Evangeline sets new first post, will reschedule two turf stakes

Evangeline Downs in Opelousas, La., was to shift to a 5:25 p.m. Central first post starting Saturday night. It will remain in place through the close of the meet Sept. 2. The new post is 15 minutes earlier; the change is to avoid overlapping with other tracks, said Chris Warren, director of racing for Evangeline.

Warren said Evangeline hopes to start racing over its turf course in four to six weeks, pending the results of a “sprigging” procedure done to the course Tuesday. The track has had to delay the start of turf racing at this meet due to bare areas on the course. Officials had initially hoped to be on the surface this coming Wednesday.

Warren said two turf stakes, the Tellike on June 2 and the Need For Speed on June 3, will be rescheduled, likely for July. Another set of turf stakes, the John Henry and Opelousas, also are to be run later in the meet, Warren said. He said the best fit for the four turf stakes probably would be about three weeks after the Louisiana Legends Night program that takes place July 8.

Asmussen, Sexton to Texas Hall

Trainer Steve Asmussen and the late racing executive Steve Sexton are among five to be inducted into the Texas Horse Racing Hall of Fame on Oct. 21 at Retama Park near San Antonio. The names of the inductees were released through the Texas Thoroughbred Association.

The class also will include O.C. “Preacher” O’Quinn, Johnny Trotter, and the Quarter Horse Ochoa.

Asmussen was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 2016.

◗ Lake and Ladonna Newcomb lost horses, their home, and barns in a tornado that hit Elk City, Okla., on Tuesday, according to a notice from the Heritage Place sales company. Lake Newcomb sits on the board of the Oklahoma Quarter Horse Racing Association. A GoFundMe account has been set up for the couple, according to Heritage Place.