Share this article

POST AUTHOR | POST PUBLISH DATE

ISA Board of Directors hold March meeting

The Indiana Standardbred Association (ISA) held its third meeting of 2026 Monday, March 2 at the ISA Offices in Greenfield. President John DeLong called the meeting to order before going through the agenda that included committee reports, approval of minutes, and an update from the recent legislative session that concluded last week.


One of the first committees reported was the breeders, owners, sales category. Jamie Macomber explained the recent change made by the Indiana Standardbred Breed Development, tweaking the verbiage to Indiana Sired only and dropping Indiana Sired and Bred (ISB). This affects listings for the sales catalogs. Breed Development will now only list foals as Indiana Sired beginning for horses born in 2025. The board agreed to follow suit with the state altered rule and will allow all Indiana Sired foals beginning in 2027 to compete in the Elite Series, as long as they meet all eligibility requirements for starts on the ISFC. Jessica Barnes recently reiterated that breeders of horses born outside of Indiana will not be eligible for breeders’ awards. Only horses born in the state of Indiana will be eligible for breeders’ awards.


Doug Rideout reported on the Indiana Sired Fair Circuit (ISFC) and brought a proposal to the board for approval to hire James Witherite of Michigan to provide videography for all ISFC stops this summer. Witherite has also noted he will combine race days for viewing when two fairs are running simultaneously and will also offer commercial time between races. The board approved the proposal and also established guidelines for commercial time, which was set at $500 per season for a 30-second commercial or $250 for the season for a still spot. Anyone interested in advertising on the livestream for the ISFC should contact Tony Renz at the ISA.

Renz also asked for approval to purchase yard signs again for the ISFC, an endeavor that is in partnership with Breed Development. The yard signs have provided local advertisement for the racing programs at each of the stops on the ISFC.


Carrie Hollman provided samples of toboggans and caps that will be provided this season. Toboggans will be passed out soon in the paddock at Harrah’s Hoosier Park. Hollman also reported the ISA currently has more than 400 members as memberships are coming in strong right now because the new year began March 1.

Rhys Helt gave an update on the potential of placing membership opportunities online. He is checking into the service, Stripe, which is cheaper than both Venmo or PayPal. A small fee would be required by members applying and renewing online. He will continue to investigate the opportunity for ISA.

Executive Director Renz received approval for sponsorship of the FFA Booth at the National FFA Convention in the fall. The booth will once again be in partnership with the Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association, Harness Horse Youth Foundation, and the U S Trotting Association. Booth space has increased, so they plan to downsize on the size of the booth to offset the cost increase.


Renz also noted the ISA Golf Outing is set for Monday, June 1 beginning at 1 p.m. at Grandview Golf Course in Anderson. Lunch begins at 12 p.m. and the cost per golfer has gone up to $30 per person. The board approved the cost up to 60 golfers for the event, which they co-sponsor with Harrah’s Hoosier Park.

Because the ISA Golf Outing is set for the first Monday of June, the ISA meeting has been moved to the following Monday, June 8. In addition, the ISA Meetings for July and August have also been moved to the second Monday of the month due to ISFC racing. July’s meeting is set for July 13 while August’s meeting is set for August 10.


President DeLong suggested the possibility of purchasing Meta glasses, which could be worn by various participants to secure video for various social media and video outlets. Renz plans to research the item and come back to the board in April for exact costs and options.

Adam Kallick and Matt Norris provided a look at the recent legislative session, which was completed last week. President DeLong noted his appreciation for the recognition horse racing got during the session as well as the new people they connected with at the statehouse. He noted racing is mentioned in all the right spots moving forward.


Kallick added in the big picture racing is on the forefront of everyone’s mind. The group hopes to assemble another legislative day in 2026 at one of the area farms to give those in the statehouse an inside look into racing and its impact on the state. Norris concluded with explaining next year is a budget year and will be more robust with gaming discussion as a result.


Renz thanked Kallick, Norris, and Mike McDaniel for their hard work for the ISA during the legislative session, noting the long hours each of them spent representing racing and keeping the ISA informed.

President DeLong gave a report on the purse account at Harrah’s Hoosier Park, showing the account is better in comparison to 2025. He also noted some purse increases in targeted races and says other conditions could see an increase as well. He also received a report from Gabe Prewitt with details on the cancellation of racing Friday, February 27 due to a malfunction of equipment in the audio visual department with sending out the signal. The track is working on repairs and replacement of equipment before racing resumes Thursday, March 5. DeLong also explained per the contract with Hoosier Park, each horse who was scheduled to race, and did not scratch, received $300 following the cancellation after Race 6 last Friday. The remainder of the purse money goes back into the account.


