Memorial Day Family Festivities Begin at 11:00 am

Bossier City, LA – Louisiana Downs will present Exotic Animal Races on Monday, May 30. The wildly popular special event,combined with live Thoroughbred racing and simulcast racing from tracks across the country, is always entertaining for the entire family.

Special family-friendly activities for the Memorial Day holiday get underway on the trackside apron at 11:00 am. There will be Face Painting, a Bounce House, Water Slide and live music by the Jimmy Wooten Band! Some of the top Food trucks in the Shreveport/Bossier City metroplex will be onsite throughout the afternoon. Or if you prefer to enjoy a meal in air-conditioned comfort, swing by the Pepper Rose, Too located on the second floor of the Louisiana Downs grandstand. Serving up everything from Cowboy Creole cuisine to Deli selections and famous for its Shrimp Po Boys, the Pepper Rose, Too is a sure bet!

The first live Thoroughbred race runs at 3:05 pm (Central) with the 100-yard “Camel Derby” to run after race 2 (approximately 4:00 pm). A fully grown adult camel can exceed six feet in height at weigh up to 1,000 pounds. Unpredictable at best, camels can be good-tempered, patient and intelligent.  The moaning and bawling sound they make when they’re loaded up and have to rise to their feet is like the grunting and heavy breathing of a weight-lifter in action, and the crowds chime in to root for their favorite!

The ”Zebra Derby” will take place after the fourth Thoroughbred race on the Monday program (approximately 5:00 pm). The striking black and white striped animals are not the same species as horses, but are part of the same family. They are smaller than our Thoroughbreds, but can run up to speeds of 65 mph, so our fans will have to root for our brave jockeys to hang on tight!

The final exotic animal race of the afternoon will be the “Ostrich Derby” which will run after the sixth race (approximately 6:00 pm). Ostriches usually weigh an average of 200 pounds, but some males can tip the scales at 340 pounds. Known for their long neck and legs, ostriches also have extremely distinctive eyes, the largest of any land vertebrate. They are very fast and run without a saddle, so the riders have to rely on balance as they surge to the finish line!

For more information on the Memorial Day activities, live racing and other upcoming special events, visit ladowns.com.

Trainer and  Jockey Standings

Shane Wilson, who was honored as 2021 Louisiana Down leading trainer, remains in the lead in the trainer standings with 12 wins. Joey Foster is now in second place with nine victories and  Steve Asmussen  is third with seven wins. Greg Tracy follows with sixvictories to date.

It was another milestone last week for Foster, who notched his 900^th career win on May 21 with a victory by Perfect Perigee. The Louisiana-bred 4-year-old gelding is owned by Rafael Miguel Castillo and Silvia Canseco with jockey Carlos Lozada in the saddle.

Jose Guerrero continues to top his fellow riders with 16 wins since the meet began on May 7. Last year’s leading jockey Carlos Lozada is second with 11 trips to the winner’s circle, followed by Emanuel Nieves (nine wins) and Joel Dominguez (eight victories).

Louisiana Downs Racing Dates and Post Time

The 2022 Thoroughbred meet at Louisiana Downs got underway on Saturday, May 7. The 84-day live racing season will run Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday through September 27. Post time on Saturday and Sunday is 1:45 pm (Central) and 3:05 pm on Monday and Tuesday. For details on simulcasting and special events, visit ladowns.com.

About Louisiana Downs

Located near Shreveport in Bossier City, Louisiana, Louisiana Downs opened in 1974 and is now owned by Rubico Acquisition Corporation. With annual Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing seasons, the track is committed to presenting the highest quality racing programs paired with its 150,000 square foot entertainment complex offering casino gambling, dining and plasma screen televisions for sports and simulcast racing.