Louisiana Downs to open, close later in 2010

Louisiana Downs will start and end next year's Thoroughbred meet about two weeks later than the current season after the Louisiana Racing Commission on Monday approved the track's request for an 84-date meet for 2010.

Louisiana Downs in Bossier City will open May 29 and run through Oct. 17, 2010. The current meet ends Oct. 4. The commission on Monday also approved a 46-date Quarter Horse meet for Louisiana Downs next year, from Jan. 9 through March 24.

Evangeline Downs in Opelousas was awarded an 89-date Thoroughbred meet for 2010, from April 7 to Sept. 6. In other date action, the commission awarded Delta Downs in Vinton a 52-date Quarter Horse meet from April 14 to July 10.

The commission assigns dates for the state's tracks at two different times during the year, and has already allotted Thoroughbred meets for Fair Grounds and Delta.

Also on Monday, the commission approved a request from Fair Grounds to reopen an off-track betting parlor located at 8700 W. Judge Perez Drive in Chalmette, La. It had been closed since Hurricane Katrina, said Charles Gardiner, the executive director for the commission.