FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 30, 2016
FOR MORE INFORMATION,
CONTACT MICHAEL CHAMBERLAIN
EVANGELINE DOWNS BEGINS THOROUGHBRED SEASON ON WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6
26 STAKES RACES WORTH OVER $2 MILLION ON THE 2016 DOCKET
OPELOUSAS, LA- Evangeline Downs Racetrack Casino & Hotel will kick off its 51st season of Thoroughbred racing action on April 6 in Opelousas, Louisiana. The 84-day meeting will run through Saturday, August 27 with live racing each Wednesday through Saturday night. The season will feature a new post time of 5:50 pm CT, which is a change from the former post time at Evangeline Downs of 5:40 pm.
There will be 26 stakes races held during the season with total purses in excess of $2 million. The two biggest nights of the season will occur on a pair of Saturdays. The June 4 program will include three stakes races highlighted by the $100,000 Evangeline Mile for 3-year-olds and up at one mile on the main track. Louisiana Legends Night will take place on July 2 offering eight stakes races for Louisiana-bred horses and will also include the richest event of the season, the $125,000 Louisiana Legends Classic for 3-year-olds and up going 1 1/16 miles. A total of $775,000 in stakes purse money will be offered on Louisiana Legends Night.
Here is the complete 2016 Evangeline Downs Stakes Schedule:
DATE RACE SEX/AGE DISTANCE
Friday, Apr. 8 $50,000 Cajun Miss 3YO Fillies 7 furlongs
Saturday, Apr. 9 $50,000 Ragin Cajun 3YO 7 furlongs
Friday, Apr. 22 $60,000 Opelousas 3YO & Up F&M 1 mile (TURF)
Saturday, Apr. 23 $60,000 John Henry 3YO & Up 1 1/16 miles (TURF)
Friday, May 6 $75,000 Equine Sales Oaks 3YO Fillies 1 1/16 miles
Saturday, May 7 $75,000 Equine Sales Derby 3YO C&G 1 1/16 miles
Friday, June 3 $60,000 Tellike 3YO & Up F&M 5 furlongs (TURF)
Friday, June 3 $75,000 Spotted Horse 3YO & Up F&M 1 mile
Friday, June 3 $70,000 Acadiana 3YO La-bred Fillies 7 furlongs
Saturday, June 4 $100,000 Evangeline Mile 3YO & Up 1 mile
Saturday, June 4 $60,000 Need For Speed 3YO & Up 5 furlongs (TURF)
Saturday, June 4 $70,000 Lafayette 3YO La-breds 7 furlongs
LOUISIANA LEGENDS NIGHT-ALL RACES RESTRICTED TO LOUISIANA-BREDS
Saturday, July 2 $125,000 Classic 3YO & Up 1 1/16 Miles
Saturday, July 2 $100,000 Distaff 3YO & Up F&M 1 1/16 Miles
Saturday, July 2 $100,000 Sprint 3YO & Up 5 ½ furlongs
Saturday, July 2 $100,000 Mademoiselle 3YO & Up F&M 5 ½ furlongs
Saturday, July 2 $100,000 Turf 3YO & Up 1 1/16 miles (TURF)
Saturday, July 2 $100,000 Cheval 3YO 1 mile (TURF)
Saturday, July 2 $100,000 Soiree 3YO Fillies 1 mile (TURF)
Saturday, July 2 $50,000 Starter 3YO & Up 1 1/16 miles
Saturday, July 16 $100,000 D.S. Shine Young 2YO Fillies 5 ½ furlongs
Saturday, July 16 $100,000 D.S. Shine Young 2YO C&G 5 ½ furlongs
Saturday, Aug. 20 $60,000 Owners’ Day Distaff 3YO & Up F&M 1 1/16 Miles (TURF)
Saturday, Aug. 20 $60,000 Owners’ Day Cup 3YO & Up 1 1/16 Miles (TURF)
Saturday, Aug. 27 $60,000 EvD Prince 2YO 6 furlongs
Saturday, Aug. 27 $60,000 EvD Princess 2YO Fillies 6 furlongs
Improvements have been made to the turf course at Evangeline Downs for the 2016 Thoroughbred season. The racetrack has hired Randall Leger as the new Track Superintendent. Leger has supervised the turf course improvements, with the assistance of consultant Bode Boudreaux and turf specialist Scott Guidry. Turf rye has been planted on the course, which has also been top-dressed with sub-angular sand. This has allowed the course to now have a more solid foundation and root system. It is expected to be at three inches for the start of the racing season. The end goal of the renovations to the Evangeline Downs turf is to make it one of the finest turf courses in the United States.
For more information on the Thoroughbred season at Evangeline Downs, visit the track’s website at www.evdracing.com. Evangeline Downs’ Twitter handle is @EVDRacing and the racetrack is also accessible on Facebook at www.facebook.com/EvangelineDownsRacing.
About Evangeline Downs
Evangeline Downs Racetrack Casino & Hotel is owned by Boyd Gaming Corporation, a leading diversified owner and operator of 22 gaming entertainment properties located in Nevada, New Jersey, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana and Mississippi. Boyd Gaming press releases are available at www.prnewswire.com. Additional news and information can be found at www.boydgaming.com, or www.evangelinedowns.com.
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