Super Derby highlights 55-day Louisiana Downs meet

The $250,000 Super Derby will highlight the Louisiana Downs meet that opens on Saturday with an increase in purses and a new summer break. The 55-date season runs through Sept. 30.

“We’re excited,” said Roxanne Tanner, director of racing for Louisiana Downs. “Any time you kick off a race meet, there’s always a special kind of enthusiasm in the air. We’re always excited to see our Thoroughbred horsemen come back from their winter destinations.”

Louisiana Downs will race every Monday and Tuesday, with the exception of the two-week break from July 4 to July 19. The track will add Wednesdays to its calendar starting July 22. There also are special Saturday cards for the Triple Crown dates and stakes cards, according to Tanner.

“Our two major stakes days are Sept. 12, with the Super Derby,” she said, “and Sept. 19, which is Louisiana Cup Day for all the Louisiana-breds.”

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Tanner said the Super Derby will again be run over 1 1/8 miles. There will be one other stakes on the card, the Yellow Hammer, which is for Alabama-breds. The Louisiana Cup card will feature six $75,000 restricted stakes.

Tanner said the date for the Louisiana Cup was moved from late August last year to the middle of September after discussions with stakeholders. The new placement complements other industry activities, like an annual yearling auction in Louisiana.

Purses at the meet are projected to average $93,000 a card, up from $73,000 a program last season, said Tanner. The track will run seven races a card most of the season. Among the stables in place for the new meet are those belonging to trainers Steve Asmussen, Joey Foster, Shane Wilson, and Jonathan Wong.

Tanner said Louisiana Downs is awaiting some stables from the Oaklawn meet that ends Saturday. In addition, she expects an influx of runners from Texas when Lone Star Park ends in July.

For some of the July break, the infield and apron areas will be utilized for storing items related to the Red River Hot Air Balloon Rally. The hiatus also gives the local racing community a break from the summer heat, noted Tanner. Racing picks back up on July 20.

In other changes, Tanner said Coady Media is the new track photographer.

Post time for most cards will be 4:05 p.m. Central, with a special 2:35 p.m. start on opening day and a 3:35 p.m. post on Memorial Day and the stakes days, Sept. 12 and Sept. 19.

Louisiana Downs has an ontrack casino with about 500 slot machines, according to officials.

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