Louisiana Downs experiments with two all-turf programs

The Super Derby will again be the focal point of the Louisiana Downs meet that opens Saturday, but officials also plan to emphasize turf racing during the 84-date season. In a new twist, there will be two full cards of grass racing at this meet, with the first slated for June 18 and the other July 16.

“We wanted to do something different,” said Trent McIntosh, director of operations for Louisiana Downs. “I think it will gain some traction and chatter around the country just for the sake of trying something different. We’re going to give it a shot, see if it’s something we can build on.”

McIntosh said Louisiana Downs will make the turf programs event days ontrack, with retired jockey Randy Romero scheduled to make an appearance June 18 and Churchill Downs announcer Travis Stone set to return to where he formerly called races on July 16.

The Louisiana Downs season runs through Sept. 24. The meet’s richest offering remains the $400,000 Super Derby. The 1 1/8-mile race for 3-year-olds goes Sept. 10. It is part of a 14-race stakes schedule worth $1.3 million, and it will be run as a Grade 3 this year after holding Grade 2 status last season when won by Mobile Bay.

The Super Derby will be showcased on a program of five stakes worth a total of $700,000. The supporting stakes will all be run on turf and include a pair of one-mile offerings for 2-year-olds. The meet’s other major stakes card is Aug. 6, when Louisiana Downs will put on six divisional stakes races for Louisiana-breds, plus a prep for the Super Derby, the $100,000 Prelude.

Racing will be conducted Wednesdays through Saturdays, with special Monday cards added May 30, July 4, and Sept. 5. First post daily will be 3:15 p.m. Central. Louisiana Downs moved to the later start time about a month and a half into the season in 2015.

“It worked out for us,” McIntosh said. “Some of the major race cards are ending by the time we get to the third race. We get a bump in handle midcard, and people ride us out. We’re kind of a bridge, a crossover [signal].”

Louisiana Downs is scheduled to run seven races a program with the exception of Super Derby Day, when the track will put on 12 or 13 races and also have an earlier first post, said McIntosh.

Purses at this meet are projected to average $108,000 a program. There were about 1,100 horses in the barn area as of Wednesday, according to McIntosh.

“With the number of races we’re running, that’s an appropriate number,” he said.

Louisiana Downs drew an average of 10.7 horses a race for Saturday’s opener. The card is led by an oversubscribed first-level allowance on turf that drew Drakarys, the runner-up in the $75,000 Big Drama at Delta Downs, and It’s All Up to You, a maiden winner at Churchill.

Richard Eramia is back to defend his riding title, while last year’s leading trainer, Karl Broberg, also has returned for the new meet.