BloodHorse.com | Horse Racing News

Delta Downs Jackpot to be Renewed Nov. 23

Boyd Gaming Corporation announced April 23 that this year's $1 million Delta Downs Jackpot (gr. III) for 2-year-olds will be held at its Delta Downs Nov. 23.

Delta Downs Reports 12.5% Handle Spike

All-sources handle for the season was $141,735,025, up 12.52% compared with the 2011-12 meeting that produced $125,963,850. This year's daily average handle from all sources was $1,629,138, or 13.81% higher.

Heavy On Themister Romps On Premier Night

Heavy On Themister, ridden by Rosie Napravnik, ran away with the 10th running of the $200,000 Louisiana Premier Night Championship at Delta Downs Feb. 2 to highlight a 10-stakes card for state-breds at Vinton, La.

Jockey Melancon Reaches 4,000-Win Milestone

Gerard Melancon became the 65th North American jockey to ride 4,000 winners when he guided Doc R U It to victory in the sixth race at Delta Downs Jan. 30.

King Henny Wins Inaugural Big Drama Via DQ

Favored King Henny won the inaugural running of the $100,000 Big Drama Stakes for 3-year-olds at rainy Delta Downs when Mr. Bandini's Band was disqualified from first for interference in the stretch on the night of Jan. 5.

Goldencents Takes Jackpot Wire-to-Wire

Goldencents went wire-to-wire in the $1 million Delta Jackpot (gr. III) at Delta Downs Nov. 17, setting quick early fractions and responding with something more to hold off a late run from 9-5 favorite Bern Identity.

Rose to Gold Rules Dirt in Delta Princess

Rose to Gold returned to dirt and remained unbeaten on it, taking the $500,000 Delta Princess Stakes (gr. III) by half a length Nov. 17 at Delta Downs.

THS: Delta Downs Jackpot

Tom and Pete handicap the Delta Downs Jackpot.

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Bern Identity Posts Bullet for Delta Jackpot

Bern Identity turned in a sharp half-mile breeze Nov. 10 in preparation for the $1 million Delta Downs Jackpot Stakes (gr. III) in a week's time at the Vinton, La., track for trainer Kelly Breen.

BC Winner Hightail Heads Jackpot Nominations

Breeders' Cup Juvenile Sprint winner Hightail heads 15 pre-entries to this year's $1 million Delta Downs Jackpot (gr. III), which celebrates its 10th anniversary Nov. 17.

Sharp Delta Jackpot Tuneup for Bern Identity

Odds-on favorite Bern Identity made quick work of seven rivals in the $200,000 Jean Lafitte Stakes at Delta Downs Oct. 20 in preparation for next month's $1 million Delta Jackpot (gr. III).

Delta Downs Schedules 32 Stakes in 2012-2013

Highlighted by the $1 million Delta Jackpot (gr. III), Delta Downs has announced a stakes schedule consisting of 32 stakes with purses totaling $4.64 million during the 2012-2013 meet.

Milestone 3,000th Win for Jockey Simington

Louisiana-based jockey Don Simington recorded career win 3,000 Jan. 19 when Madam Dream won the second race at Delta Downs.

Delta, New York OTBs Have No Deal on Signal

Delta Downs Racetrack Casino & Hotel said Jan. 10 it has been unable to strike a deal with New York offtrack betting corporations for import of its signal.

Louisiana Trainer Bourgeois Wins 2,000th Race

Trainer Keith G. Bourgeois won the 2,000th race of his career when he saddled Dynamic Time for victory by a nose in the sixth race at Delta Downs on the night of Nov. 30.

Slideshow: Delta Downs Jackpot Day 2011

Review the races from Delta Downs including the $1 Million Delta Jackpot.

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Drill Favored in Lucrative Delta Jackpot

Led by grade I winner Drill, a trio of California juveniles will invade Louisiana for the $1 million Delta Downs Jackpot (gr. III), a race that will give the winner plenty of earnings heading into next year's Triple Crown.

