Delta Downs Set To Begin 2024 American Quarter Horse Season Friday

Opening weekend for Delta Downs 2024 Quarter Horse season features stakes races and qualifying trials.

© Coady Photography

VINTON, LA–APRIL 24, 2024–Delta Downs Racetrack Casino & Hotel will open its 2024 American Quarter Horse season on Friday and Saturday, April 26 and 27. After opening weekend, the 46-day meeting will feature live programs every Wednesday through Saturday night.

First post time each evening is at 6:15 pm.

Fans who attend the track on opening night will be treated to the $50,000 Miss Polly Classic Stakes (G2) and the $40,000 Open Me a Corona (RG2) as well as four trials for this year’s Old South Derby (see related story).

The opening weekend of Quarter Horse racing will wrap up on Saturday night with a program that includes nine trials for this year’s Old South Futurity. The Old South Derby and Old South Futurity finals will be contested on May 17 and 18 respectively.

Another important set of stakes races this season will take place on Friday, May 24 and Saturday, May 25 when the track hosts the $75,000-added Louisiana Lassie Futurity (RG2) and the $75,000-added Louisiana Laddie Futurity (RG2) finals. Trials for the Lassie will take place on May 1 and trials for the Laddie will be featured on May 3.

The richest open-bred stakes races of the season will be run on Friday, July 5 and Saturday, July 6 when the $100,000-added Firecracker Derby (G3) and the $100,000-added Firecracker Futurity (G2) are contested respectively. Qualifying trials for the Firecracker races will be held on June 14 and 15.

The racing season will wrap up at Delta Downs on July 13 with another edition of Louisiana Showcase Night, which features nine stakes races for Louisiana-bred horses and the richest race of the season, the $200,000-added Lee Berwick Futurity (RG1). In 2020 Lee Berwick purse set a record at $1,025,782. It was the largest horse racing 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. Guadalupe Lucio, Jr. won his first riding title at Delta Downs in 2023 and will return to defend his title while last year’s top trainer, Guillermo Martinez will face stiff competition from the likes of 2017 American Quarter Horse Association World Champion Trainer and 11-time Delta Downs leading conditioner Kenneth Roberts, Sr. and others as he attempts to score back-to-back crowns.

And finally, last year’s leading owner, Rogelio Marquez, Jr. will campaign another strong contingent of runners as he tries to snare his fourth owner title since 2017.

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

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About Delta Downs
Delta Downs Racetrack Casino Hotel, a property of Boyd Gaming Corporation, is the premier racing and gaming entertainment venue in Vinton, LA. Named “America’s Best Horse Racing Track” by readers of USA TODAY 10 Best, Delta Downs features a six-furlong oval track, 15,000 square feet of casino space, and more than 1,500 of the most popular slot machines. Amenities include two restaurants, chart-topping entertainment at the Delta Event Center, and the FanDuel Sportsbook.

Delta Downs is located in Vinton, Louisiana, on Delta Downs Drive. From Lake Charles, take Exit 7 and from Texas, take Exit 4.