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Horseshoe Indianapolis

Ground was officially broken Wednesday for a new community center at Horseshoe Indianapolis. The structure, which will top $1.4 million, will provide new work and gathering spaces for the individuals who live and work on the backstretch at the track.

“We are so proud to officially begin this project,” said Eric Halstrom, vice president and general manager of racing. “When Caesars Entertainment came into this facility five years ago, they developed a racing capital fund advisory committee for projects such as this over the span of 10 years. We have completed 30 projects with the funds, including a new barn, new dormitory, new Equicizer and just last year, a new awning on the grandstand. This community center falls right in line with our vision of providing necessary space, support and comfort for the hard-working people that are the engine of our racing operations.”

Halstrom was joined for the groundbreaking by Joe Davis, president of the Indiana Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association; chaplains Micki Sajche and Otto Thorwarth; Tim Glyshaw, executive eirector of the HBPA; and Chris Duke, president of the Quarter Horse Racing Association of Indiana and owner of Elite, the company handling the construction project. Also, Brian Elmore, former executive director of the Indiana HBPA, was on hand to officially kick off the development.

“This is a big deal for our backside community,” Davis said. “This area will be really appreciated by our people to actually have a chapel and meeting space for things such as our Christmas party. I want to thank Brian Elmore, Eric Halstrom and Joe Morris for pushing this along with the (Indiana Horse Racing) Commission. It was an uphill fight the whole way. You guys did a great job getting this through.”

The space will be used by people who work with both breeds at Horseshoe Indianapolis, including the quarter-horse community, which continues to grow.

“In the last two years, quarter horses have been able to train and stable here year round, so we have a lot of more full-time residents here,” Duke said. “This community center will be a special opportunity for them to enjoy and get a lot out of this building. Weather permitting, we plan to start working on the driveway later this week and hope to have a grand opening this fall.”

The facility will have four offices, two meeting rooms, a recreation area, chapel and kitchen in the approximately 7,000-square-foot space. Offices will be provided for the HBPA and QHRAI as well as the chaplains, who currently are housed in a single-wide trailer on the backstretch.

“It’s going to be a great addition, not just the chapel, but for us to be able to do more things with the people who are living on the backside,” said Thorwarth, who represents both HBPA and QHRAI as a Chaplain. “We plan to have language classes, English to Spanish and Spanish to English, and hope to have events such as movie nights, game nights and just give the people here some options. As everyone knows we are two exits from town, so it will be nice for them to have their own church to go into rather than our current meeting space in the trailer.”

Duke and Halstrom met numerous times with city officials to secure permits and zoning for the structure. Duke noted the great cooperation and assistance the city of Shelbyville provided in this project.

“I want to thank the city of Shelbyville for being so easy to work with on this project,” added Duke. “Some cities are not like that. We appreciate their efforts in bringing this project to the community.”

The 23rd season of live Thoroughbred and quarter-horse racing returns April 15.