Indianapolis, IN
Horseshoe Indianapolis Barn Notes: Bradshaw Gets First Win With “JJ” – The Pressbox


(“JJ” wins at Horseshoe Indianapolis with celebration / Photos by Coady Media)
From the Horseshoe Indianapolis Media Team / Tammy Knox:
Jailhouse Justice gives new owner Tony Bradshaw first Indiana win at Horseshoe Indianapolis
SHELBYVILLE, Ind. (Monday, June 10, 2024) – Horseplayer Tony Bradshaw finally saw his dream come to life Saturday, June 8 at Horseshoe Indianapolis. His horse, Jailhouse Justice, nicknamed “JJ,” scored a late running charge to the finish for his first win, giving Bradshaw a trackside view of the victory, his first in-person win as a Thoroughbred owner.
“This is a dream come true,” said the soft spoken Bradshaw following his win with “JJ.” “I’ve followed horse racing all the way back to when I was a kid, going to the track with my grandfather. This is a thrill to be in the winner’s circle.”
Bradshaw’s journey into Thoroughbred ownership started following his win in the 2022 Road to Louisville contest at Horseshoe Indianapolis. Part of his prize was the option to purchase an Indiana yearling from the ITOBA Fall Sale. Horseshoe Indianapolis partnered with the Indiana Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (ITOBA. As a result, Bradshaw received $30,000 toward the purchase and care of a horse he selected from the sale, a promotion that lasted through the 2023 racing season last fall.
Bradshaw chose Trainer Tony Granitz as his mentor and guide into Thoroughbred ownership. Granitz picked out several horses for Bradshaw at the sale, but “JJ” was the one Bradshaw had his eye on.
“I don’t know what there was about him, but he was my first pick,” said Bradshaw. “We waited on the Harry’s Holiday gelding, who sold later in the sale, and I was the winning bidder at $8,100.”
“JJ” made two starts at Horseshoe Indianapolis last season on the dirt course to no avail. It was determined the surface was the wrong choice for the horse.
“I love turf racing and that’s one of the reasons I chose Tony (Granitz) as my trainer, because he does really well on the turf,” said Bradshaw. “I never dreamed we would have a turf horse, but he has found his place now on the turf.”
“JJ” made his final start at Horseshoe Indianapolis last year on the turf with a good showing. It was the end of the promotion, but Bradshaw decided to stay in the business on his own with Granitz, who now shares ownership of the gelding.
Granitz headed to Tampa Bay for a final start last season, which was a win over the turf. However, Bradshaw was not in attendance so didn’t experience the thrill of seeing his horse win in person. “JJ” returned to Horseshoe Indianapolis and made his Indiana debut a winning one Saturday, June 8 with Andres Ulloa aboard in the $38,000 one mile turf for Indiana bred horses.
After following along near the back of the pack, “JJ” made up serious ground around the turn and was widest of all, heading to the finish line. He only had one horse to contend with at the finish line, another entrant from the Granitz barn, Humble Warrior ridden by Marcelino Pedroza Jr. “JJ” got the win by a head bob at the finish.
“I am thrilled,” added Bradshaw. “He (JJ) has a big following now. I get calls all the time about when he’s going to run next. My mom is more excited than I am, I think. She is constantly calling me asking for updates about ‘JJ’ and when he’s going to race. This has been an awesome experience.”
Bradshaw’s experience is going to move to the next level in his next start. “JJ” is pointing toward the $100,000 Snack Handicap set for Indiana Derby Day, a one mile Indiana sired and bred turf event.
“I told Tony (Bradshaw) if he ran well in this race, we’d bring him back for the Snack on Derby Day,” added Granitz. “He (JJ) earned his place in that race after his win today. The timing is just perfect too for his next start.”
No doubt Bradshaw will be trackside cheering on his turf contender in front of the biggest stage all season at Horseshoe Indianapolis. Indiana Derby Day will feature eight premier events with purses totaling more than $1.1 million, and the Snack is part of that lineup. The day will lead up to the 30thrunning of the Grade 3 $300,000 Indiana Derby, Indiana’s richest Thoroughbred race. First post for Saturday, July 6 for Indiana Derby Day is 12 p.m.