Jay Hochstetler noted the new Website is nearly ready to go. Renz added John Adamsky is adjusting a few options for the mobile option of the website and hopes to have everything ready to go in the next few weeks.

The meeting concluded with showing the recent video done by Hoosier Park for the presentation to the Hambletonian Society to get the Hambletonian for a three-year-commitment beginning in 2027. The Society is set to meet in Florida in March.



President DeLong adjourned the meeting. The next meeting for the ISA Board of Directors is set for Monday, April 6 at the ISA Offices in Greenfield.


Recent Posts

By Tammy Knox August 5, 2026
This is a subtitle for your new post
By Tammy Knox August 4, 2026
Canipilotall and Clint Coy are joined by the Hollman's following the filly's win to continue to lead the standings in three-year-old filly trotting action on the ISFC. Canipilotall and Clint Coy picked up another win on the Indiana Sired Fair Circuit (ISFC) Monday, August 3 in the 12 th of 14 preliminary rounds leading up to the Governor’s Cup Championships at the Indiana State Fairgrounds later in the month. It was the second straight win and seventh of 11 this season with Coy picking up his third of four wins on the day at the Miami County Fairgrounds in Converse. Canipilotall was in full flight when the gate opened and sprinted out to the early lead, joined by Help N Beauty and Kevin Detweiler on the inside. Help N Beauty pinned her ears and was all business around the first turn, keeping Canipilotall to the outside heading to the quarter in :29.1. Canipilotall then backed off as Help N Beauty led the way to the half in 1:00.2. Canipilotall tried her again heading into the third turn and finally got the lead coming out of that turn. A third quarter recorded in :28 seconds kept the tempo lively for the second half. In the final turn, Canipilotall had picked up a five-length advantage as Herwish and Doug Rideout began to close the gap. In the lane, Canipilotall dug in gamely and was able to keep Herwish from passing her for the win by one and one-quarter lengths in 2:00.0. Odiles Farewell and Kevin Lambright finished third. Canipilotall, a three-year-old daughter of Pilot Discretion, is owned by Duane Hollman and trained by Carrie Hollman. She was bred and raised by Glen Hershberger. She now has seven wins on the year and 10 overall for the Hollmans with earnings in excess of $30,000. She has not finished worse than third all season and leads the standings for three-year-old filly trotters on the ISFC with six wins on the circuit and 397 total points. Topville Ideal, also a winner on the day, is currently in second place in the standings with a total of 360 points. Coy’s final win on the day was with another product of Pilot Discretion as One Mike Out scored a gate to wire win in the three-year-old trotting colt and gelding division. The gelding trotted home in :28.4 to win by three and three-quarter lengths in 2:01.2. Don’t Tell Anyone and Kevin Detweiler finished second over Dojea Carter and Matt Rheinheimer for third. One Mike Out, purchased from the Hoosier Classic Yearling Sale for $14,000, is owned by Julie Rideout, Coy, and John Lewellen. Doug Rideout trains the sophomore, who was bred and raised by Nissley Stables. It was his fifth win in six starts on the ISFC this season, maintaining fourth in the standings behind Don’t Tell Anyone, who has 330 points. Great Commission is ranked second with 278 points followed by Don’t Keep Secrets, also a winner Monday at Converse with a tally of 291. One Mike Out is fourth with 281 points and will need one more start to achieve the seven-start minimum to advance to the Governor’s Cup Championships. The ISFC is back in action at Converse Tuesday, August 4 with the second session. The series moves to Portland Saturday, August 8 followed by the final round at the Clinton County Fairgrounds August 15 to prep for the Governor’s Cup Consolations and Championships at the Indiana State Fairgrounds.
By Tammy Knox August 3, 2026
Elphaba and Rick Magee overtake stablemate Too Much in the stretch for her first win in her first pari-mutuel start Sunday, Aug. 2 at Running Aces. Elphaba and Rick Magee turned in a wicked mile Sunday, August 2 to score their first win in the $5,000 Maiden conditioned event at Running Aces. It was the first race for the Indiana filly, who scored the victory in 1:56.3. Starting from post two, Elphaba was the heavy favorite, coming into her first pari-mutuel race off a Time Bar race in Wisconsin at the Mineral Point Matinee for Gabe Wand, who is part owner. She then transferred to the Quentin Schneider bar and won her qualifier in 1:58.3 by 13 lengths. Therefore, she was the tagged favorite of the field. Elphaba rallied out from the inside and got the first call out of the gate, but was quickly overtaken by