Patterson Named Racing Secretary at Louisiana Downs
Sam Houston Park's Tony Patterson has been named racing secretary at Harrah's Louisiana Downs.
Louisiana Downs
News, Articles, Videos and other content about 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
- By Leslie Deckard
- News, Racing
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
- By Leslie Deckard
- News, Racing
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
- By Leslie Deckard
- News, Racing
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
- By Ron Mitchell
- News
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.
Churchill to Run Part of Fair Grounds Meet at Louisiana Downs
Churchill Downs Incorporated announced Friday the company is exploring options to conduct a portion of Fair Grounds Race Course's 2005-2006 live race meet at Louisiana Downs in Bossier City, La.
Choosing Choice Reaches Sire Status
Choosing Choice's first two winners are both from this year's 2-year-old crop.
Purses at Louisiana Downs Increased for 2005 Season
Harrah's Louisiana Downs announced today that they have increased purse offerings for the 2005 racing season, which opens April 29 and runs through Oct. 9, to average $210,000 per day. In addition, the purse for the Super Derby XXVI (gr. II) was increased from $500,000 to $750,000 and the distance returned to 1 1/4 miles.
Louisiana Brings Back Stallion Stakes
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.
Ray Joins Ellis Park as Marketing Director
Jennifer Ray has been appointed director of marketing at Ellis Park. Ray, who held the same position at Louisiana Downs for the past 17 years, replaces Bob Cunningham, who recently resigned due to relocation.
Imperialism Heads Super Derby Eligibles
Imperialism, the third-place finisher in this year's Kentucky Derby (gr. I), heads the list of 3-year-olds who remain eligible for the Sept. 25 Super Derby at Louisiana Downs.
Delta Leads Way in Louisiana Racino Purses
Delta Downs Racetrack & Casino reigned as Louisiana's top moneymaking racino in the first six months of 2004, according to figures from the Louisiana Gaming Control Board. Overall, the state's three racinos generated more than $19.8 million for purses in the first six months of this year.
Jockey Meche Returns To Saddle
Jockey Donnie Meche will return to the saddle Friday at Louisiana Downs for the first time since the Delta Downs stewards suspended him in January 2003. Meche is scheduled to ride Unbridled Tick (6-1) in the eighth race for trainer Steve Asmussen.
Harrah's Louisiana Downs Rejoins NTRA
Harrah's Louisiana Downs in Bossier City, La., has rejoined the National Thoroughbred Racing Association.
Clark Scores 2,000th Career Win at Evangeline
Kerwin "Boo Boo" Clark recorded his 2,000th career winner May 6 when he won the sixth race at Evangeline Downs aboard Golden Rail.
Louisiana Downs Opens Expanded Slots Parlor
Harrah's Louisiana Downs opened its new slot-machine casino April 30, with a grand opening tied to the start of live Thoroughbred racing May 14.
Louisiana Racinos Produce $40M for Purses So Far
The slot-machine parlor at the Delta Downs Racetrack & Casino reigns as the most profitable racino in Louisiana, having generated more than $33 million in purse money the past two years, according to the Louisiana Gaming Control Board. In all, three racinos have produced more than $40 million for horsemen.
Memorial Service Set for Prominent Owner/Breeder Franks
A memorial service for prominent Thoroughbred owner and breeder John Franks, who died Dec. 31 at the age of 78, is set for Jan. 3.
Jackpot to Return; Similar Races Suggested for State
The $1-million Delta Jackpot Dec. 5 at Delta Downs generated so much exposure and money for the racetrack that it will return next year, said general manager Jack Bernsmeier, who would like to see similar big-money races at all Louisiana tracks.
Handle Figures Strong at Louisiana Downs
Louisiana Downs concluded its 2003 racing season Sunday with increases in on-track, off-track, and total handle. With the opening of the slots casino earlier this year, the track no longer keeps attendance records.
Soto and Ten Most Wanted Star in Super Derby
Six horses are entered for Saturday's $500,000 Super Derby (gr. II), but it could end up being a two-horse race. The 4-5 favorite, Ten Most Wanted, and the 8-5 second choice, Soto, are the only two graded stakes winners in the field.
Ten Most Wanted Tops Super Derby Nominees
Headed by Travers Stakes (gr. I) winner Ten Most Wanted, the connections of 12 horses have made sustaining payments for the grade II, $500,000 Super Derby XXIV at Louisiana Downs on Sept. 20.