The 22nd season of live Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing extends through Thursday, Nov. 14. Racing is held Monday through Thursday at 2:10 p.m. All Quarter Horse dates are set for 10:45 a.m. Saturdays June 29, July 20, Aug. 10, Aug. 31, and Oct. 5. Indiana’s featured event, the Grade 3 $300,000 Indiana Derby is Saturday, July 6 with a first post time of 12 p.m. For more information on live racing at Horseshoe Indianapolis, visit www.caesars.com/horseshoe-indianapolis/racing or find the track on Social Media @HSIndyRacing.
Indianapolis, IN
Indianapolis Opera’s free concert spotlights influential Black composers
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — The Indianapolis Opera will host a free concert in honor of Black History Month Saturday night at 6 p.m. to celebrate the legacy and artistry of Black composers. The event features a range of spirituals, contemporary art songs, and operatic works performed a cappella.
Lyndsay Moy, the director of education, outreach, branding and design for Indianapolis Opera, said the event is designed to keep this specific music accessible to the public.
Resident artist Ian Williams, describes the concert as a mix of traditional repertoire and new songs. The artists will perform without microphones or instrumental accompaniment. “All of this is just straight out of our voices, so there’s no microphones,” Williams said. “We’re just creating the sound ourselves and putting it into a space, so it’s a little bit of, a little bit of breathing, a little bit of extra work there, yes.”
“So many composers tonight have been so influential in the broader vocal canon and it’s important and wonderful for us to be able to offer this kind of concert for free to our community to keep this kind of music accessible and more importantly to feature these fabulous artists like Ian so much talent,” Moy said.
Williams noted that the concert allows the organization to celebrate classic composers who were not well known during their own time. “It’s very cool because we get to celebrate some of classic composers all the way back to William Grant Steele, who was one of the who wrote operas back in the day, even during the time of Porgy and Bess, but he wasn’t, it wasn’t well known,” Williams said.
One of the featured pieces is the traditional spiritual “Fix Me Jesus,” which was arranged for the University of Michigan choir. Williams said the arrangement by Stacey Gibbs maintains the traditional spiritual style while adding rich harmonies.
While formal tickets for the event are currently sold out, those interested in attending can email tickets@indyopera.org to be added to a waitlist.
Check out the video above to hear a sneak peak of the Indianapolis Opera!
Indianapolis, IN
Highlights: Tri-West at Cardinal Ritter; February 27, 2026
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — “The Zone” featured highlights from eight high school boys basketball games from across central Indiana on Friday.
Watch highlights of Tri-West at Cardinal Ritter above.
Final Score: Tri-West 65 Cardinal Ritter 62
“The Zone” airs each Friday at 11:08 p.m. Click here to watch ‘The Zone’ for basketball highlights on February 27, 2026.
Indianapolis, IN
New bridge over 96th Street adds to Nickel Plate Trail connections
FISHERS, Ind. (WISH) — The Nickel Plate Trail pedestrian bridge over 96th Street is officially open.
It was being touted Friday as a major milestone for central Indiana’s growing trail system. The street is the Fishers-Indianapolis border.
Leaders called the project a critical connection point for the Nickel Plate Trail. The new bridge helps move the nearly 17-mile trail closer to its goal of connecting multiple counties through one continuous path.
The bridge also came with a 1.3-mile trail extension. A $4.5 million grant from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources made the bridge possible.
Dale Brier, deputy director of Indiana Department of Natural Resources, talked about the state’s Next Level Trails grant program. “Currently, we have 89 trail projects that that were funded with that money. Fifty-nine of those are complete. We’ve got 12 under construction. As of this opening, we have 167 miles of trail that have now been opened with that grant money.”
People who frequently take the trail for their daily exercises say they’re excited the bridge is finally open.
Alan Errichiello of the Fishers Running Club said, “Extending this down south into Indianapolis is a big game changer for us. It’ll add a lot of miles that we can easily get into.”
Resident Tracy Mundell said, “Trying to get to the other side was nearly impossible, so I think most people didn’t even attempt it. It’s going to be great, we can get over to the other side, and I’m anxious to see what’s over there.”
The final portion of the project, called the Clear Path project, remains under construction.
Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness, a Republican, said, “We need to double-down on that investment, and we know time and time again here in the city of Fishers that trail systems, the ability to get up and get out and get active, is such an important part in our culture of health, that an investment like this is critical.”
Once complete, local leaders say the goal is to provide a more safe and connected routes between Noblesville, Fishers, Indianapolis and other surrounding cities.
Resident Steve Mundell said, “It’s lovely. It’ll be real convenient to get across too.”
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