American Dairy Association Presents Zoopolis 500 at Indianapolis Zoo May 20th

By Maura Giles
Indianapolis, IN - Ladies and gentlemen, start your tortoises! This year’s Zoopolis 500 presented by the American Dairy Association is the 28th edition of the greatest spectacle in tortoise racing! The Zoopolis 500 is the Indianapolis Zoo’s version of the Indy 500 and will be held on the traditional Wednesday (May 20) before the big race. The event features Chief Announcer for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Radio Network Mike King and 2004 IRL Series Champion Tony Kanaan. Entry to the world-renowned Zoopolis 500 is free with regular Zoo admission. 

Pre-race activities begin at 10:30am with a 500 Festival Pace Car and Princess at the front entrance plaza. Back at the Dean’s Milk Chug Arena, spectators get ready for the race with a photo opportunity with the American Dairy Association, tortoise artifacts, Zoo mascots and more! New this year, visitors can join Lowe’s from 9am-2pm (or until supplies last) to build their own model race car as part of the Lowe’s Build and Grow program.

Pre-race commentary will begin over the PA at 11am. Then it’s on to the parade of mascots, princess and tortoises. Huge Aldabra tortoises “Lyn St. James” and “A.J.” will be joined by smaller but still very competitive radiated tortoises to mark the move of the tortoises from winter holding to their summer exhibit at the Indianapolis Zoo. The two species of tortoises, a total of six “racers,” compete to reach the checkered flag and a full plate of fruit on a course located in the Dean’s Milk Chug Encounters Arena. This outdoor arena, which is used for elephant shows and other special events, includes stadium-style seating for optimal viewing.

The green flag gets waved by Grand Marshall Tony Kanaan at 11:35am, rain or shine. Total race time can run anywhere from a world record six minutes to something like 20 minutes – it depends on the mood of the tortoises on the day!

Here’s the complete schedule:

• NEW! – Visitors can join Lowe’s from 9am - 2pm (or until supplies last) to build their own model race car as part of the Lowe’s Build and Grow program.
• 10-11am – Photos taken with a Pace Car, 500 Festival Princess and giant milk jug at the front gate.
• 10:30am pre-race festivities will begin around the Dean’s Milk Chug Encounters Arena.
o American Dairy Association will offer a photo opportunity and free milk (while supplies last).
o See smaller tortoises and meet the experts.
• 11am – From trackside, Event Emcee and Chief Announcer for the IRL, Mike King, along with Zoopolis Grand Marshall and 2004 IRL Series Champion Tony Kanaan, plus Deserts Animal Keeper, JP, discuss the upcoming race with the fans.
• 11am – Parade lap featuring Tony Kanaan, 500 Festival Princess, Buttercup the mascot, the Meerkat mascot, and the tortoises!
• 11:35am – The checkered flag waves!
• Tortoise Fun Facts – Visitors can follow tortoise fun facts from the front of the Zoo back to the race area in Encounters presented by Dean’s Milk Chug.
• After the Race – Victory Circle will feature the winning pit crew, who will drink the traditional glasses of milk on behalf of the tortoise.

The Zoopolis 500 is sponsored by the American Dairy Association of Indiana, Inc., and the Dairy and Nutrition Council, Inc., who will provide free delicious, icy cold bottles of milk for the winning tortoise’s pit crew at the finish line!

Located in White River State Park downtown, the Indianapolis Zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and the American Association of Museums as a zoo, aquarium and botanical garden. The Indianapolis Zoo will empower people and communities, both locally and globally, to advance animal conservation. Look for the AZA logo whenever you visit a zoo or aquarium as your assurance that you are supporting a facility dedicated to providing excellent care for animals, a great experience for you, and a better future for all living things.

Indianapolis Zoo
1200 West Washington Street P.O. Box 22309 Indianapolis, Indiana 46222.0309 ph 317.630.2001 fx 317.630.5153

To view Indianapolis Zoo's web page on Zoo and Aquarium Visitor, go to: http://www.zandavisitor.com/forumtopicdetail-19-Indianapolis_Zoo