Delta Downs Set To Open 2022 American Quarter Horse Season Friday

Delta Downs Racetrack Casino & Hotel kicks off its 2022 American Quarter Horse season on Friday.

© Coady Photography

VINTON, LA—APRIL 27, 2022—Delta Downs Racetrack Casino & Hotel will begin its 2022 American Quarter Horse season on Friday. The 46-day meeting runs through July 16 and will feature live programs each Wednesday through Saturday night, with the exception of opening weekend.

First post time each evening is set for 6:15 pm (CDT).

The opening week of action will include a pair of stakes races and a set of two qualifying trials. Friday’s card will feature three trials for this year’s $89,425 Old South Derby, races four through six, and the first stakes event of the year, the $20,000 Delta Dash (see related story), going as race eight.

Opening weekend will conclude on Saturday with a card that includes seven trials for this year’s $148,040 Old South Futurity, races two through eight. Fans will also be treated to the $40,000 Open Me A Corona Stakes (RG2) (see related story) for Louisiana-breds capping off the action in race nine.

The Old South Derby final will take place on Friday, May 20 while the Old South Futurity final will be the main event on the Saturday, May 21 program.

Another important set of stakes races this season will take place on Friday, May 27 and Saturday, May 28 when the track hosts the $75,000-added Louisiana Lassie Futurity (RG2) and the $75,000-added Louisiana Laddie Futurity (RG2) finals respectively. Trials for the Lassie will take place on May 4 and 5 while trials for the Laddie will be featured on May 6 and 7.

The richest open-bred stakes races of the season will be run on Friday, July 8 and Saturday, July 9 when the $100,000-added Firecracker Futurity (G2) and the $100,000 Firecracker Derby (G3) are contested respectively. Qualifying trials for the Firecracker races will be held on June 17 and 18.

The racing season will wrap up at Delta Downs on July 16 with another edition of Louisiana Showcase Night, which features eight stakes races for Louisiana-bred horses and the richest race of the season, the Lee Berwick Futurity (RG1). In 2020 Lee Berwick purse set a record at $1,025,782. It was the largest purse ever awarded in the state of Louisiana regardless of breed.

Some of the nation’s top horsemen will be back at Delta Downs this season. Kenneth Roberts, Sr., who was honored with his first AQHA World Champion trainer award in 2017, will attempt to win his 11th leading trainer title at Delta Downs this season while Martin Trejo, Orlando Orozco, Michael Zingelmann and several other top 10 trainers from 2021 are expected to vie for the top spot among conditioners.

The competition for leading rider should be wide open this season as last year’s top jockey, Everardo Rodriguez, will return to defend his title against other talented reinsmen such as David Alverez, Bobby Ransom, Juan Garcia, Jr. and Gilbert Ortiz.

For more information about the upcoming season visit the track’s website at deltadownsracing.com. Fans can also follow the track through social media on Facebook and Twitter.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

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.