BloodHorse.com | Horse Racing News

Bourbon Courage Uncorks Big Super Derby Punch

Bourbon Courage, under a head of steam for jockey Leandro Goncalves, blew past Master Rick at mid-stretch to win the $500,000 Super Derby (gr. II) in a romp for the colt's first stakes victory Sept. 8 at Louisiana Downs.

Blueskiesnrainbows Ready for Super Derby

California-based Blueskiesnrainbows, who won the grade II Swaps Stakes in the Golden State last time out, will take on eight rivals in the Super Derby at Louisiana Downs.

LTBA Awards Two College Scholarships

During Louisiana Cup Day at Louisiana Downs Aug. 18, the Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association awarded two $1,000 scholarships to Louisiana college students Demi Varuso and Rachel Petticrew.

Jockey Eramia Gets 1,000th North American Win

Jockey Richard Eramia, leading the rider standings at Harrah's Louisiana Downs, earned his 1,000th North American victory when he guided 3-5 favorite Shave and Pave to victory in the fourth race Aug. 31,

KY Derby, Oaks Samples Tested for Dermorphin

Test samples taken from some runners in this year's Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) and Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) are among those that are now being tested for dermorphin.

Prayer for Relief Wires Super Derby Field

Zayat Stables' Prayer for Relief held off Populist Politics and Awesome Bet in the stretch to win the $500,000 Super Derby (gr. II) in wire-to-wire fashion Sept. 10 at Louisiana Downs.

Shippers Headline Well-Rounded Super Derby

Led by grade II winners Alternation and Prayer for Relief, a well-rounded field of nine was drawn for $500,000 Super Derby (gr. II) Sept. 10 at Louisiana Downs.

THS: Pennsylvania Derby and Super Derby

Jason, Tom, and Rich of TwinSpires.com preview the Pennsylvania Derby (gr. II) and the Super Derby (gr. II).

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Coyote Legend Favored For Super Derby Prelude

Coyote Legend, winner of six of his last seven starts, is the morning-line favorite for the $100,000 Super Derby Prelude Aug. 28, the highlight on a 10-race card at Harrah's Louisiana Downs.

Big Fields Dominate on Louisiana Cup Program

Some 110 horses are entered for the 10 races on the Louisiana Cup race program at Louisiana Downs May 22 when four $100,000 events for state breds are contested.

Louisiana Mixed Sale Set for Oct. 17

Breeders Sales Company of Louisiana will conduct a mixed auction on Oct. 17 at Serenity Farm in Folsom, La. The deadline to enter horses is Aug. 14. Consignment forms can be downloaded from the Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association Web site: www.louisianabred.com.

Shane Sellers to Return to Riding July 2

Jockey Shane Sellers is set to make his return to racing July 2 after a 4 1/2- year hiatus from the sport when he'll be aboard Ide Ball trained by former rider Mark Guidry in the first race at Evangeline Downs Racetrack & Casino.

Super Derby Purse Boosted to $750,000

Louisiana Downs announced March 26 that the purse for the 30th renewal of the grade II Super Derby on Sept. 19 has been hiked to $750,000.

Top 10 Bloodhorse.com Stories of 2008

Counting down the top 10 Bloodhorse.com stories for 2008. Number 1. Da' Tara Springs Upset; Big Brown Eased

Stone Subbing for Wrona at Golden Gate

Travis Stone, a 24-year-old track announcer at Harrah's Louisiana Downs in Bossier City, La., will call the action at Golden Gate Fields Nov. 12-16.

La. Downs Closes Meet with Gains

Bucking the national trend, Louisiana Downs posted gains at the close of the 2008 meet. According to a release from the track, the race meet posted increases in handle of 6% on-track, 2% off-track and 2.5% overall.

2YO Filly Gives Birth at Louisiana Downs

Owners are seldom at a loss for words but when Marvin and Joel Cunningham were informed that their 2-year-old homebred filly Tiger Eyed had given birth they were speechless.

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.

Deal Gives ADWs Louisiana Downs Signal

Louisiana horsemen have approved a deal allowing Youbet.com and Premier Turf Club the signal to Louisiana Downs, the first agreements reached with any advance deposit wagering companies under the auspices of negotiating with the Thoroughbred Horsemen's Group.

Fair Grounds Expands Racing in 2008-09

Fair Grounds will expand its racing season by two weeks next season and begin a locally-based meet prior to Thanksgiving for the first time in nearly 30 years, track president Randy Soth announced April 15.

New Races Added to LA Downs Schedule

New races, including a prep for the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile, have been added to the stakes schedule at Louisiana Downs for the 2008 meet, which begins May 17.

Jockey Patin Gets Indefinite Suspension

Jockey Joe Patin Jr., arrested earlier this month on 11 criminal counts including possession of crack cocaine, has been suspended indefinitely by the Louisiana Racing Commission.

Trainer Norman Charged with DWI

Trainer Cole Norman was arrested and charged Nov. 26 with driving while intoxicated, hit and run, simple criminal property damage, and possession of the drugs Lortab and Xanax without a prescription in his hometown of Haughton, La.

Late Kick Earns Going Ballistic Super Derby

Entering the $500,000 Super Derby Stakes (gr. II) Sept. 22 at Louisiana Downs, Going Ballistic had not won since May. With help from jockey Clifton Berry, Mike and Mary Kindred's 3-year-old colt soared through the middle of the racetrack to overtake heavy favorite Grasshopper to win by a length.

Grasshopper Not a Lock in Super Derby

All the talk leading up to the $500,000 Super Derby (gr. II) has been centered around race favorite Grasshopper. But several of the 10 contenders in the Harrah's Louisiana Downs feature event Sept. 22 have more than enough credentials to make bettors give the 1 1/8-mile event a second look.

