Category: Evangeline Downs

EVANGELINE DOWNS 2017 TB SEASON STARTS APRIL 12 ~ STALL APPLICATIONS DUE FEBRUARY 24

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 OPELOUSAS, LA – Evangeline Downs’ 2017 Thoroughbred racing season will begin on Wednesday, April 12 and continue through Saturday, September 2. There will be 84 days of live racing run on a Wednesdaythrough Saturday weekly schedule during the season.

All horsemen interested in submitting a stall application to Evangeline Downs must do so by Friday, February 24. To obtain a stall application, horsemen can visit the website www.evdracing.com and click on the “Horsemen’s Info” tab at the top of the homepage. To contact Evangeline Downs directly, horsemen can call the racing office at 337-594-3000.

The highlight events on the Evangeline Downs Thoroughbred racing schedule include the $100,000 Evangeline Mile for 3-year-olds and up at one mile on the main track on Saturday, June 3 and Louisiana Legends Night on Saturday, July 8, which will feature eight Louisiana-bred stakes races with purses totaling $750,000

The Evangeline Mile program will also include two other stakes races: the $50,000 Need For Speed Stakes for 3-year-olds and up at five furlongs on turf and the $50,000 Lafayette Stakes for Louisiana-bred 3-year-olds at seven furlongs on the main track.

Louisiana Legends Night, a celebration of the Louisiana-bred Thoroughbred, is highlighted by the $100,000 Classic for 3-year-olds and up at 1-1/16 miles on the main track. There will be six other $100,000 stakes races on Legends Night: the Distaff for fillies and mares 3-year-olds and up at 1-1/16 miles on the main track, the Sprint for 3-year-olds and up at 5-½ furlongs on the main track, the Mademoiselle for fillies and mares 3-year-olds and up at 5-½ furlongs on the main track, the Turf for 3-year-olds and up at 1-1/16 miles on the turf, the Cheval for 3-year-olds at one mile on the main track, and the Soiree for 3-year-old fillies at one mile on the main track. There will also be the $50,000 Starter for 3-year-olds at up at 7-½ furlongs on the turf.

The full 2017 Stakes Schedule is still pending official approval from the Louisiana Racing Commission.

First post time for each live racing night at Evangeline Downs for the 2017 Thoroughbred season will be 5:40 pm Central Time.

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.

 

Freshman Sire Tight Grip Two for Two

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tight-gripLouisiana Freshman sire Tight Grip has two winners from two starters in his first crop.

Tight Grip got his first winner July 28 at Evangeline Downs when Onefor Thegripper won at first asking by a length in a five-furlong maiden claimer. The final time was 1:01.65. His second starter, Good Gosh Gene also won a five-furlong maiden claimer at the Opelousas oval.

Tight Grip is a winning son of Distorted Humor—Roman Song (Sultry Song) who was bred in Kentucky by Charles Nuckols & Sons. Gary and Mary West bought the colt for $300,000 as a yearling and earned nearly $274,000 with him at the track.

Tight Grip stands at Caswick Farm in Sunset, Louisiana for $1,000

Equine Sales of Louisiana and Evangeline Downs Host Pre-Sale Party

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Equines Sales Company and Evangeline Downs Racetrack and Casino are holding a pre-sale party this evening, Tuesday, September 6, 2016 in Mojo’s Sports Bar in conjunction with Equine Sales Company’s 2016 Consignor Select Yearling Sale.

The party will take place between 6:00 and 8:00 p.m.. Hors d’oeuvres will be served and a cash bar will be available.

The sale starts at 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, September 7, at the Equine Sales pavilion, 372 Harry Guilbeau Road, Opelousas, Louisiana

SIR GENGHIS IN CHARGE TO WIN THE OWNER’S DAY CUP

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OPELOUSAS, LA- SirSIR GENGHIS - Owner's Day Cup - 08-20-16 - R08 - EVD - Finish Genghis went right to the lead and never looked back to score a victory in the $60,000 Owner’s Day Cup on Saturday night at Evangeline Downs. The win was the second stakes score of the season for the gelding, who had previously won the $60,000 Need For Speed at Evangeline Downs in June. There is an odd twist to both stakes wins for Sir Genghis this season in that both races were taken off the turf.

