INDIANAPOLIS, IN—AUGUST 14, 2018—Every year, horsemen and women are given the task to make recommendations to the Indiana Horse Racing Commission to ensure that the Indiana Quarter Horse racing program continues to grow, all while maintaining a balance with the open racing program at Indiana Grand Race Course and Casino in Shelbyville.

The following are three industry-focused men who are part of the Indiana Quarter Horse Breed Development Advisory Committee:

Chairman Lance Finlinson: Born in Louisville, Ky., Finlinson now lives in Greenwood, Ind., with his wife Tammy and son Landen. Together, the couple own a promotional advertising company called The Apparel Co., and they also run Finlinson Racing Stables. Finlinson has been involved with the Quarter Horse industry off and on for 20 years, and very active in the racing portion of the breed for five years. Finlinson initially joined the Advisory Committee in mid-2017 and was just recently named the Chairman. “My goal with the program is to listen to the Quarter Horse owners and try to make the Indiana the best place to race horses in the United States,” he says.

Randy Thompson: The barn where Randy Thompson raises Quarter Horses has been owned by his family since 1930. Thompson lives in Brazil, Ind., with his wife, Margaret.

Together, they have children: Alyssa Rissler and her husband Brett with their four sons Nathan, Jonah, Isaac and Jeremiah; Valerie Smith and her husband Derek have four children, Madelyn, Ellen, Katherine and Jacob; and son Simon. Thompson got into the industry in 1993, when he purchased a race bred mare named Prissy Marshal, who was in foal to Born Runner, the namesake of one of the Indiana-sired stakes races. “My goal for the program has always been to improve the quality of Indiana horses, as well as to make it a profitable investment for horse owners, breeders and stallion owners,” he says.

Chris Duke: Chris Duke hails from Whiteland, Ind., where he and his wife, Stefanie, are raising twin sons Andrew and Alex as well as Quarter Horses used in barrel racing and flat racing at Duke Racing Horses. Duke has been active in the racing industry for 15 years and was just recently named to the Indiana Quarter Horse Breed Development Advisory Committee. Seeing the industry prosper in his home state has driven Duke to get involved at the ground floor.

"I want to continue to grow Quarter Horse racing and breeding in Indiana, and to help our program become more prominent throughout the country," says Duke. "I want to also provide our horsemen and breeders more opportunities."

"These men bring so many years of experience and knowledge from all aspects of the Quarter Horse industry," says Jessica Barnes, Director of Racing and Breed Development for the Indiana Horse Racing Commission. "They are driven to help our program continue to grow in terms of horses, breeders and payouts."

The Advisory Committee looks forward to listening to the concerns, ideas and praise from program participants and can be reached at:quarterhorse@hrc.ingov.

ABOUT THE INDIANA QUARTER HORSE BREED DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
The Quarter Horse Breed Development program was established to promote the Indiana Quarter Horse industry. In 2007, legislation was passed which approved slot machines at Indiana's pari-mutuel racetracks. The Indiana Quarter Horse Breed Development Fund receives 30% of the revenue generated from slot machines that is allocated for Quarter Horse Racing.

For more information, see the Indiana Horse Racing Commission’s website: in.gov/hrc/.