Hoosier Park Racing and Casino kicked off the first of four rounds for the Charity Chariots on June 6. The promotion offers guests a unique opportunity to take a trip around Hoosier Park’s racetrack with one of the Fab Five drivers while raising money for charity.

A total of 13 people took advantage of the chance to sit behind a real racehorse. Each guest chose their favorite Fab Five driver and climbed into the driver’s seat on a two-seated jog cart prior to the Saturday afternoon racing program. “True Blue” Joe Putnam, “Bad Boy” Jason Dillander, Trace “of Luck” Tetrick, Mike “Mo Pete” Peterson, and “Slick” Rick Macomber all joined in to raise money for charity.

Tetrick was the most popular choice for the day, giving the most rides from the group. He guided trainer Randy Hatton’s mare, Day Glow, who is in to race Wednesday. Tetrick chose DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) as his charity because his mother, Maryalice, is involved in the program at his school in Geff, Ill.

Dillander was behind a horse he drives on a regular basis for the Jeff Brewer Stable. He drove Tessallation, who is in to race Tuesday in the seventh race. Dillander’s proceeds will go to the American Cancer Society due to the fact his father, Charles, who is a longtime Kentucky trainer and driver, was stricken with the illness recently.

Macomber was behind CJ Blaze, a winner last Thursday for trainer Jimmy Byers. The 8-year-old veteran pacer has 27 career wins. Macomber will donate his charitable donations to the Indiana School for the Deaf.

Peterson has chosen Shriners as his charity because of his uncle’s involvement with the organization. The money raised by Peterson will be directed to Shriners’ big philanthropic project, the Shriners Hospitals for Children. Peterson gave trips around the track behind Chilling Effect, a grey gelding from the Rick Redder Stable.

Putnam will keep his charitable donations on a local level, assisting with Outfitters, Inc. of Pendleton, an organization he and his wife, Lisa, are heavily involved in. The program raises money for supplies, clothing and other essentials for area children in need as they prepare for the school year. Putnam was behind Tanner Monroe, an 8-year-old Ohio-bred gelding owned and raised by driver-trainer Tom Hall.

Charity Chariots returns Saturday. The promotion continues every Saturday in June with registration beginning at 10:30 a.m. outside Hoosier Park’s winners circle. Rides around the track are available between 11 a.m. and noon. All riders must be 18 years of age or older to participate.

All proceeds from the event are directed to charity. Half of the $20 fee is given to the driver’s favorite charity while half is donated to the Harness Tracks of America Scholarship Fund. More than $300 was accumulated through rides and donations during the first round of Charity Chariots. Guests could also purchase a photograph of their ride and Hoosier Park’s audio visual department recorded some of the activities, displaying it on the television monitors during the Saturday afternoon racing program.

For more information on how to get involved with the program, contact Tammy Knox at 609-4618 or e-mail at info@hoosierpark.com.