Louisiana Downs delays Super Derby's return until 2023

The Super Derby is on pause for one more year.

Louisiana Downs in Bossier City, La., has announced its signature race, which was last held in 2019, is being postponed until 2023.

The Super Derby was to have been run Sept. 10 as part of a number of improvements the new ownership of Louisiana Downs has made since acquiring the facility in late 2022.

But plans have changed in a decision recently discussed with horsemen, Kevin Preston, co-owner of Louisiana Downs, said in an interview with Daily Racing Form.

“We’ve got just a tremendous relationship with the horsemen and when we met with them earlier this week, they were behind us 100 percent postponing this Super Derby,” Preston said. “But they also said, ‘Maybe let’s look the calendar and see when we can fit ourselves in, when we’re not on top of, or competing with, other races that are going on.’

“I think we’re going to sit down with the horsemen and everybody on our racing side and decide what’s the best timing we can capitalize on this on iconic race and bring it back. Whether it’s September or earlier than that, we’ll make that decision. More to come on that for sure.”

Preston said plans are to have undercard stakes supporting the Super Derby, as has been done in years past at Louisiana Downs.

“This gives us some time to look at some other sponsorships, too,” Preston said. “We’re getting some really positive feedback from some of the businesses in town, some of the major businesses in town, that want to be a part of what we’re doing. Having this time to really think through and making sure we put our best foot forward and we put something on that people are going to really remember is important to me.”

The decision to postpone the Super Derby was made due to a couple of different factors.

“One was the timing of our acquisition, which came at the end of the year,” Preston said, “and then having to put in all the infrastructure. To me, it just didn’t feel right. This race is just so special it just didn’t feel like we had enough runway to get everything in place that we really wanted to showcase this event, especially given that this would be our first year with the Super Derby, since it hasn’t been in effect for a while.”

Preston said the added time also will allow for growth of the purse fund.

“Between that and shortly thereafter, they passed the [historical horse racing] machines. Now we’re able to have HHR machines on our casino floor. We’re getting ready to open up our first OTB in Mound, La., next Thursday with the HHR machines, and we submitted to the racing commission for four more locations. So, between the HHR machines, between the sports book revenue, the HHR revenue, and obviously those additional OTBs which we’re going to open up, we think we're going to be in a much better position next year with all the additional revenue that should be able to be put into the purses. I think that’s going to set us up for a lot better situation.”

Preston said Louisiana Downs has just replaced 50 of its older slot machines with new ones and has another 50 new machines in transit to the casino. As for the OTB parlors, they must be within a 55-mile radius of Louisiana Downs and are scheduled to be built out from existing buildings, Preston said.

Louisiana Downs closes its meet in September, and Preston said attendance and handle figures are trending up over previous years.

“We just need to continue to carry this momentum into next year and make a big splash,” he said.