Horseshoe Indianapolis will offer 123 days of live racing from Tuesday, April 7 through Friday, November 13, 2026. The mixed-meet schedule includes:
This represents a consistent approach, with the track having only deviated from this 123-day schedule once in 2024 when they added a 124th racing date to coincide with the total solar eclipse.
Notable Changes and Challenges
Indiana Derby Scheduling
The track faced a scheduling dilemma with their signature Grade III Indiana Derby, which typically runs on the first Saturday of July. Since July 4, 2026 falls on a Saturday, track management decided to move the race to July 11 to avoid competing with Independence Day celebrations. This decision reflects the race’s growing popularity, with handle increasing from “a shade over $4 million” in 2019 to “approaching $10 million” in 2025.
HISA Impact
General Manager Eric Halstrom noted that maintaining 123 racing days required significant effort due to HISA fees estimated at approximately $3.5 million for 2026, with half of that amount coming directly from the purse fund. The track worked closely with horsemen to restructure the calendar while preserving competitive purse levels.