Charlotto Jo and Nick Roland, who led the field through the quarter in :28.4. Too Much and Brady Jenson kept rolling on the outside of Elphaba. Charlotto Jo gapped off the inside slightly and Elphaba tried to move up the inside before Magee grabbed her up to keep her in place. Too Much finally got the lead heading into the second turn and passed by the half in :58.1. As the final turn approached, Elphaba was out and rolling, moving up to match strides with her stablemate Too Much in the final turn. At the head of the lane, the fillies fought off one another until Elphaba got the edge, moving out to a two and three-quarter length win at the wire with a final panel paced in :29.1. Too Much was second by a nose over Brandyoldfashioned and Casy Leonard. Elphaba paid $2.60 for the win. The Best in Show three-year-old is owned by Gabe Wand and Robert Wand and is part of the Quentin Schneider barn. She was bred by Nathan Miller of Middlebury, Ind. and was purchased by the Wands from the first crop of Best in Show under the name JN Wild Show at the Midwest Classic Mixed Sale for $6,500. She is a half sister to several solid racehorses, including Odds on Alpha Male, a winner in 1:50.3 with nearly $300,000 in earnings and still counting. Wand is very active on the Wisconsin harness racing circuit. He serves as a director for the state’s organization and has assisted with several youth events in that area. He has a small stable annually that races mainly on the Wisconsin fair circuit and the Chicago tracks and now at Running Aces. He has won several Driver of the Year titles in his home state and is the longtime packaging manager at Prairie Farms. He was also inducted into the Wisconsin Harness Horse Association Hall of Fame in 2021. He also serves as a director for his region with the U.S. Trotting Association. Wand is a big fan of Broadway and named the Indiana filly after a character in Wicked, played by Cynthia Erivo in the blockbuster movie.
By Tammy Knox August 2, 2026
This is a subtitle for your new post
By Tammy Knox August 1, 2026
Dandy's Litl Bro and Atlee Bender slide by on the outside for the win in the final step, Friday, July 31 at Harrah's Hoosier Park. Photo by Dean Gillette  Dandy’s Litl Bro and Atlee Bender kept up the family tradition Friday, July 31 to close out the month of racing with a win in the $16,000 Indiana Sires Stakes eligibles event for two-year-old trotting colts and geldings. The youngster earned his first win in his fourth start in the event in a time of 1:57.1. Dandy’s Litl Bro was gapping off the gate at the start and slowly moved over to the inside, getting away next to last as Royal Rebuff and Marcus Miller moved out to take the early lead at the quarter in :29.0. Maxximillion and John DeLong moved out and to the lead before the half in :58.4 to keep the tempo brisk for the group of six freshman trotters. Heading into the final turn, Bender moved Dandy’s Litl Bro to the outside and was in third place on the outside before Royal Rebuff moved back out heading into the stretch. Dandy’s Litl Bro was widest of all and there were four horses across the track midway through the lane. Rollin Giannis and Trace Tetrick were between horses and also moving swiftly to the wire. Dandy’s Litl Bro got the edge in the last step, winning by a nose over Rollin Giannis. Maxximillion held his ground inside for third. Dandy’s Litl Bro paid $9.00 for the win. The Rebuff gelding is owned by Ervin Miller Stable and Red Barn Stable. Homestead Acres bred the two-year-old, who is trained by Erv Miller. He is a half brother to the standout three-year-old trotter Dan D Man Can, who picked up a new lifetime mark earlier this year of 1:52.4 and has more than $339,000 on his card and counting. Dandy’s Litl Bro sold as a ridgling last fall in the Midwest Standardbred Horse Sale under the name Melamaster. Bob Black signed the ticket for the horse for $13,000 and he joined the Erv Miller Stable, who also campaigns Dan D Man Can. So far, the older son of the mare Caramela Hanover is a perfect seven for seven for the Miller barn and scored his latest win the night before in Indiana Sires Stakes action. While the youngsters were in the spotlight, one older veteran scored a win on the Friday program with Shamwow and Trace Tetrick earning a gate to wire win in the upper conditioned pace. Trained by Walter Haynes Jr., Shamwow was a winner by four and a quarter lengths in 1:49.0, a final panel paced in :27.1. Howard Hughes N and Marcus Miller finished second with ER Rambo and Kevin Lambright rounding out the trifecta. Shamwow, now 10, paid $7.40 for the win. He is owned by Jeff Fought Racing and was a homebred for Fought from his Cornerstone Stock Farm. The Always a Virgin gelding now has 25 career wins and more than $538,000 on his card. He has paced under the 1:50 time barrier several times, but his win Friday was a new lifetime mark for the veteran.