Louisiana Racino Appears to Impact Riverboat Casinos
Slot machines at Louisiana Downs in Bossier City, La., appear to have impacted five riverboat casinos in the Shreveport/Bossier City market, according to July revenue reports filed with the Louisiana Gaming Control Board.
Super Derby Next for Soto
Trainer Michael Dickinson reports that Soto, winner of $600,000 West Virginia Derby (gr. III) in his last start on Aug. 9, will make his next start in the $500,000 Super Derby (gr. II) at Louisiana Downs. The 24th running of the nine-furlong Super Derby will be on Sept. 20.
Louisiana Downs to Expand Racing Schedule
The Louisiana State Racing Commission approved a request by Louisiana Downs to run 122 dates in 2004, an increase of 42 days over the current year. The track will run 102 Thoroughbred dates from May 14 through Oct. 31 and 20 days of Quarter Horse racing from Nov. 10 through Dec. 12. The Quarter Horse meet will be the first in the track's history.
Stewards Deny Meche License Application
Jockey Donnie Meche had his application for a riding license rejected by Louisiana Downs stewards Thursday, rendering a stay of his one-year suspension by the Louisiana State Racing Commission on July 1 useless.
Death of Jockey Chris Valovich Ruled Suicide
Arkansas native Chris Valovich, who rose up from a leading apprentice rider at Oaklawn Park in 1983 to garner more than 2,000 wins in 20 years, was cremated June 24 in Arizona after he died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound four days earlier in Phoenix.
Louisiana Downs Slots Revenue Already in Millions
The racino at Louisiana Downs in Bossier City, La., took in more than $2.6 million in revenue in its first 11 days of operation, according to figures released by the Louisiana Gaming Control Board. The 905 slot machines went online May 21.
Louisiana Downs Slot Machines to Go Online
Louisiana Downs in Bossier City, La., will turn on its slot machines May 21 well in advance of its live Thoroughbred meet that begins June 27.
Louisiana Downs Gets OK to Install Slot Machines
The Louisiana State Gaming Control Board gave its approval Feb. 18 for Harrah's Entertainment to operate slot machines at Louisiana Downs.
Harrah's Purchase of Louisiana Downs OK'd
The transfer of Louisiana Downs' horse-racing license to Harrah's Bossier City Investment Co. is nearly complete after the Louisiana Racing Commission approved the move Thursday.
Integration of Racing and Gaming Debated by Panel
- By Tom LaMarra
- News
Can racing and gaming be integrated in one facility? Apparently so, but the final product won't look the same from racetrack to racetrack.
Louisiana Downs Financial Investment May Increase
Harrah's Entertainment may increase the initial $157 million it wants to spend on Louisiana Downs, the Bossier City racetrack it purchased this year. The casino company plans to install 1,500 slot machines at the track when the acquisition is complete.
Numbers Improve at Louisiana Downs
Louisiana Downs concluded its 80-day meet Sunday with across-the-board increases in attendance and wagering.
Here and There
Louisiana Downs honors meet champs...Hoosier Park prepares for Ladies' Night...Sam Houston hosts owners' seminar...Zito bobblehead to hit Churchill.
Harrah's Included in Louisiana Suitability Investigation
The Louisiana Gaming Control Board has ordered a suitability investigation into Harrah's Entertainment in regard to its announced purchase of Louisiana Downs.
Super Derby Field Taking Shape
A potential field of eight is taking shape for Louisiana Downs' Super Derby XXIII (gr. II), to be run Sept. 21. For the first time the race will be run at 1 1/8 miles instead of the traditional classic distance of 1 1/4 miles.
With Sale, Evangeline Downs Poised for Big Move
Peninsula Gaming of Delaware has acquired all of Evangeline Downs near Lafayette, La., and has purchased more than 500 acres for the track's new location and slot-machine parlor.
Harrah's to Buy Louisiana Downs
Casino operator Harrah's Entertainment has announced it has signed a letter of intent to purchase a 95% stake in Louisiana Downs for $157 million.
Here and There...
Racing and breeding news and information.
Peninsula Gaming Eyeing Full Ownership of Evangeline Downs
Peninsula Gaming, an Iowa riverboat operator, may soon be the sold owner of Evangeline Downs racetrack in Southern Louisiana.
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