Louisiana Downs notes: Pick five payoff to be guaranteed

Louisiana Downs will institute a guaranteed super pick-five jackpot payoff of $25,000 starting Thursday, said Travis Stone, the track’s announcer and mutuel manager. The bet will run on the final five races of the program.

The jackpot pays out when there is one individual ticket with all five winners. There is an $8,333 jackpot carryover pool into Thursday’s card, but Stone said regardless of pool size, if one ticket hits, Louisiana Downs is guaranteeing a payoff of $25,000.

The super pick-five jackpot was hit last Friday for the first time since June 27. It paid $889,726. Stone said the winning ticket was purchased at Belmont Park. He said it was a $270 ticket and that the bettor was alive to the majority of the field in the last leg.

Louisiana Downs has an eight-race card Thursday, so the super pick five will start in the fourth race.

Similar meet sought

Louisiana Downs has asked the Louisiana Racing Commission for an 84-date Thoroughbred meet for 2014 in a calendar that mirrors the current schedule. The track has asked to open May 2 and race through Sept. 21. The commission will consider the request at its next meeting, Aug. 19.

Louisiana Downs also has asked for a 46-date meet for Quarter Horses, from Jan. 11 to March 26.

In other date requests, Evangeline Downs has asked for an 84-date Thoroughbred meet for 2014, from April 9 through Aug. 30.

Delta Downs has asked for a 46-date meet for Quarter Horses, from April 25 to July 12.

The commission meeting in August is one of two at which dates are awarded each year in Louisiana. For example, the season has already been set for the Thoroughbred meet at Fair Grounds.

** The Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association will award a pair of $1,000 scholarships during the Louisiana Cup Day program on Saturday at Louisiana Downs. Students must enter the drawing between 12:25 p.m. and 1:25 p.m. The winner will be announced after the fifth race. Louisiana Cup Day is a program of eight stakes restricted to horses bred in Louisiana. Purses for the stakes total $570,000, making the program one of the richest of the season at Louisiana Downs.