. Court is a three-time leading rider at Hoosier Park and will be available for autographs and pictures on Oaks night. ...Hollywood Park was awarded the simulcast award for best simulcast production at the International Simulcast Conference, hosted by the Thoroughbred Racing Associations, Harness Tracks of America, American Quarter Horse Association, and in association with the American Greyhound Track Operators Association...Calder Race Course will once again present the "Retired Thoroughbred Ceremony" during the 11th annual Festival of the Sun on Oct. 12. The ceremony celebrates the "second lives" of Thoroughbreds and demonstrates that many racehorses go on to different career. The poster horse for this year's ceremony is 10-year-old El Gran Fernando, who raced exclusively in South Florida. El Gran Fernando raced 51 times with a record of 7-4-9 for earnings of $167,795. El Gran Fernando now resides on a farm where he takes hunter/jumper classes for Raina Gunderson, guest relations manager at Calder and horsemen's liaison at Gulfstream.