Delta cancels Jackpot, Princess for 2018

The Grade 3, $1 million Delta Downs Jackpot, which has been a points race for the Kentucky Derby, will not be held in 2018, according to officials with Delta Downs and the Louisiana Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association. It is the second year the race has been canceled after the 2017 running was lost due to Hurricane Harvey.

The Jackpot was first introduced in 2002. It is a 1 1/16-mile race for 2-year-olds that has traditionally been run in late November or early December. The Jackpot long has shared a card with the Grade 3, $400,000 Princess for 2-year-old fillies, which also has been canceled for 2018. The Princess has been a points race for the Kentucky Oaks.

The cancellations were made after discussions between Delta and the Louisiana HBPA.

“While it was our original intent to move forward with the Delta Downs Jackpot this year, we changed course after lengthy discussions with the state’s horsemen,” Steve Kuypers, vice president and general manager of Delta, said in a statement to Daily Racing Form. “They made it clear to us that they were vehemently opposed to proceeding with the Jackpot, as they felt the prize money could be put to better use in strengthening purses for the rest of our racing schedule.

“We have honored their request, and will not proceed with the Delta Downs Jackpot in 2018.”

Benard Chatters, president of the Louisiana HBPA, said a majority of horsemen felt the Jackpot and Princess funds were "better utilized in the overnight races," at Delta.

“The horse people overwhelmingly want to see that money utilized in our overnight races as opposed to two large events,” he said. “It’s really nice to have the signature race, but at the same time it’s really difficult for overnight purses to keep pace with the everyday cost of owning and training racehorses.

“It’s two very large purses coming directly from the horsemen’s purse account into two races, and that’s a tough sell for the local horsemen. And, pretty much everything is going up in the business – supplies, feed, hay, and all that stuff. Purses are at best stagnant over the last five, six years in the state of Louisiana."

Chatters said when the Jackpot and Princess were canceled last year due to Hurricane Harvey, the increase in overnight purses was meaningful to local horsemen. He said maiden special weights for Louisiana-breds rose from $40,000 to $50,000 toward the end of the season at Delta.

“We were able to have purse increases that made a difference in the lives of everyday horsemen,” he said.

Delta has not yet released its stakes schedule for the Thoroughbred meet. The track was recently awarded dates by the Louisiana Racing Commission. Delta was granted 84 dates from Oct. 17, 2018 to March 9, 2019.

The Jackpot has been won by such horses as Big Drama, Exaggerator, Goldencents, and Gunnevera. The list of Princess winners include By the Light, My Trusty Cat, Take Charge Brandi, and Tepin.