Delta Downs opens for 46-day Quarter Horse meet

Delta Downs in Vinton, La., will open for a 46-date Quarter Horse meet on Saturday night. The season will run through July 3.

Delta will offer 27 stakes worth more than $1.5 million. The first is Saturday night, with the running of the $50,000 John Alleman Memorial. Some of the bigger offerings during the meet include the Firecracker Futurity and Firecracker Derby on July 2, and the Louisiana Showcase program July 3.

Jockey Alfonso Lujan will be seeking his fourth Delta title, behind local championships in 2007, 2008, and 2010. Kenneth Roberts Sr., who picked up his third Delta training title in 2010, is back to defend his championship against past training leaders Heath Taylor and Janet Van Bebber.
Delta will race on a Thursday through Sunday basis. First post is 6:45 p.m. Central nightly except on Sundays, when the card will start at 3:05 p.m. Delta will offer live streaming video of its races on its website, at www.deltadowns.com.