By KEN de la BASTIDE
A race horse trained by State Rep. Ron Herrell will compete Saturday in the Secretariat Stakes at Arlington Park.
The Secretariat Stakes, with $240,000 going to the winning thoroughbred, is on the undercard for the Arlington Million, one of the biggest racing events of the year.
As of Thursday, the odds on Hoosier Kingdom were 20-1.
Herrell, who has been training thoroughbred horses outside of Kokomo for many years, is spending the week at Arlington Park preparing Hoosier Kingdom for a chance to shine before a national audience.
Herrell, along with partners Dr. Keith Wexler and Brian Reed, purchased Hoosier Kingdom in June 2008, at an auction in Florida for $22,000.
Although Hoosier Kingdom was born in Indiana, about 8 miles from Kokomo, Herrell had to travel to Florida to buy the 2-year-old.
Hoosier Kingdom has won $139,353 to date and has won its last four races at Indiana Downs, including the Governor’s Stakes.
Herrell said the Governor’s Stakes was the first time Hoosier Kingdom raced on turf. The horse won the Governor’s Stakes by 4 1/2 lengths.
He said the Secretariat Stakes is also on turf and, at 11/4 miles, is the longest distance Hoosier Kingdom will run.
“This is the biggest race I’ve been involved in,” Herrell said by telephone Tuesday from Arlington Park. “It’s exciting. Training horses has always been a family thing, so we’re having a good time.
“It’s exciting to have a horse capable of running in a race like this,” he said.
Herrell said Hoosier Kingdom has been able to train on the turf at Arlington Park and did well during a Monday workout. Herrell and the thoroughbred have been in Chicago since last weekend to help acclimate the horse to its surroundings.
Veteran jockey Elvis Turjillo, who won the Junior Breeder’s Cup in 2008, will ride Hoosier Kingdom.
Herrell explained it cost approximately $7,000 to enter Hoosier Kingdom in the Secretariat Stakes and the last place horse will receive $4,000.
“This is a Grade 1 stakes race,” Herrell said, “just like the Kentucky Derby.”
• Ken de la Bastide is the Kokomo Tribune enterprise editor. He can be reached at (765) 454-8580 or via e-mail at ken.delabastide@kokomotribune.com
