24 STAKES RACES WITH PURSES TOTALING $1,695,000 ON THE CALENDAR
OPELOUSAS, LA – Evangeline Downs Racetrack Casino & Hotel will begin its 52nd season of Thoroughbred racing action on April 12 in Opelousas, Louisiana. The 84-day season will run through Saturday, September 2 with live racing each Wednesday through Saturday night. The 2017 season will feature a first post time each live racing night of 5:40 pm Central time.
There will be 24 stakes races held during the season and the total purses for those races will be $1,695,000. The two biggest racing nights of the season will take place on a pair of Saturdays.
The Saturday, June 3 program will feature three stakes races, including the $100,000 Evangeline Mile for 3-year-olds and up at one mile on the main track. That night will also include the $50,000 Need For Speed Stakes for 3-year-olds and up at five furlongs on the turf course and the $50,000 Lafayette Stakes for 3-year-old Louisiana-breds at seven furlongs on the main track.
Louisiana-breds will also be in the spotlight on Louisiana Legends Night, which will be on Saturday, July 8. There will be eight stakes races run on Legends Night with purses totaling $750,000. The feature event of the evening will be the $100,000 Classic for 3-year-olds and up at 1-1/16 miles on the main track. The $100,000 Distaff is at the same distance as the Classic for fillies and mares 3 year-olds and up. There are several other stakes races on Legends Night with $100,000 purses including: the Sprint at 5-1/2 furlongs on the main track for 3-year-olds and up, the Mademoiselle at 5-1/2 furlongs on the main track for fillies and mares 3-year-olds and up, the Cheval at one mile on the main track for the 3-year-olds, the Soiree at one mile on the main track for 3-year-old fillies. There are two turf races scheduled as a part of Legends night: the $100,000 Turf at 1-1/16 miles for 3-year-olds and up and the $50,000 Starter at 7-1/2 furlongs for 3-year-olds and up.
Kentucky Derby weekend at Evangeline Downs will not only include the simulcast of the Run For The Roses from Churchill Downs, but also the $60,000 Equine Sales Oaks on Friday, May 5 at 1-1/16 miles on the main track for 3-year-old fillies and the $60,000 Equine Sales Derby on Saturday, May 6at 1-1/16 miles on the main track for 3-year-old colts and geldings.
The final stage of the stakes schedule will be focused on 2-year-olds. On Saturday, July 29, two divisions of the D.S. “Shine” Young Futurity will be run. The $75,000 Filly Division is at 5-1/2 furlongs on the main track for Louisiana-bred fillies and the $75,000 Colts and Geldings Division is also at 5-1/2 furlongs on the main track for Louisiana-bred colts and geldings.
Closing night of the season, Saturday, September 2, will also showcase two stakes races for 2-year-olds. The $50,000 Evangeline Downs Princess will be at six furlongs on the main track for fillies and the $50,000 Evangeline Downs Prince is also at six furlongs on the main track for colts and geldings.
For more information on the American Quarter Horse 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.