Candrea, Citizen Advocate Top Delta Princess

White Hall Lane Farm's Citizen Advocate, a former claimer and a winner of four consecutive starts, headlines a field of 10 juvenile fillies in the $500,000 Delta Downs Princess (gr. III) on Nov. 19.

Delta Downs Announces Stakes Schedule

Delta Downs July 29 released its 2011-2012 Thoroughbred stakes schedule, which includes 30 races and over $4 million in total purses.

Delta Downs Wraps Up 2010-11 Season

The richest day of the 88-day meet came Nov. 20, when the track hosted a program that featured the $1,000,000 Delta Downs Jackpot (gr. III) for 2-year-olds.

Decisive Moment Rolls in Jean Lafitte Stakes

After finishing second to Gourmet Dinner in the $1 million Delta Downs Jackpot (gr. III), Decisive Moment returned to Louisiana to score a resounding victory in the $250,000 Jean Lafitte Stakes on Jan. 14.

Alligator Causes Delay at Delta Downs

An alligator on the track caused a delay during Thursday night's card at Delta Downs in Louisiana.

Rule Works 5f in 1:00 Under Melancon

WinStar Farm's homebred Rule drills five furlongs in the slop at Churchill Downs Saturday morning in 1:00.

Two Delta Downs Jockeys Suspended Six Months

Two jockeys have been suspended six months by the Delta Downs stewards for allegedly giving money to the clerk of scales at the Louisiana track.

Trainer's Suspension Has Not Taken Effect

The six-month suspension of Delta Downs trainer Terry W. Vance after a horse he trains tested positive for Ractopamine has not yet taken effect.

Star Guitar Headlines Delta's Premier Night

Lousiana-bred standout Star Guitar, on a five-race roll for Albert Stall Jr., has nine rivals in his way in the $200,000 Louisiana Premier Night Championship, the headline race on a million-dollar card at Delta Downs Feb. 6.

WinStar Has Another Live One in Delta Jackpot

Already with several promising Derby prospects, WinStar Farm will send out yet another good-looking 2-year-old in the $750,000 Boyd's Gaming Delta Jackpot Powered by Youbet.com (gr. III) when Rule leads a field of eight in the Dec. 4 contest at Delta Downs.

Inside Track: Go Green

After watching a Discovery Channel show documenting how residents of Greensburg, Kansas, were rebuilding their tornado-ridden city as a "model green community," horse industry veterans Chad and Tammy Hassenpflug became determined to support that community in a special way.

Jockey LeBlanc Earns 3,000th Career Win

Jockey Kirk LeBlanc collected his 3,000th lifetime victory when he guided Dazzling N Red to a front-running 1 1/4-length victory in the 10th race at Delta Downs on the night of Jan. 31.

Big Win for Big Drama in Delta Jackpot

Big Drama proved over the summer and fall that he could win big at Calder Race Course. He now has proved he can win big outside the friendly confines of the South Florida track.

Four Gifts Scores in Delta Princess

Four Gifts delivered an early holiday present to owners Bill and Corinne Heiligbrodt when she charged through the stretch to catch C. S. Silk inside the eighth pole and win the Boyd Gaming's Delta Princess Powered by Youbet.com Stakes (gr. III) Dec. 5 at Delta Downs.

That Handicapping Show: Dec. 5 (Video)

This week, Jason and Tom analyze the Delta Jackpot Stakes (gr. III) at Delta Downs on December 5. Also Brisnet's handicapping expert The Wizard's Spotlight Play is Fair Grounds Race 5 on Saturday, Dec. 6.

Livin Lovin, C.S. Silk Meet in Princess

Puglisi Racing and Woodfield Racing's Livin Lovin, runaway winner of the Tempted Stakes (gr. III) at Aqueduct last out, will face a full field of 2-year-old fillies Dec. 5, including morning-line favorite C.S. Silk, in the $500,000 Boyd's Gaming Delta Princess Powered by Youbet.com Stakes (gr. III).

Delta Jackpot Purse Lures Talent Galore

With the winner's share of $750,000 Boyd's Gaming Delta Jackpot Stakes (gr. III) a lofty $450,000, the 2-year-old who earns the prize is virtually guaranteed a berth in the 2009 Kentucky Derby (gr. I). It is no wonder then that the Dec. 5 main track event drew a deep and talented field of classic hopefuls.

