Scholarship Drawings to Take Place on LQHBA Louisiana Million Night

Eligible Louisiana students to receive a total of $11,000 on Saturday at Evangeline Downs.

© Coady Photography

OPELOUSAS, LA—DECEMBER 13, 2017—Saturday night at Evangeline Downs will be a memorable night, not just for Quarter Horse racing, but for Louisiana students as well.

In addition to a stakes-filled evening, highlighted by the running of the rich LQHBA Louisiana Million (RG1), the Louisiana Quarter Horse Breeders Association (LQHBA) will award a total of $11,000 in scholarships to high school students as well as graduates planning to further their education.

Since 2001, the Louisiana Quarter Horse Breeders Association (LQHBA) scholarship program has provided financial aid for students. The scholarship program was the vision of the late Jim Mitchell and Executive Director Emeritus Leverne Perry, and is supported strongly by the LQHBA, its board members and many generous sponsors. Over $500,000, has been earmarked for this program since its inception.

Louisiana students and their families are invited to enjoy the racing and festivities on LQHBA Louisiana Million night. All high school graduates and seniors graduating in 2018 wishing to attend a higher education institution are eligible. A registration table will be located on the main level of the racetrack from 5:00 – 7:00 pm on December 16. Students must be present for the drawings of the five scholarships, totaling $11,000, which will take place following race five.

Last year, Cassie Bellard, a senior at Opelousas Catholic High School, won a $5,000 scholarship at Evangeline Downs.

When her name was drawn, she was stunned and speechless, but extremely grateful. She began college studies at Louisiana State University Eunice last August, majoring in business.

"I was very blessed to receive the scholarship," Bellard explained. "It meant a lot to me and my family. The money I received took a lot of pressure off my first year of college. It is a great program offered by the Louisiana Quarter Horse Breeders Association."

Awarding scholarships at racetracks on major racing events has become a tradition for LQHBA.

Lyle Guillory, LQHBA president, was present for drawings last year at Evangeline Downs, and earlier this year at Delta Downs. He saw, first hand, the delight of the student recipients, in receiving the valuable funding for their education.

"The LQHBA Scholarship program is a great honor for our association and we are blessed that we are able to contribute to the youth of Louisiana," said Guillory. "It's our belief that investing back into our children will reintroduce this way of life to generations we have lost. "God Bless our youth and God Bless Horse Racing."

For further information on the LQHBA Scholarship program, visit lqhba.com or call (318) 487-9506.

Martha Claussen served as publicity director at Sam Houston Race Park for ten years. She continues to be active in writing, fan education and Quarter Horse racing publicity in Texas, Louisiana and other regions in North America.