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Olivo Returning To The Saddle At Indiana Grand Racing & Casino
The IHRC unanimously approved Indiana Grand’s modified request for race dates in 2020 with the 90-day season kicking off Monday, June 15th and running through, Wednesday, November 18th.

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Olivo Returning To The Saddle At Indiana Grand Racing & Casino

SHELBYVILLE, IN—JUNE 11, 2020—Victor Olivo, who retired from race riding following the 2015 Quarter Horse meet at Indiana Grand, is returning to the saddle.

Olivo has spent the past four years concentrating on his training skills but will add riding assignments to his schedule when the 27th season gets underway Monday, June 15 at Indiana Grand.

"Last year there was a shortness of jockeys (at Indiana Grand) and I almost got scratched twice because I didn’t have a rider," said Olivo. "I’ve continued to get on my own horses this entire time and we broke a lot of babies this winter. I had in my mind that I’d like to come back to riding and I just kept working at it."

Olivo utilized the time breaking 20-plus horses this winter to help kickstart his path back to the saddle. When he started losing weight and realizing a return to riding was an option, he began cutting back on his food and started working out, purchasing a treadmill to get miles in during the winter months. Olivo was ready to test out his former career in March prior to the shutdowns due to Covid-19 restrictions.

"We have a few Thoroughbreds, so I rode twice at Turfway Park," added Olivo. "But, the first day of Indiana Grand will be my first time back aboard a Quarter Horse. Hopefully, I remember how to ride."

Knowing how to ride has never been an issue for Olivo, who is a native of Mexico. He has 84 career wins at Indiana Grand and more than $1.6 million in earnings. He ended his career with 163 Quarter Horse wins and earnings of nearly $3 million in Indiana.

Olivo has eight career stakes win at Indiana Grand, including several aboard WH Design By Dash, winner of nearly $450,000. His biggest win to date was the $134,910 Grade II Oklahoma Futurity aboard Fetching Beauty in 2013. Olivo will be looking to pick back up where he left off and add to all those tallies in 2020.

"We are based at Campos Family Ventures Training Center in Connersville (Indiana)," explained Olivo. "We have five stalls at the track and are working out of the farm too. Right now, we have 17 horses with six Thoroughbreds. My assistant trainer Lily Gonzalez and I are working hard to have a great meet."

Olivo has been based at Campos Family Ventures since 2016. The facility offers a 3/8th mile training track as well as a swimming pool and all the amenities needed to prepare racehorses. Olivo hopes to have official workouts added to the property in the near future.

In addition to riding for Campos Family Ventures, Olivo has several new horses under his care from Lance and Tammy Finlinson that has sparked some added excitement. Trainer John McCreary, who had the Finlinson horses last year, had a recent knee surgery that prevented him from training this season, so Olivo picked up the duties.

Added to the barn are horses such as Valiantinecandyrocks, in to go Wednesday, June 17 at Indiana Grand, and Rock Hard Candy, a half-brother to Indiana standout Rockys Candy Shop, winner in nine of 17 career starts including several stakes races. Unfortunately, "Rocky" was injured in a training incident earlier in the week and had to be euthanized, a big blow to the Indiana racing industry.

Olivo will ride in both Quarter Horse races on the opening day card Monday, June 15. He is slated to ride Panchita 47 (5-1 from post seven) in the first maiden added to Rock Candy Almighty (6-1 from post four) in the second Quarter Horse event. Both are two-year-olds making their first career starts for Olivo and Gonzalez.

"We have several that will hopefully be running in stakes at Indiana Grand," said Olivo. "I’m excited to be back."

Indiana Grand will kick off the 94-day racing season Monday, June 15, which extends to Wednesday, Nov. 18. Racing will be conducted Monday through Thursday beginning at 2:20 p.m. Four all-Quarter Horse Days have been added to the schedule for July 4, Aug. 8, Oct. 3 and Oct. 24. At this time, spectators are not allowed on property until further notice in association with state-wide regulations due to Covid-19 restrictions.

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About Indiana Grand Racing & Casino: Indiana Grand Racing & Casino holds multiple awards from industry publications for customer service, entertainment, gaming and dining. Located in Shelbyville, Ind., Indiana Grand features 2,200 of the latest slots and electronic table games in addition to a one-mile dirt race course and a seven-eighths mile turf course offering live Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing each year. Simulcast wagering is also offered year-round at Winner's Circle Brewpub & OTB located on the casino floor as well as an off-track betting facility located in Clarksville, Ind. For more information, please visit www.IndianaGrand.com.