Evangeline Downs QH Season Begins Wednesday, Louisiana Million Night Dec.17 Highlights 46-Day Season

Evangeline Downs will open its 46-day American Quarter Horse Meet on Wedneday.

© Coady Photography

OPELOUSAS, LA–OCTOBER 4, 2022–Evangeline Downs will kick off the American Quarter Horse season on Wednesday (OCT 5). The season will cover 46 days of racing and finishes up the week of Christmas.       

The featured night of the 2022 season will be on Saturday, December 17, with a stakes-packed card highlighted by the $1,000,000 LQHBA Louisiana Million. 

The card will have seven stakes races on the night, including three $100,000 guaranteed purses in the Louisiana Derby (RG3), Louisiana Juvenile (RG2) and Louisiana Classic (RG2) and the $100,000-added LQHBA Louisiana Breeders Derby (RG3).

The Million, the richest race in Louisiana regardless of breed, was won by Blood Money in 2021.  Trials for the Million will take place on Friday, November 25.  Trials for the LQHBA Derby will be the following night.

Trials for the $100,000-added Grade III Evangeline Downs Futurity will take place on Friday, November 18.  Trials for the $50,000-added EVD Derby are scheduled for November 19.  The finals for both stakes take place on Friday, December 16.

The Quarter Horse meet will include some additional fun along with the exciting racing action on the track.  The “Pick 7 in the 7th” contest that debuted during the Thoroughbred season will return on Saturdays throughout the meet. 

The free contest challenges race fans to pick the first seven finishers across the wire in order in the seventh race on the card.  The prize pool starts at $2,500 and will increase $500 each week, if there is not a successful entry.  Family Night at the Races, including face painting, balloon animals, and a strolling magician, will take place on the following Saturdays:  October 8, November 19, November 26, and December 17.  Free and fun for all ages.

Racing will be conducted on a Wednesday through Saturday schedule from opening night October 5 through Saturday, December 17, with an exception the week of Thanksgiving.  Thanksgiving week will include a Tuesday night card, with a dark day on Thursday.  The final week of the season will have racing on Monday and closing night Tuesday, December 20.  First post each night is scheduled for 5:35pm Central Time.

For more information on Evangeline Downs, visit the track’s website at www.evdracing.com.  Evangeline Downs information can also be found on Twitter @EVDracing and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/EvangelineDownsRacing.
 

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

About Evangeline Downs
Evangeline Downs Racetrack Casino and Hotel, a property of Boyd Gaming Corporation (NYSE:BYD), features exciting casino action, live horse racing and fun dining experiences. Evangeline Downs is located in Opelousas, Louisiana, off I-49 on Cresswell Lane at Exit 18.