Delta Downs hoping to start meet in November

Delta Downs in Vinton, La., has announced its Thoroughbred meet could start in late November as it continues repairing damage caused by Hurricane Laura.

Delta had been scheduled to open Oct. 6 and race for 84 dates through Feb. 27. But officials had to postpone the meet indefinitely after the Aug. 27 hurricane, which took out the track’s tote board, upended a starting gate, downed power lines, and left a large amount of debris in the stable area.

Delta expects to be able to receive horses on its backstretch in late October. Officials said the track may seek approval from the Louisiana Racing Commission to race beyond Feb. 27.

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“Boyd Gaming and Delta Downs are committed to hosting a successful 2020-21 Thoroughbred meet here in Vinton, Louisiana,” Steve Kuypers, vice president and general manager of Delta, said in a release.

Delta will post updates on when horses can ship into the stable area and when the meet will start on its website, according to the press release.

At present there is no Thoroughbred racing in Louisiana. Louisiana Downs closed out its meet Saturday and Fair Grounds does not open until November.