ANDERSON -- The construction of a horse track with pari-mutuel racing in Anderson during the early 90s was greeted with reservations and opposition. Twenty years later, the facility is not only a local attraction -- it is a major contributor to the local and state economy.
Rick Moore, Hoosier Park Casino & Racing vice president and general manager of racing, said there have been a number of changes at the site over the years.
“I came in 10 days after the track opened,” he said. “I think the community has found us to be good stewards.”
Opponents to the track wanted the property, located off Scatterfield, to remain agriculture. People were also concerned about ground water contamination and decreased property values, but for many, the problem centered around the morality of gambling.
“We never debated the morality of gambling, it was and is a legal enterprise,” Moore said. “We assured the community we would do this with the upmost professionalism.”
Investing in Anderson
In 1994, Hoosier Park built the horse track for approximately $13 million.
A report by the American Horse Council in 2005, showed a direct economic impact of $181 million and a total economic impact of $294 million from the state’s expanded racing industry. The study also reported the racing industry created 9,865 jobs.
In 2008, Rod Ratcliff, Centaur, Inc. chairman and CEO became sole owner of Hoosier Park spending $110 million to renovate and expansion the facilities to include a casino and a $250 million state license fee.
Anderson became home to the state’s first racetrack casino or “racino.” To reflect the change, the facilities were renamed Hoosier Park Racing & Casino and now offer gaming, racing, dining, and special entertainment.
Today, the facility boasts more than 2,000 slot machines and e-table games and houses several restaurants, bars and lounges throughout the property including the Dan Patch Brewhouse which opened this summer.
In its first five years of operation, Hoosier Park Racing & Casino provided the City of Anderson, Madison County, the State of Indiana, and the Indiana Horse Racing Industry with more than $742 million in taxes, fees and incentive payments according to a Hoosier Park Racing & Casino Community Impact Report.
Approximately $298 million has been paid through payroll, purchases or payments and $104 million -$34.5 million benefiting minority and women owned businesses - were purchases to local and regional suppliers.
Making a difference
But Moore said Hoosier Park is not just doing business in the community – it has become a part of the community through its employees. He said 68 percent of its employees live in Madison County and 57 percent of those live in Anderson.
“We go to church here, we work here, we live here, we give of our time and our money,” he said. “We care about what goes on in our community.”
In addition to revenue and jobs, Moore said the casino has encouraged growth along Scatterfield. He said when he came to Anderson in 1994 there was one restaurant in the area and now the area is flooded with new business. Hoosier Park also buys from local merchants.
“We try to buy locally to the extent we can,” Moore said. “If we can’t buy it in Madison County then we buy it in central Indiana. We are committed to the state Indiana and even more to Madison County and Anderson.”
The casino is also a major attraction for the area with more than 15 million people visiting the Anderson location since it opened, according to the Casino Association of Indiana.
Moore said three years ago, Hoosier Park began offering simulcasts of live horse races from its racetrack to wagering facility sites around the nation. It is also one of four harness tracks sending signals to Australia.
As more and more gambling sites pop up in neighboring states, the industry is showing signs of being over-saturated, Moore said.
“I think we are at or close to saturation,” he said.
To compete, Moore said Hoosier Park strives to provide an exceptional experience to its customers.
“We want to leave a memorable impression on our customers,” he said. “We have to make sure that best experience is with us.”