Arapahoe Park delays meet until August

Arapahoe Park on Tuesday received Colorado Racing Commission approval to conduct a fall meet for 2021. The 32-date season will run from Aug. 11-Oct. 2. There had been an order to delay racing to 2022 in part because of the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, but it was rescinded Tuesday.

Arapahoe, which conducts a mixed meet for Thoroughbreds and Quarter Horses, generally races from late May to the middle of August. The track will begin receiving horses July 27, an Arapahoe official told the commission Tuesday.

The official also said plans are to have seven races per card, with purses projected to average $71,000 per day. Arapahoe plans to race Wednesday through Saturday with a first post of noon Mountain.

Fonner selects casino partner

Fonner Park has selected Elite Casino Resorts of Iowa as its casino operator, the Grand Island, Neb., track announced. The track is able to have casino gaming after a referendum passed.

The $100 million casino resort project at Fonner will include a 116-room hotel and areas for as many as 850 slot machines, 20 table games, a sports book, and restaurants.

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It will be called the Grand Island Casino Resort at Fonner Park.

Louisiana Downs opens May 1

A year after the ongoing pandemic delayed the traditional start date of the Louisiana Downs meet, the track announced Monday that this season will open as scheduled May 1. The 84-date meet extends to Sept. 22.

The Super Derby, which was canceled last year, will not be run in 2021, according to a press release. The track will release its stakes schedule at a later date. Louisiana Downs will race on a Saturday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday basis, with first post 2:45 p.m. Central.