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Indiana bids to host Hambletonian Stakes at Hoosier Park

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Indiana bids to host Hambletonian Stakes at Hoosier Park


INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Indiana Horse Racing Commission has positioned Harrah’s Hoosier Park in Anderson to host the Hambletonian Stakes as soon as 2027 for a three-year commitment.

Touted as one of the most prestigious events in global harness racing, the Hambletonian has been run in New Jersey’s Meadowlands Racetrack for 43 consecutive years. The Hambletonian Society for at least a few months has been considering a venue change, the Indiana commission said in a news release issued Thursday, adding that the group has not yet announced a timeline for a selection.

The plans call for a partnership between the Indiana Horse Racing Commission, the Indiana Standardbred Association, and Hoosier Park operator Caesars Entertainment.

Hoosier Park, a parimutuel racetrack that includes slot machines, opened in June 2008, after the Indiana legislature agreed to allow such facilities a year earlier. Tom Reeg, the CEO of Caesars Entertainment, said in the release that Caesars is prepared to invest in the facility to help deliver a world-class event.

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The race is for 3-year-old Standardbred fillies competing at a trot. From the 2025 purse of $1 million, $500,000 went to the winner of the final. The Aug. 2 event drew 17,969 people, up about 1,200 people from a year earlier, online reports show. Wagering for the 2025 race totaled $7.64 million in North America.

From a field of more than 20 horses, Nordic Catcher S, driven and trained by Åke Svanstedt, won the 100th edition of the race by 1-1/4 lengths.

The race generally airs on a nationally available broadcast.

The Hambletonian Stakes race, which began in 1926 in Syracuse, New York, spent its first five decades in Lexington, Kentucky; Goshen, New York; and the Illinois State Fair in Du Quoin, Illinois.

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Fernando Mendoza, citing Raiders obligations, misses Indiana’s White House visit

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Fernando Mendoza, citing Raiders obligations, misses Indiana’s White House visit


Fernando Mendoza did not attend Indiana University’s visit to the White House commemorating the Hoosiers’ college football national championship on Monday. The Las Vegas Raiders quarterback said earlier this month that he would not attend if it interfered with any activities with his new team.

“I’m on the bottom of the totem pole here,” Mendoza said following a rookie minicamp practice. “I got to prove myself. I can’t miss practice. I don’t know anything official. I don’t have the calendar, but I just wouldn’t. As a rookie, I don’t think that’s a good look, and I want to try to best serve my teammates. And I don’t know if that’d be accomplishing that goal.”

According to the team’s official offseason schedule, the Raiders did not have any formal practices or workouts on Monday. The team’s next organized activity is May 18, its first OTA workout.

“Fernando couldn’t be here today because, as I said, he’s now a member of the Las Vegas Raiders,” President Donald Trump said in his address. “Let’s see how good of a team they have, and I think he’s gonna do great. He’s a winner.”

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Mendoza wasn’t the only absence. Center Pat Coogan and cornerback D’Angelo Ponds were among the other Hoosiers not in attendance for the event due to NFL obligations. Indiana had a program-record eight players selected in April’s NFL Draft.

Trump highlighted Mendoza’s accomplishments and contributions to the school’s first football national title. He celebrated Mendoza as Indiana’s inaugural Heisman Trophy winner and praised his fourth-quarter touchdown run in the championship game against Miami.

“He’s gonna be a good one,” Trump said.

Indiana was well-represented by returning members of the team. Charlie Becker, one of Mendoza’s go-to receivers during the College Football Playoffs, and Jamari Sharpe, whose late interception secured the title-game victory, both spoke on behalf of the school, as did head coach Curt Cignetti.

Mendoza is one of four members of the national champion Hoosiers who joined the Raiders this offseason. Running back Roman Hemby and wide receiver E.J. Williams Jr. signed as undrafted free agents in the days following the draft. Wide receiver Jonathan Brady earned a contract after impressing as a tryout player during rookie minicamp.

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Suspect in custody after Muncie triple shooting leaves 1 woman dead, 2 men injured

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Suspect in custody after Muncie triple shooting leaves 1 woman dead, 2 men injured


MUNCIE, Ind. (WISH) — Police are investigating a triple shooting that took place on Muncie’s south side Sunday evening that left a woman dead and two men injured.

According to police, at approximately 5:27 p.m., Muncie Police Officers were dispatched to the 2700 block of South Walnut Street in reference to reports of several people being shot.

Officers arrived and located three gunshot victims: A 23-year-old female who died from “multiple wounds,” a 39-year-old male who is hospitalized in stable condition, and a 40-year-old male who was airlifted to an Indianapolis hospital in critical condition.

Police say a suspect is in custody, a 21-year-old man.

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Police did not provide any additional information.

Anyone with information is encouraged to call the Muncie Police Detective Division at 765-747-4867 or dispatch at 765-747-4838.



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Indiana Pacers exec apologizes to fans after losing first-round pick

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Indiana Pacers exec apologizes to fans after losing first-round pick


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The Indiana Pacers lost 63 games this season for a chance at a franchise-changing lottery pick. On Sunday, May 10, they lost that chance, too.  

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All Pacers president Kevin Pritchard could do was apologize for taking the risk.  

Indiana’s pick landed at No. 5 in the 2026 NBA Draft Lottery, one spot outside the top four protections attached to a midseason trade. The selection now belongs to the Los Angeles Clippers . 

Shortly after the results were announced, Pritchard took social media and apologized.   

“I’m really sorry to all our fans,” Pritchard wrote. “I own taking this risk. Surprised it came up 5th after this year. I thought we were due some luck.”

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The Pacers entered the lottery with a 52.1% chance of securing a top-four pick after finishing 19-63, the second-worst record in the NBA. It wasn’t enough.  

Indiana sent Bennedict Mathurin, Isaiah Jackson, a 2028 second-round pick and a 2029 first-round pick to Los Angeles in the midseason deal for Ivica Zubac and Kobe Brown, along with the conditional 2026 first-rounder. The pick was theirs to keep only if it landed in the top four.  

Zubac appeared in just five games for Indiana after the trade because of a fractured rib.

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“This team deserved a starting center to compete with the best teams next year,” Pritchard wrote. “We have always been resillient.” 

Pritchard will have to be resilient if he looks at the replies to his statement. About half of the Pacers fans’ comments were not happy, and fans of other teams called him out for “tanking.”  

There were also a large number of fans who were supportive of Pritchard taking that risk.  

Tyrese Haliburton is expected to return next season after tearing his Achilles in last year’s NBA Finals. The Pacers will have him Pascal Siakam and a roster they think is built to compete. They just won’t have that first-round pick to add to it.  

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The 2026 NBA Draft begins June 23 in Brooklyn.  



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