 

Sir Genghis, who was sent off as the 6-5 betting favorite, was sent to the front by jockey Kerwin Clark right out of the gate and set solid early fractions of 24.09 seconds for the quarter-mile and 48.38 seconds for the half-mile. He received token early pressure from longshot Mr. Shad and withstood a late charge from Future Express, who ranged up on the outside on the far turn. Sir Genghis had plenty left in the tank to register a four-length victory in a final time of 1:46.14 for the 1 1/16 miles over the fast main track.

 

Sir Genghis paid $4.60 to win, $3.20 to place and $2.80 to show. Future Express finished second and returned $10.40 to place and $5.80 to show. Four Leaf Chief came home third and paid $3.60 to show.

 

Sir Genghis is a 5-year-old gelding bred in Louisiana by Randel Stutes. He is owned by Gillian and Kirk Harris and the trainer is Chad Pitzer. He was sired by Tale of the Cat and is out of the Unbridled’s Song mare, Staria. The win is the eighth in Sir Genghis’ 26-race career. The $36,000 first-place purse increases his lifetime earnings to $271,512.

Jockey Steve Bourque gets 4,000th Career Win

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JOCKEY STEVE BOURQUE GETS HIS 4,000TH CAREER WIN ON THE WEDNESDAY NIGHT PROGRAM AT EVANGELINE DOWNS 

 – 53-YEAR-OLD LOUISIANA NATIVE HAS BEEN RIDING SINCE 1979 –

 

VINTON, LA. – Jockey Steve Bourque reached a milestone in his career at Evangeline Downs on Wednesday night as he recorded his 4,000th career win. The 53-year-old native of Louisiana booted the 4-year-old Space Book in the second race on the program, a $5,000 claimer for fillies and mares.

Bourque has been a mainstay in this part of the country since 1979 when he began his career at the original Evangeline Downs in Carencro, Louisiana. His first win came aboard the Terry Romero trainee Royal Avery. His richest tally came with Nitro Chip, who won the $200,000 Gold Cup at Delta Downs in 2004 for trainer Sam Breaux.

After retiring from the saddle for five years from 2010 to 2015, Bourque returned to racing at Delta Downs earlier this year. The time off was due to a job he took for his father-in-law Joe Coulatta who owned an oil services business in the Lafayette, Louisiana area which eventually shut down leading to Bourque’s return to racing. Bourque now ranks 69th among all North American jockeys in terms of wins.

 

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 atwww.boydgaming.com, or www.evangelinedowns.com.

EVANGELINE DOWNS LOWERING TAKEOUT RATE ON PICK 4 TO 12%, LOWEST IN THE NATION

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CHANGE WILL TAKE EFFECT STARTING ON JULY 20

OPELOUSAS, LA- Evangeline Downs received approval from the Louisiana Racing Commission to lower the takeout rate on their 50-cent minimum Pick 4 wagers from 25% to 12%, which will be the lowest offered in the United States. The change will begin with the Wednesday, July 20 racing program.

Evangeline Downs currently offers two 50-cent minimum Pick 4 wagers each live racing night. The Early Pick 4 begins in the first race and covers races one through four, while the Late Pick 4 covers the final four races on the program.

Chris Warren, Evangeline Downs Director of Racing, believes this change will excite the betting public, “Bettors are always looking for improved wagering opportunities and we feel that this reduction makes our 50-cent Pick 4 wagers among the most attractive in the industry right now.”

Evangeline Downs conducts live racing on a Wednesday through Saturday schedule. The Thoroughbred season continues through Saturday, August 27. Post time for each live racing night is 5:50 pm Central Time.

For more information on the Thoroughbred season at Evangeline Downs, visit the track’s website at http://www.evdracing.com. Evangeline Downs’ Twitter handle is @EVDRacing and the racetrack is also accessible on Facebook at http://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 http://www.prnewswire.com.  Additional news and information can be found at http://www.boydgaming.com, or http://www.evangelinedowns.com.

STRING KING CEMENTS HIS LEGACY ON LOUISIANA LEGENDS NIGHT

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JOCKEY JOHN JACINTO SWEEPS THE LAST THREE RACES ON THE PROGRAM

 

OPELOUSAS, LA- String King defended his victory in last year’s $100,000 Louisiana

Legends Turf with another Turf win on Saturdaynight at Evangeline Downs. His rider, John Jacinto, was the riding star of the evening with three wins in a row to conclude the program. Jacinto not only won the Turf with String King, he also won the Louisiana Legends Classic with The Pickett Factor and a Louisiana-bred maiden race with Street Honor.

