HC
News and Updates
Oct-17-2023
TRAINING UPDATE

Birds are home, however they were attacked by a hawk shortly after arrival and are now flying.  We will continue to monitor them and work on getting them into the loft.
Oct-13-2023
Congratulations to the first drop of birds (13 birds) on Race 3 from 220 miles.  Birds were released at 8:00 am from Huntingburg, In.  We had a beautiful day for a race with sunny skies and very little wind.  The rain managed to hold off until the late evening.  

Also a HUGE CONGRAULATIONS TO John Canto.  John was not only first in the clock at the Hoosier, winning $20,000, he was also on the drop for the 300 mile race at Crooked River along with 37 other birds, and he was Equal 1st at the New England Pigeon Derby Final Race.  Congratulations John!  What a performance over 2 days.  

Birds are being kept in today due to rain that is supposed to move into the area again.  Yesterday we had rain that cleared up late morning and gave way to sunny skies.  The rain is forecasted to last for the next 2-3 days.  We will continue to keep everyone updated as to what the plan will be with the birds moving forward.  We do plan to get some training in prior to the Final Race. 

We will be putting together an itinerary for the weekend that we will send out via email, Facebook, and will be posted to the updates on the website.  As a brief reminder, Saturday is the Ganus Family Auction located at their property.  Sunday will be basketing at the loft with a light lunch served with the banquet dinner to follow, and Monday is Race Day. 
Oct-12-2023
HOTEL INFORMATIOIN

If anyone is still looking for a hotel room for Race Weekend, below is information regarding local hotels and how far from the loft they are located.  I have done some online searches and found that most of the rates are reasonable and some of the hotels I have provided booking links to the specific hotel for easier booking.  Blue Chip Hotel & Casino is offering rates between $150-175 per night for the weekend depending on the room type and the day.  Those rates are pretty good for it being the casino.

Times & Dates Are Estimates
Final Race Date Is Subject To Change Due To Weather

- Saturday October 21st -
Ganus Family Auction
0499 S Holmesville Rd
Laporte, IN  46350
*Birds on Display - 1:00 pm CST
*Lunch Served - 2:30 pm CST
*Auction Starts - 4:00 pm CST


- Sunday October 22nd -
Basketing of Hoosier Birds at Loft
Approximately 1:00 pm
Light Lunch & Drinks Served during basketing
Sunday Evening (approx 5:30)
Banquet Dinner & Drinks Served
Loft Calcutta Auction (must be present)
VITA KING PRODUCTS AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE


- Monday October 23rd - 
RACE DAY!
Lunch & Drinks Served
Approx. 12:30 pm
VITA KING PRODUCTS AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE



HOTELS
There are currently NO ROOM BLOCKS at any hotel
CLICK ANY HIGHLIGHTED HOTEL FOR LINK TO BOOKING SITE

Hampton Inn (7 miles from loft)
Valparaiso - 219-531-6424
Averaging $148-160 per night

Holiday Inn Express (7 miles from loft)
Valparaiso - 219-464-9395
$130-155 per night
(This hotel was under exterior construction as of last weekend. 
Not sure if it will be completed by the 21st)

Fairfield Inn (7 miles from loft) 
Valparaiso - 219-465-6225
$130-140 per night

Country Inn & Suites (7 miles from loft)
Valparaiso - 219-386-2188

Microtel (14 miles from loft)
Michigan City - 219-210-3430
$100-110 per night

Country Inn & Suites (14 miles from loft)
Michigan City - 219-214-4769
$125-150 per night

Holiday Inn Express (14 miles from loft)
Michigan City - 219-243-8300

Comfort Inn & Suites (14 miles from loft)
Michigan City - 219-250-2181
Average $75 per night

The Brewery Lodge & Supper Club
(22 miles from loft)
Michigan City - 866-625-6343

Blue Chip Hotel & Casino
(21 miles from loft)219-879-7711
Average $155-$175 per night

There are also 2 campgrounds in the area if anyone would like that information, please contact us.
Air BNB is also an option that others have used in the past. 

