Each race in the series is expected to carry a purse in excess of $100,000.
The Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders' Association is bringing back the Louisiana Stallion Stakes program. The program originally began in the late 1970s and was discontinued during the 1990s."With the dramatic increases in purses and breeders awards in recent years, due largely to the legalization of slot machines at Delta Downs, Evangeline Downs, and Louisiana Downs, and the subsequent influx of many new stallions to the state, the LTBA board felt it was the right time to revive the series," said Tom Early, executive secretary of the Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders' Association.Races are restricted to Louisiana-bred 2-year-olds that are sired by participating registered Louisiana stallions. The first races, with separate divisions for colts/geldings and fillies, will be contested in late summer or early fall 2008. Nominating a stallion for the 2005 breeding season will make foals of 2006 eligible to be nominated to the 2008 Louisiana Stallion Stakes. Foals must be nominated after they are born or may be nominated late in the yearling year at the late nomination fee.Stallion nomination fees are half the advertised stud fee. Foal nomination fees are $100 by Oct. 1 of the weanling year and $500 by Nov. 1 of yearling year.