By Tammy Knox July 31, 2026
Photo of Brookview Glider and Jordan Ross by Dean Gillette It’s been a big year for Brookview Farm as many of their horses have earned a lot of wins. One more of the horses from their farm has now stepped up his game as Brookview Glider and Jordan Ross turned into a flying machine Thursday, July 30 at Harrah’s Hoosier Park. Starting from post eight didn’t deter Brookview Glider from leaving the gate with speed, settling in third as King Tellit and Jay Cross held down the top spot through the quarter in :26.4. The field remained in single file through the half in :56.1 before the pace picked up in the final turn. King Tellit had a couple lengths on the field heading into the stretch. In the lane, Ross found the room he needed to scoot Brookview Glider out and advance, getting the to wire just in time for the win by a neck over King Tellit. Brookview Glider paced home in :26.2 for the win in 1:51.0, a new lifetime mark. Rock My Memory and LeWayne Miller finished third. Brookview Glider paid $48.80 for the win. The three-year-old son of Rockin Image is owned by Brian Code, James Nellinger, and Ernie Gaskin Stables. Gaskin trains the gelding, who now has four wins in 2026. After not winning as a two-year-old, he has come to life this year, earning more than half of his $80,000 bankroll. Gaskin signed the ticket for Brookview Glider at the Hoosier Classic Yearling Sale for $23,000. He is the first foal of the Captaintreacherous mare Significant Other, who raced in Pennsylvania before becoming a brood mare. She is a half sister to the tough racehorse Bettor Again, a winner in 1:48.2 with more than $350,000 in earnings. Earlier in the card, veteran trotter Meadowbrook Mark moved out in the lane and scored a victory in 1:55.0 in claiming action. The seven-year-old son of Dover Dan was driven to victory by Atlee Bender for Trainer Nikki Hauck. The gelding paid $9.40 for the win with Jailhouse Dance and Marcus Miller finishing second over Rock Party and John DeLong for third. Meadowbrook Mark is owned by Haucks Racing Stables and was bred by Karl Miller. He now has 16 career wins with his best time of 1:54.3 taken as a five-year-old. Overall, he has earned more than $140,000.
By Tammy Knox July 30, 2026
PHOTO - Kevin Detweiler guides Brookview Holiday to victory, one of eight wins on the card Wednesday, July 29 at the Fayette County Fairgrounds to sweep the day's races on the ISFC. There isn’t 100 percent certainty, but the number of drivers who have swept an entire racing program in horse racing history is pretty low. Kevin Detweiler did just that Wednesday, July 29 at the Fayette County Fairgrounds when he guided winners in all eight races. The program was postponed from the previous day due to weather and track conditions, but the 18-year-old Detweiler was ready for action when the program began in Connersville. Detweiler’s first win was his closest. Guiding two-year-old trotting filly Sassytemper, the duo went straight to the lead from the start, fending off Mike Peterson and Misty Springs in the final strides for the win by a neck in 2:05.4. Wizards Temptation and Robert Taylor finished third. Sassytemper, a daughter of Temporal Hanover, is owned and trained by Joseph Wagler. She was bred by Gary Miller. The win was her sixth in nine starts this year. She leads the way among freshman trotting fillies by points in the Quest for the Governor’s Cup. Detweiler’s next win was in the two-year-old colt and gelding trot as Brookview Holiday, also the leader on the ISFC this season, got back on track with a win. The Temporal Hanover gelding, also owned and trained by Wagler of Milroy, Ind., had to delay a push to the top with a second tier start. After getting away third, he rolled to the outside heading to the three-quarter pole and took over around the final turn, picking up the win by two and one-half lengths in 2:08.3 over the good track. Impel Dan and Robert Taylor finished second with Keep It Fifty and Travis Williams finishing third. Brookview Holiday, a product of Brookview Farms, has been driven by Detweiler in all of his starts. His quickest win was at Frankfort this summer in 2:04.1. Other wins on the card for Detweiler were Bests Swans Rocker in two-year-old colt/gelding trotting action, Rita’s Girl and Velgetthisstraight in three-year-old filly pacing action, and Vel Im Good, Vel Big Shocker, and Vel See You Later in three-year-old colt and gelding pacing action. Ironically, trainer Joseph Wagler won the first four races with Larry King winning the last four. This is the second year of driving for Detweiler, who hails from Milroy, Ind. He won 35 races last year from 237 starts mainly on the ISFC. He earned his first career pari-mutuel win earlier this year before the ISFC got underway. To date, Detweiler has 69 wins in 2026 with a tally of 104 career wins from 503 starts. This season has been a breakout year for the young driver as he’s batting .439 as a driver in 2026. The ISFC heads back to Converse next week for two straight days with racing set for Saturday, August 8 at Portland. One more stop is slated on the ISFC before the finalists in the Governor’s Cup Championships at the Indiana State Fair. All ISFC contenders are required to have seven starts to advance to the $25,000 Championships. The top eight will compete in the championships while the next eight will race in the $10,000 consolations.