Closest Major Airport to the loft is 
Midway Airport (MDW) - Chicago (50 miles)
Oct-11-2023
BIRDS RELEASED FOR RACE 3
Birds have been released from the 220 mile release point (Huntingburg, IN) at 8:00 am this morning.  Weather was in the high 40's with basically no wind.   The wind will be very little today throughout the course and temperatures are expected to be in the high 50's to low 60's at the loft upon arrival.  

Good luck to everyone today!  Prizes today are by clocking order as follows: 

1st Place
$20,000

2nd Place - 68th Place
$1000 each


**Regarding the Knockout Competition**
The top 33% of the birds SHIPPED to the 1st race still qualified for the Knockout which was 833 birds.  Moving forward from the 1st race, each race after that allows for the top 33% of the remaining eligible birds from the previous race to move forward.  After completing Race 2, 33% of the 833 that were still eligible moved forward, which was the top 275 birds that were still eligible.  For today's race, the top 33% returning that are still eligible (91) will move forward in the Knockout Competition going into the Final Race. 
Oct-09-2023
OCT 9TH UPDATE

Today's training toss was a working trainer for the birds.  They came in very low due to the stiff head/shoulder wind.  Upon arrival birds rushed the traps/antennas.  We did push the birds back out and picked up several birds that had missed the antennas.

The next best day to race looks to be Wednesday.  Today was a strong head/shoulder wind @ 10-15 mph.  Tomorrow is showing 15-20 mph side winds from the half way point.  Wednesday shows a SSE at 4 mph at the release point.  Along the way it changes to a SSW 6 mph.  I'm sure these predictions will change, as it seems to do so regularly throughout the day.  Later in the day calls for rain which is supposed to last for 5-6 days.  If Wednesday does not work, we will be forced to race in about 9-10 days.  Let's hope Wednesday can hold true to the forecast.  We will update again tomorrow afternoon.  

Thanks & Good luck to all.  
Oct-01-2023
RACE 2 TOMORROW

Birds have been basketed for Race 2 tomorrow.  Race will be 160 miles, and we are aiming for an 8:00 am release.  

I will be uploading a basketing list shortly.  Please allow at least 15 minutes for the basket list to load into Wincompanion.  It is not an instant file transfer, and it does take several minutes to read the file and completely upload into Wincompanion. 

Good luck to everyone!
Sep-30-2023
BIRDS ARE HOME

The birds are home and the majority of them are in the loft.  
There is still 2-3 small groups of birds flying and they have been attacked multiple times this mooring by a very aggressive hawk.   They are continuing to fly and we will continue to monitor them until they come in.  
Sep-29-2023
TRAINING 9/29 UPDATE

 

Birds were taken 60  miles for training today.  The weather at the loft is not good and the release point is the same way.  
There is heavy cloud cover and lingering fog at both locations.  The forecast showed sun around 9:00 am early this morning.  Gradually throughout the morning the forecast has changed, showing sun starting to peak around 12:00 pm.  We do not want to release the birds that late from 60 miles.  They have been brought back and will be released to loft fly.  We will attempt to train again tomorrow and plan to still race on Monday.  
We are as frustrated as all the breeders.  We unfortunately can not control weather and the best interest of the birds is what will always come first. 

 

 
Sep-28-2023
TRAINING UPDATE

Birds were loaded for training.  Weather is not good this morning.  We will wait until 10:00 am to see if we can release the birds, otherwise the birds will be brought back. 
Sep-27-2023
TRAINING/RACE UPDATE

We have had rain here at the loft yesterday and today.  Tomorrow we were hoping to race, however the forecast shows rain at the release point tomorrow.  Friday there is a Ohio Combine release in the same area as our release point.  Releasing in the same area as a Combine will not be good.  We will train again tomorrow and Friday.  We will race on Monday. 

Please keep in mind, we are doing our best to keep everyone happy, while avoiding strong tail wind races.  We know we can't please everybody. Our main concern is doing what is best for the birds. 
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