Delta sees handle spike on rare afternoon card

Delta Downs put on a special afternoon program last Thursday, Jan. 3, and betting on the 10-race card from all sources was more than $2.5 million, a meet high, according to the track’s director of racing, Chris Warren.

Delta made the call to switch to the afternoon post eight days in advance, after Warren noticed there were few tracks putting on daytime cards a few days removed from the New Year’s holiday. He received commission approval for the switch. The decision for the daytime post was made prior to entries being taken for Jan. 3.

“That day just happened to be a perfect storm,” Warren said of last Thursday. “We tried to take advantage and it paid off.”

Delta has night programs scheduled for the remainder of its meet, which began Oct. 17 and ends March 9.

◗ Delta Downs-based jockey Roberto Morales has a serious rooting interest for the upcoming Eclipse Awards. He is the older brother of Edgar Morales, who on Saturday was named one of the finalists for outstanding apprentice jockey of 2018.

◗ Zacksgotthis, Noisey Boy, and Salutetheprince appear to be the chief players in Wednesday night’s featured eighth race at Delta. The first-level allowance for 4-year-olds and up will be run at a mile and it is restricted to horses bred in Louisiana.

◗ The injured jockey Ashley Broussard has her first mounts since Oct. 19 in Wednesday night’s fourth and fifth races at Delta.

◗ Quincy Hamilton has been riding regularly at Delta since last Thursday. He came from Tampa Bay Downs.

◗ Louisiana Downs opened a Quarter Horse meet Saturday, and also operates as a training center for Thoroughbreds and weekend workers. Brad Cox and Robertino Diodoro are among those who train horses there. Both have stables at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark.