Delta adjusts stakes for shortened meet
Delta Downs in Vinton, La., has revised its stakes schedule to fit an abbreviated, 40-date meet at the track from Jan. 18 through March 25. Delta was unable to begin its 88-date meet as scheduled on Oct. 21 after the track sustained considerable damage from Hurricane Rita.
There are 14 stakes worth $1,020,000 on the revised calendar. The highlight is the Louisiana Premier Night program, when six Louisiana-bred stakes worth $570,000 will be decided Feb. 18. The richest race on the card will be the $150,000 Championship.
The meet will close with a pair of routes for older horses: the $75,000 Goddess for fillies and mares 4 years old and up at one mile, and the $75,000 Gulf Coast Classic for 4-year-olds and up at 1 1/16 miles. Both races will be run March 25.
Delta previously canceled its Grade 3, $1 million Delta Jackpot and $250,000 Delta Princess, both for 2-year-olds. The races were to be held the first week of December.
Stall applications for the meet are due Dec. 19.
Jack Bernsmeier, general manager of Delta, said earlier this month that purses for the meet are projected to average $184,000 a day. Delta is in the process of rebuilding barns after losing 20 of its 22 stables to Rita.
2006 Delta Downs stakes schedule
| DATE | EVENT | CONDITIONS | DISTANCE | PURSE |
| Fri.,Jan. 20 | Genesis | 3YO F | 6 1/2 furlongs | $50,000 |
| Fri.,Jan. 20 | Triple Sec | 3YO | 6 1/2 furlongs | 50,000 |
| Fri.,Feb. 3 | Sweetheart | F&M, 4YO & Up | 7 furlongs | 50,000 |
| Fri.,Feb. 3 | Delta Mile | 4YO & Up | 1 mile | 50,000 |
| Sat.,Feb. 18 | Premier Night Championship | 4YO & Up* | 1 1/16 miles | 150,000 |
| Sat.,Feb. 18 | Premier Night Distaff | F&M, 4YO & Up* | 1 mile | 100,000 |
| Sat.,Feb. 18 | Premier Night Starlet | 3YO F* | 7 furlongs | 100,000 |
| Sat.,Feb. 18 | Premier Night Prince | 3YO* | 7 furlongs | 100,000 |
| Sat.,Feb. 18 | Premier Night Matron | F&M, 4YO & Up* | 5 furlongs | 60,000 |
| Sat.,Feb. 18 | Premier Night Sprint | 4YO & Up* | 5 furlongs | 60,000 |
| Fri.,March 3 | Green Oaks | 3YO F | 1mile | 50,000 |
| Fri.,March 3 | Sportsman's Paradise | 3YO | 1 mile | 50,000 |
| Sat.,March 25 | Goddess | F&M, 4YO & Up | 1 mile | 75,000 |
| Sat.,March 25 | Gulf Coast Classic | 4YO & Up | 1 1/16 miles | 100,000 |
* Louisiana-breds