Beem takes over as announcer as Quarter Horse meet kicks off

Louisiana Downs will open a 46-date meet for Quarter Horses with a new voice, as Jason Beem takes over in the announcer’s booth. Beem has come to the Bossier City track from Portland Meadows in Oregon, where the 34-year-old had called the races since 2006.

“Jason is an experienced race caller that has a solid social-media following,” said Trent McIntosh, director of racing operations for Louisiana Downs. “He’s an up-and-coming announcer.”

Beem takes over for Rick Mocklin, who also serves as a jockeys’ agent and as such is booking mounts at Fair Grounds in New Orleans. Beem will be a full-time announcer for Louisiana Downs, which operates a Thoroughbred meet that opens in May.

Louisiana Downs will run Quarter Horses every Saturday through Tuesday through March 25. First post will be 1 p.m. Central.

The stakes schedule is highlighted by the $100,000-added Mardi Gras Futurity and $50,000-added Mardi Gras Derby, which will share a card March 14. Both races are restricted to horses bred in Louisiana. The $75,000-added Harrah’s Futurity is an open-company race that runs March 21.

The seven-race opener Saturday features a pair of $15,000 stakes, one over 870 yards and the other over 250 yards. Both are for older horses, with G.R. Carter riding Eyesa Shoofly Dandy from the rail in the Marathon at 870 yards and First Prize Shaunda a leading contender from the fence in the Harrah’s Dash.

McIntosh said Louisiana Downs plans to card seven races a day at this meet except on Saturdays, if able to put on eight races. The shorter programs are an attempt to create fuller fields.

Purses are projected to average $66,000 per program, said McIntosh, with the stakes schedule worth around $500,000.

Louisiana Downs reduced the minimum on trifectas to 50 cents during last year’s Quarter Horse meet, and it will be back for the new meet, said McIntosh.

Horsemen returning for the new season include trainers Anthony Arey, Vann Haywood, and Kenneth Roberts, as well as jockeys John Hamilton, Gilbert Ortiz, and J.R. Ramirez.

◗ Louisiana Downs on Friday was to make a $15,000 donation to the Backside Benevolence Fund. The money will be put toward the group’s English as a Second Language program.