Dakich helps provide bikes to children near Horseshoe Indianapolis

(Dan Dakich provides bicycles to children in Shelby County / Coady Media)

From the Horseshoe Indianapolis/Tammy Knox Media Team:

Dakich Cycles for the City provides bicycles to children in Shelby County

at Horseshoe Indianapolis

SHELBYVILLE, Indiana (Wednesday, June 12, 2024) – For the second year in a row, Dakich Cycles for the City has partnered with Horseshoe Indianapolis for a special giveaway. Dan and Leigh Dakich donated 11 bikes to area children in need through the local Court Appointed State Advocates (CASA) program in Shelby County. To date, more than 500 bikes have been donated by the organization across central Indiana.

The bikes were specially designed and equipped for 11 children aged 3 to 18 currently associated with the local CASA program. The bike packages included a helmet, kickstand and lock with training wheels on some of the smaller ones for younger children. To help with the program, Horseshoe Indianapolis donated $10,000 to the cause.

“We've been doing this for about four and a half years to offer bikes and it's something we started on our own,” said Leigh, a former Syracuse softball coach and television commentator for the Big 10 Network. “It’s something we’re really passionate about. This gives children the freedom and responsibility of having their own bike. This donation will be used directly to help us buy more bikes. We are very grateful for this donation.

In addition to donations, Dakich Cycles for the City hosts an annual golf outing in memory of Dan's father, Tom. Now in his 14^th This year, the Tom Dakich Memorial Golf Outing will be held on Monday, July 15 at the Golf Club of Indiana in Whitestown. The outing includes a live auction, dinner and a day of golf with all proceeds benefiting Dakich Cycles for the City. Horseshoe Indianapolis is a major sponsor of the event.

“We are proud to partner with Dan and Leigh (Dakich) on this exciting program,” said Eric Halstrom, vice president and general manager of racing. “Being able to help children in our immediate area who might not otherwise have access to a bike is an amazing way for us to give back to the community.” These bikes offer children the opportunity to have something of their own and, in some cases, become their means of transportation.

The donation was part of the annual Horseshoe Hysteria event held during a special race day on Saturday June 8. In addition to Leigh and Dan Dakich, their children, Andrew and Laura were present for the donation. Several basketball-related activities were offered, including a basketball shooting station and a three-point shooting contest. The day ended with the simulcast of the Belmont Stakes, the third leg of the Triple Crown, held at Saratoga in New York.

Places are still available for golfers at the Tom Dakich Memorial Golf Outing. For more information about the event, visit the Dakich website at www.dandakich.com.

The 22nd^sd The live Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing season runs through Thursday, November 14. Racing is Monday through Thursday at 2:10 p.m. All Quarter Horse dates are at 10:45 a.m. on Saturdays June 29, July 20, August 10 and August. October 31 and 5. Indiana's flagship event, the $300,000 Grade 3 Indiana Derby, will take place on Saturday, July 6 with a first tee time of 12 p.m. For more information about live racing at Horseshoe Indianapolis, visit www.caesars.com/horseshoe-. indianapolis/racing or find the track on social media @HSIndyRacing.