Female Jockey Dies in Car Crash

Lucy Burch, 28, a jockey who had been competing at Harrah's Louisiana Downs, has died in a car accident, according to reports. She had been slated to ride in the fourth race at Louisiana Downs Aug. 17.

Bonus Linked to Triple Crown Race Winners

The Super Derby at Harrah's Louisiana Downs will double in value to $1 million if Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) winner Street Sense, Preakness Stakes (gr. I) winner Curlin, or Belmont Stakes (gr. I) winner Rags to Riches participate in the Sept. 22 race.

Trainer Bret Calhoun Registers 1,000th Victory

Trainer Bret Calhoun earned the 1,000th victory of his career July 12 when first-time starter Timely Reflection, his only entrant on the Louisiana Downs program, rallied for a 2 3/4-length tally in the seventh race for maiden special weights.

Harrah's Reports Higher Earnings

Harrah's Entertainment Inc., which is being bought by private equity firms in a $17.1 billion deal, said May 8 its first-quarter earnings edged up 2%, as higher Las Vegas and Atlantic City revenue offset increased operating costs.

Harrah's Deal Approved by Shareholders

Harrah's Entertainment Inc. shareholders approved a $17.1 billion buyout by two private equity groups April 5 in the largest deal ever to take a publicly held casino company private, officials said.

Louisiana Downs 2007 Stakes Schedule Worth More Than $3.4 Million

A Super Derby day worth $1.3 million, a new Super Derby prelude day, Louisiana Downs champions day, and the richest prep race in the nation for the new Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf, highlight a stakes schedule worth more than $3.4 million at Harrah's Louisiana Downs in 2007. The racing season begins Friday, May 4 and continues through Oct. 20.

Racing Can Learn from Casinos, Panelists Say

Racing can learn much from its partners from the casino business, a panel of analysts told a couple hundred participants Dec. 5 in the 33rd Symposium of Racing & Gaming in Tucson, Ariz.

Overall Handle Increases at Louisiana Downs

The 2006 race meet at Harrah's Louisiana Downs came to a close on Saturday with a 4% increase in average daily handle.

Johnsen Named President of Southwest Operations for Magna

Magna Entertainment Corp. chairman Frank Stronach announced Monday that Corey Johnsen has been named the president of MEC Operations in the Southwest.

Carlos Gonzalez Records 2,000th Win

Jockey Carlos Gonzalez won his 2,000th race on Friday when he guided Del Norte to victory in the ninth race at Louisiana Downs.

Youbet.com, Louisiana Downs Have Marketing Agreement

Youbet.com and Harrah's Louisiana Downs have joined forces on a multi-year program that will make the online wagering company the official wagering provider for the Bossier City, La., racetrack.

Patterson Named Racing Secretary at Louisiana Downs

Sam Houston Park's Tony Patterson has been named racing secretary at Harrah's Louisiana Downs.

Midland Named VP of Racing Operations at Louisiana Downs

Mark Midland has been promoted to vice president of racing operations for Harrah's Louisiana Downs.

Average Wagering Declines During Relocated, Shortened Fair Grounds Meet

Fair Grounds Race Course concluded a shortened and relocated 134th season of racing on Sunday. The meet was moved to Harrah's Louisiana Downs in Bossier City, La., after Hurricane Katrina caused significant damage to and forced the temporary closure of Fair Grounds' home site in New Orleans.

Surgery for Trainer Norman After Accident

Trainer Cole Norman was injured in an all-terrain vehicle accident at his Haughton, La., home Dec. 19. Norman was scheduled to undergo surgery on his neck Wednesday at the LSU Medical Center near Shreveport, La.

Nothing Easy About Fair Grounds' Forced Move

Welcome to the "new normal." No red beans and rice. No oysters on the half shell. No cornbread dressing. The 134th season of Thoroughbred racing at Fair Grounds in New Orleans opened Nov. 19 in, of all places, Shreveport, Louisiana.

Only Faces Same in Fair Grounds' Odd Season

Except for many of the faces, very little is "usual" about Fair Grounds' 134th season of Thoroughbred racing that opens Saturday.

Purses Hiked for Fair Grounds-at-Louisiana Downs Meet

The Fair Grounds meet at Harrah's Louisiana Downs will begin Nov. 19 with a $500,000 increase in purses.

Fair Grounds-at-Louisiana Downs to Contest 34 Stakes Races

A schedule of 34 stakes races worth more than $3.5 million headlines the 37-day Fair Grounds meet beginning next month at Harrah's Louisiana Downs.

McDermott New Track Super at Lone Star

George McDermott will be the new track superintendent at Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie, Texas.

Delta Downs to Hold Meet at Evangeline

In the wake of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, which severely damaged the Fair Grounds and Delta Downs, the Louisiana Racing Commission approved a shift of racing dates and locations during a Sept. 30 meeting.

Delta Downs' Race Meeting in Question

Louisiana horsemen are busy shuffling race meetings between Evangeline Downs and Louisiana Downs after Delta Downs became the second track in the state to suffer severe damage due to a hurricane. Delta Downs was scheduled to open its 88-day Thoroughbred meeting Oct. 21.

Louisiana Downs Cancels Weekend Race Cards

Louisiana Downs casino and restaurants to continue normal operations.

Louisiana Horsemen Carrying On

A unique Fair Grounds at Louisiana Downs meet is not expected to have any effect on the way the Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders' Association distributes breeders' awards money, according to Tom Early, LTBA executive director.

Churchill Plans for 'Unique' Meet in Louisiana

As a result of damage to Fair Grounds Race Course from Hurricane Katrina, there will be no live racing there this year and plans are being made for a "unique" meet at Louisiana Downs in its place, according to Churchill Downs president and CEO Tom Meeker.