By Tammy Knox July 29, 2026
This is a subtitle for your new post
By Tammy Knox July 28, 2026
After experiencing her first loss in her last start on the Indiana Sired Fair Circuit, Bella Notte and trainer-driver Joe Putnam were back on track Monday, July 27 at the Fayette County Fairgrounds in Connersville, Ind. The freshman pacing filly kicked off the 12 th session of the ISFC with a win. Bella Notte began from post three in the six-filly lineup and Putnam took his time with the homebred filly. They got away in third but were gapping by several lengths off the top two with Velmissfoxyshooter and Clint Coy leading the way to the quarter in :30.0 followed closely by Kobe’s BB and Kevin Detweiler. As the field passed by the grandstand for the first time, Bella Notte had caught up to the leaders and moved to the outside at the half in 1:02.2. At this point, she challenged Velmissfoxyshooter on the outside for the remainder of the race. Velmissfoxyshooter was not going away quietly, but Bella Notte kept her composure and stayed focus through the final turn before finally taking over. Once on the lead, she pulled away for the win by two lengths in 2:01.3, a final quarter in :29.1. Kobe’s BB finished second over Velmissfoxyshooter. Bella Notte is now six for seven in her young career. The daughter of Capt Midnight is owned by Joey Putnam and Lyndar Stables. Lyndar Stables and Rocco Ruffolo bred the filly, who is out of Putnam’s race mare U’ll Learn, who was one of the first horses Joey Putnam drove when he began his driving career. The younger Putnam, who has driven her to four of her wins, was in Kentucky driving for the day, so Joe Putnam took the driving duties and is now two for two behind the filly. She retook control of the leaderboard headed to the Governor’s Cup Championships with 307 points. Her career best time of 1:59.0 was taken at Frankfort in early July. One of the closest finishes on the day was recorded in a division of the three-year-old trotting fillies as Strong ABC and Michael Detweiler fended off KC Macy and Kevin Detweiler at the finish line. Strong ABC led the field gate to wire in the win by a nose over KC Macy in 2:07.4. Bluebird Sappy and Mike Peterson finished third. Strong ABC is trained and leased by William Wagler. Darrell Swartzentruber bred the Strong Opponent three-year-old filly, who earned her second win of 2026. Michael Detweiler was a late driver change on the filly and he is now two for two on the ISFC with her this season. The ISFC is split into two locations Tuesday, July 28 with a return to the Fayette County Fairgrounds for action along with a second session scheduled for the Elkhart County Fairgrounds in Goshen, Ind. The Fayette County Fairgrounds has eight races slated with the Elkhart County Fairgrounds showcasing 12 on their card. Both programs begin at 11 a.m.
By Tammy Knox July 27, 2026
Jacob Rheinheimer and Joe Morris present a check To Jennifer Daniels of the Standardbred Transition Alliance for money raised from Empire of Hope. Photo by Dean Gillette Harrah’s Hoosier Park held its annual Empire of Hope Saturday, July 25 to raise funding and awareness for racehorse aftercare initiatives. With several stations in play for the night, more than $50,000 was raised and presented to Jennifer Daniels of Standardbred Transition Alliance (STA). The day began with a rummage sale on the backside with various items for sale. The Horseshoe Café offered Lemon Shakeups with all proceeds to STA while a silent auction was held on handmade wooden planters. Rides around the racetrack were provided by several of the horsemen at Harrah’s Hoosier Park for a small fee earmarked to STA and T-shirts were on sale. Other fundraising activities included Give $5, Get $5 with patrons receiving $5 in play for their $5 donation. Joe Morris, Senior Vice President of Racing for Caesars Entertainment, was trackside to make the presentation to Daniels with a check for $50,843.00 from Empire of Hope. The event also included food trucks, vendor market, mystery vouchers, and kids’ activities. The Casino floor also offered Reins to the Road with patrons entering a chance to win several big items, including a golf cart and zero turn mower.
Show More