84-DAY MEETING WRAPPED UP ON SATURDAY NIGHT WITH A 12-RACE CARD

VINTON, LA. – Delta Downs closed out its 2017-18 Thoroughbred season on Saturday night with a special 12-race program. During the night, the track honored its leading horsemen for the 84-day meeting that began on October 18.

Jockey Diego Saenz won his second consecutive and fourth leading rider title overall at Delta Downs this year while Karl Broberg won his seventh consecutive leading trainer crown. The title of leading owner went to End Zone Athletics, Inc. for the sixth time in the last seven years. End Zone Athletics, Inc. is made up of Karl Broberg and Matt Johanson.

Saenz led all jockeys in terms of wins and mount earnings as he enjoyed 109 trips to the winner’s circle while his mounts earned a total of $2,530,635. The 39-year-old resident of Carencro, Louisiana had previously won titles during the 2009-10, 2013-14, and 2016-17 seasons.

Following Saenz in the final jockey standings were Timothy Thornton (93 wins), Gerard Melancon (69), Ashley Broussard (55), Roberto Morales (53), Luis Negron (47), Jansen Melancon (34), Jose Guerrero (30), Steve Bourque (27), and Eddie Martin, Jr. (26).

Karl Broberg saddled 83 winners to capture the leading trainer crown during the season and his barn also led all trainers in earnings with a total of $1,801,310. The 47-year-old resident of Arlington, Texas began his current streak of leading trainer titles at Delta Downs during the 2011-12 season and has led the entire nation in wins for four calendar years in a row, 2014-2017.

Rounding out the top 10 trainers for the season at Delta Downs were Eduardo Ramirez (34), Thomas Amoss (30), Brett Brinkman (28), Scott Gelner (26), Sam Breaux (24), Shane Wilson (24), Joel Berndt (19), Henry B. Johnson, Jr. (17), J. R. Caldwell (16).

End Zone Athletics Inc. saw 43 of their runners make it to the winner’s circle from 175 starts this year to earn the leading owner title again this year. The barn, which is made up of primarily allowance and claiming horses, tallied total earnings of $854,250.

Rounding out the top 10 owners for the meet were Karl Broberg (19), Red Rose Racing (Jimmy Johnson) (16), Maggi Moss (15), Wayne T. Davis (14), Norman Stables, LLC (Robert A. Norman) (12), Brittlyn Stable Inc. (Evelyn Benoit) (11), Indian Creek Thoroughbred Farm, LLC (Phillip Mark Dison) (9), Larry Elenz and Janice Krueger (9), and Donald Melancon (8).

Delta Downs is now preparing for its 2018 American Quarter Horse season, which gets underway on Friday, April 20. The 46-day stand will run through July 7 with live racing each Wednesday through Saturday night starting at 6:15 pm CT.

Delta Downs Racetrack Casino and Hotel, a property of Boyd Gaming Corporation (NYSE:BYD), features exciting casino action, live horse racing and fun dining experiences. Delta Downs is located in Vinton, Louisiana, on Delta Downs Drive. From Lake Charles take Exit 7 and from Texas, take Exit 4 off I-10.