 

String King sat off the pace-setting pair of Hail To The Nile and Hook during the early stages of the Turf through a solid opening quarter-mile of 23.33 seconds while the half-mile was covered in 48.40 seconds. As the field entered the stretch, String King powered to the front and withstood the closing charge of 28-1 longshot, Four Leaf Chief, to prevail by one-length in a final time of 1:43.27 for the 1 1/16 miles over the firm turf course.

 

String King was bred in Louisiana by the owner-trainer, Charles Smith. The 8-year-old gelding is by Crowned King and out of the Fly A Kite mare, String Dancer. The win is the 19th victory in 43 career races for String King and the $60,000 first-place purse pushes his career earnings to $1,071,052. String King returned $5.40 to win, $3.60 to place and $3.00 to show.

 

The $125,000 Louisiana Legends Classic was indeed a classic as The Pickett Factor and Mobile Bay dueled throughout the entirety of the 1 1/16 miles. The pair set fractions of 25.39 seconds for the quarter-mile and 48.92 seconds for the half-mile and were not separated by more than a half-length at any point of the race. The Pickett Factor proved to be the stronger of the two in the stretch, however, and eventually won the Classic by a neck in a final time of 1:44.28 over the fast track.

 

The Pickett Factor is owned by Melissa Cantacuzene and trained by Ralph Irwin. The 4-year-old gelding is by Gold Tribute and out of the Dynaformer mare, Dynaspice. The victory in the Classic is his seventh in 12 lifetime starts. The $75,000 first-place purse increases his lifetime earnings to $401,890. The Pickett Factor returned $6.40 to win, $3.00 to place and $2.60 to show.

 

There were six other stakes races on the Louisiana Legends Night program. One Survivor survived a speed duel with Red Production to win the $50,000 Starter. Betting favorite Believe In Bertie went gate-to-wire to win the $100,000 Soiree on the turf. Wheatfield won the $100,000 Mademoiselle with a stirring finish to defeat the favorite, Smittys Cougar, by just a nose. Extra Credit won by the largest margin of the night with a 2-3/4 length score in the $100,000 Cheval on the grass. Believeinsomething had to dig down deep to survive a stretch duel with Forest Lake, winning the $100,000 Distaff by ¾ of a length. Jockey Alex Cortez recorded his first-ever stakes victory aboard C U Tiger in the $100,000 Sprint.

 

Evangeline Downs will resume live racing on Wednesday night with a nine-race program. There is a carryover of $4,695.67 in the Super Hi 5 wager entering the Wednesday night program. Post time on Wednesdaynight is 5:50 pm Central Time.

 

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 atwww.prnewswire.com.  Additional news and information can be found atwww.boydgaming.com, or www.evangelinedowns.com.

LOUISIANA LEGENDS NIGHT SATURDAY AT EVANGELINE DOWNS

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PROGRAM WILL FEATURE EIGHT STAKES RACES WORTH $775,000 IN PURSES

 

OPELOUSAS, LA- Evangeline Downs will be hosting its marquee night of Thoroughbred racing on Saturday, July 2 with Louisiana Legends Night. The 10-race program will include eight Louisiana-bred stakes races totaling $775,000 in purse money.

The featured event on the Louisiana Legends Night program is the $125,000 Louisiana Legends Classic. The 2-1 morning line favorite in the field of six will be Sunbean, a 6-year-old gelding that has earned $1,059,750 in his career. Sunbean has a perfect three-for-three record at Evangeline Downs, winning the 2013 Louisiana Legends Mile, the 2014 Louisiana Legends Classic and the 2014 Evangeline Mile. He also won his most recent start at Fair Grounds on March 26 in the Star Guitar Stakes. Sunbean was bred in Louisiana by the owner Brittlyn Stable Inc. He is trained by Ron Faucheux and will be ridden on Saturdayby Richard Eramia.