Terrain Favored in Rich Delta Jackpot

The entries were taken and the post positions drawn this morning for Delta Downs Racetrack Casino and Hotel's richest program of the year.

Simon Named Secretary at Delta Downs

John Simon was named the new racing secretary at Delta Downs, which begins its meet Oct. 29. He replaces Trent McIntosh at the Louisiana racetrack.

Valenzuela Eyes Louisiana Downs Return

Jockey Patrick Valenzuela, on three years' probation for a California DUI and unable to apply for a riding license in that state until Dec. 31 of this year, plans to begin riding races at Louisiana Downs in Bossier City, La., according to a report in the Daily Racing Form.

Inside Track: Record Smasher

By Gary McMillen - Records are made to be broken. Yada, yada, yada. You never hear anybody say that records are made to be smashed.

Graham Makes Twin Killing at Delta Downs

Jockey James Graham captured a pair of $100,000 stakes at Delta Downs Racetrack Casino & Hotel on the night of March 21 with Unforgotten and Good and Lucky.

Magic Sunset Scores Premier Feature

Heiligbrodt Racing Stable's Magic Sunset pressed the pace, stuck a head in front at the top of the stretch, and went on to win by 1 ¾ lengths in the $200,000 Premier Night Championship Stakes, the featured event of an all Louisiana-bred stakes program at Delta Downs Racetrack Casino & Hotel Feb. 2.

Heiligbrodt Hoping for Big Premier

Heiligbrodt Racing Stable has seven horses entered on Louisiana Premier Night Feb. 2 at Delta Downs.

Norman Suspension Upheld in Louisiana

The Louisiana Racing Commission on Friday upheld trainer Cole Norman's six-month suspension and $1,000 fine for two separate incidents late last year involving total carbon dioxide violations.

Youbet.com, Delta Downs Ink Promotional Deal

Youbet.com will team with Boyd Gaming's Delta Downs Racetrack & Casino in Louisiana to help build the track's online pari-mutuel handle.

1,000th Win Registered by Rosario, LeJeune

Hector Rosario Jr. put career win number 1,000 in the books at Turfway Park Sunday, closing with Crimson Dancer to take the fourth race by one length.

Norman Gets Six-Month Suspension in Louisiana

Trainer Cole Norman was suspended for six months and fined $1,000 by the Delta Downs stewards after two horses he saddled in the Jean Lafitte Stakes Nov. 3 at Delta Downs tested in excess of the permitted levels of total carbon dioxide (TCO2).

Birdbirdstheword Flies to Victory in $1 Million Delta Jackpot

Raymond H. Cottrell Sr.'s Birdbirdstheword overcame a troubled start and held off a late charge from Pirates Deputy for a three-quarter length victory in the $1 million Boyd Gaming's Delta Jackpot (gr. III) at Louisiana's Delta Downs on Friday, Dec. 1.

Thoroughbreds Back at Post-Hurricane Delta Downs

Thoroughbred racing returns to Delta Downs Racetrack & Casino in Vinton, La., Nov. 1 after a 19- month hiatus brought on by Hurricane Rita. The 88-night season, which runs through March 31, 2007, offers a 39-race stakes schedule worth more than $4 million.

Leading Quarter Horse Jockey Among Those Injured

The American Quarter Horse Association's all-time winningest rider, Alvin Brossette, was one of four jockeys injured June 9 during a 870-yard claiming race at Delta Downs.

Smoke Glacken Filly Tops Evangeline Downs Sale

Manhattan Model, a 2-year-old bay Smoke Glacken--All Too Well filly, brought $105,000 and topped the the fourth annual 2-year-olds in training and paddock sale March 13 at Evangeline Downs and Casino in Opelousas, La.

Delta Downs Meet to Remain at Evangeline

With reconstruction work continuing at Delta Downs Racetrack & Casino in the aftermath of Hurricane Rita, the track's Thoroughbred meet will remain at Evangeline Downs Racetrack & Casino.