One of Several Horsewomen at Harrah’s Louisiana Downs Who Balance Training Thoroughbreds With Raising Children

Bossier City, LA – Sarah Davidson is a third-generation horsewoman and certainly knows her way around a shedrow. Her father, M. Brent Davidson, has been in the Thoroughbred racing industry, breaking 2-year-olds and conditioning horses,since 1983. Her uncle, John Buchanan is a veteran Quarter Horse trainer, who won the prestigious All American Futurity (G1) with Elans Special in 1987.

 

Sarah was always part of the family’s racing operation, and was a big part of the success of some of the barn’s top runners including Another Bond Girl, an Oklahoma-bred stakes winner and Miss Photogenic, who captured the Dixie Miss Stakes here in 2001.  She lovingly cared for the hard-knocking Texas-bred gelding Bullet Crane, who made 84 starts, winning 17 races.

 

“We focus on good feed, rest and keeping them happy,” Davidson stated. “Horseracing has so many ups and downs. When it’s good, you’ve got to enjoy it.”

Even though her parents encouraged her to attend college, but she was determined to open her own stable.  After many years of assisting her family at Lone Star Park, and Sam Houston Race Park in Texas as well as Remington Park and Will Rogers Downs in Oklahoma, she went out on her own last August.

The 32-year-old Davidson has 17 horses in training. She is based in Shreveport, but ships to Lone Star Park and Delta Downs. In addition to tending to the horses, managing her grooms, exercise riders, overseeing morning works six days a week and four days of racing, Davidson has another very special obligation. She is a mother to her 11-year-old son, Emerson. As with all working moms, there is considerable juggling involved in running a racing operation and creating a stable lifestyle for her son.

 

“It’s funny; I was just thinking about the timing in getting Emerson home from school in time to saddle for the fifth (race),” she admitted.

 

Balance is the key and she credits her mom, Colleen, who deftly handled assisting Brent with the racing operation and caring for Sarah and her brother, Michael.

 

“She is a very positive person,” stated Davidson. “Maybe ‘bubbly’ is more like it! She’s always very encouraging and she’s helped me to realize that patience is the key. You have to keep trying, even when its frustrating and never give up.”

 

Sarah has faith in her stock and looks forward to winning some races at Harrah’s Louisiana Downs.

 

“We started a little slowly,” she acknowledged. “But the horses are training well and I feel it will pick up soon.”

 

In addition to Davidson, several other horsewomen who run at Harrah’s Louisiana Downs combine running a racing stable with raising kids and grandchildren. They include  Beverly Burress, Kathleen Mordenti, Kelly Myers,  Jamie Pastor and  Rhonda Snodderly.  We wish each of them a very happy Mother’s Day!

 

Mother’s Day Diamond Dig This Saturday

Harrah’s Louisiana Downs will celebrate Mother’s Day on Saturday, May 11.  Live racing gets underway at 12:55 pm. Mothers can swipe their Total Rewards card in to the Diamond Dig drawing at the Racing Kiosk located across from Racing Publications. Ten entrants will be drawn for a chance to dig on the racetrack for a Cubic Zirconia Ring valued at $2,500! The Mother’s Day Diamond Dig is scheduled to take place between the 5th & 6th race of the day.

 

2019 Thoroughbred Post Times

Live racing will be conducted Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday with a 3:15 p.m. post time with the card each Saturday beginning at 12:55 p.m. For more information on the upcoming racing season, which runs through September 25, visit https://www.caesars.com/harrahs-louisiana-downs/racing. The 84-day meet will include 14 stakes highlighted by two major stakes programs, Louisiana Cup Day on Saturday, August 3 and Super Derby Day on Saturday, September 7.

 

Daily Racing Promotions and Daily Offers

Harrah’s Louisiana Downs welcomes patrons four days a week for live racing and daily simulcast wagering on racetracks across the country. Promotions and food and beverage specials include:

 

Mobile Mondays | Enjoying the races? Check-in on the Caesars Rewards app from your smart phone to receive an entry into the weekly “Day at the Races” drawing. Winner will receive a dining experience for two to the Harrah’s Club (max value of $100).

 

2X Tuesdays | Present your Caesars Rewards card when making a wager and receive a 2X racing reward credit multiplier each Tuesday.

 

Watch & Wager Wednesdays | Enjoy hotdogs, popcorn, beer and racing programs for only $1.00!

 

$5.00 Free Bet | Saturdays, May 4 & 18 |Opt in and receive a ticket at the Racing Kiosks between 11am and 5pm. Saturdays, May 11 & 25| Redeem your Free Bet at the Mutuel Counter.

 

Super Saturdays| Race to more Rewards by presenting your Caesars Rewards card when making a wager and receive up to a 7X Racing Reward Credit Multiplier.

 

Saturday Pick 4 Family Day| Enjoy a box seat for 4 with food and drinks for only $16 on select Saturdays.

 

Bet & Earn| Check out Harrah’s new Bet & Earn offered through Racing by Caesars Rewards. Guests wagering using a Caesars Rewards card will now receive one Tier Credit and one Reward Credit on a three dollar bet.

 

About Harrah’s Louisiana Downs

Located near Shreveport in Bossier City, Louisiana, Louisiana Downs opened in 1974 and was purchased by Caesars Entertainment in December, 2002. 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.