There will be a second million-dollar earning horse on the Louisiana Legends Night program at Evangeline Downs. String King, who has earned $1,011,052 in his 29-race career, has been installed as the 4-1 morning line favorite in the field of 12 for the $100,000 Louisiana Legends Turf. String King is the defending champion in the Louisiana Legends Turf, having won the 2015 edition of the race that was taken off the turf. String King has been facing graded stakes company in his last three starts at the Fair Grounds. He has not been to the racetrack since finishing eighth in the Grade 2 Mervin Muniz in New Orleans. String King was bred in Louisiana by the owner-trainer, Charles Smith. The 8-year-old gelding will be ridden on Saturday by John Jacinto.

There will be other featured horses on the Louisiana Legends Night program including Painting The Sky, the dual registered Thoroughbred-Paint horse from the Brett Brinkman barn with two wins in five lifetime starts who will be in the $100,000 Louisiana Legends Soiree. A two-time stakes winner this season at Evangeline Downs, Couche Couche, will be in the $100,000 Louisiana Legends Cheval. The gelding has previously won the $50,000 Ragin Cajun and the $75,000 Equine Sales Derby at Evangeline Downs. He is trained by Karl Broberg, who currently leads the nation in wins, and will be ridden by Colby Hernandez.

Evangeline Downs will conduct live racing on its usual Wednesday–Saturday schedule this week. Post time each night will be 5:50 pm Central Time.

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.

 

REAP to Host July Events

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2016 REAP NIGHT AT THE RACES
Thursday, July 7th
Evangeline Downs, the John Henry Room
We will have a buffet with heavy appetizers for $40 per person
ACTIVIES WILL INCLUDE
Reverse Drawing – $5000.00 in cash prizes
($100.00 per ticket/100 tickets available)
Silent Auction
Sponsorship opportunities are also available
Sponsors will have Races named after them

DAVID BANKS MEMORIAL GOLF TOURNAMENT
Tuesday, July 5th 1 p.m. Shotgun Start
Farm d’Allie Golf Course
$100 per player, $300 per team of 3
Player’s Clinic – June 28th at 5 pm at Farm d’Allie Golf Course,
please call 337-886-2227 ext 1 for reservation in clinic
$15.00 per person

LUNCH FOR THE BACKSIDE
Wednesday, July 20th noon REAP Hall
Racing Employees Assistance Program
REAP was formed to assist the horsemen in need.
REAP also supports the good work of the
Chaplain, providing facilities and support.

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Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association Will Award Scholarships at Louisiana Legends Night at Evangeline Downs

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(New Orleans, La.) – Louisiana Legends Night will take place Saturday, July 2, at Evangeline Downs Racetrack & Casino in Opelousas, La. The Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association will award two (2) scholarships, each valued at $1,000, during the event.
The drawings will be between the fifth and sixth races. The races begin at 5:50 p.m. and the student must be there to register between 4:50 p.m. and 5:50 p.m. at the designated registration booth.
The requirements for the scholarship are as follows:
·       Must be a college student enrolled full-time for Fall 2016.
·       Must be in good standing with the college or university.
·       Must be present to win.
The scholarship will be deposited directly into the student’s account at the college or university. The student is asked to know the name and address of the college that they are attending.
“The Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association is pleased to continue making an investment in the future of our state by investing in the education process,” said Roger Heitzmann, secretary/treasurer for the Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association.
The Louisiana Legends Night annual event features eight stakes races for Louisiana-bred horses and total purse money of $775,000. The highlight of the evening will be the $125,000 Louisiana Legends Classic for 3-year-olds and up competing at 1-1/16 miles.
Louisiana Legends Classic
3+ La bred
1m 1/16
$125,000 G
Louisiana Legends Distaff
FM3+ La bred
1m 1/16
$100,000 G
Louisiana Legends Sprint
3+ La bred
5 1/2f
$100,000 G
Louisiana Legends Mademoiselle
FM3+ La bred
5 1/2f
$100,000 G
Louisiana Legends Turf
3+ La bred
1m 1/16 (Turf)
$100,000 G
Louisiana Legends Cheval
3 yr La bred
1m (Turf)
$100,000 G
Louisiana Legends Soiree
F 3yr La bred
1m (Turf)
$100,000 G
Louisiana Legends Starter
3+ La bred
1m 1/16
$50,000 G
For more information please call 1-800-772-1195 or visit louisianabred.com.