Louisiana Downs meet shifting

The Louisiana Racing Commission on Monday approved a request by Louisiana Downs to open and close its upcoming Thoroughbred meet earlier than scheduled. The Bossier City, La., track will now open on May 1 and run through Sept. 26, said Trent McIntosh, the director of racing operations for Louisiana Downs. The season will be 84 days in length, the same duration as the track's original schedule of May 29 through Oct. 17.

Louisiana Downs will race Thursday through Sunday, except for the first two weeks of the meet, when the track will race only on Saturday and Sunday.

McIntosh said there were a couple of reasons for requesting the date change for Louisiana Downs.

"We're just making a shift back to early May because we wanted to take in the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness," he said.

McIntosh also said the dates will flow better for horsemen because both Delta Downs in Vinton, La., and Fair Grounds in New Orleans close in late March.