Evangeline Downs American Quarter Horse Season Begins October 2

Evangeline Downs kicks off their 2024 Quarter Horse racing season on Wednesday, October 2nd with 46 days, including the Louisiana Million night on December 21.

© Evangeline Downs

OPELOUSAS, LA –OCTOBER 1, 2024–Evangeline Downs will kick off the American Quarter Horse season on Wednesday, October 2.  The season will cover 46 days of racing and finishes with the Louisiana Million night card on December 21.

The closing night card will be a stakes extravaganza.  In addition to the $1,000,000 guaranteed LHQBA Louisiana Million (RG1), there will be eight other stake races.  The Evangeline Downs Futurity (RG2), with a purse of $100,000 added and the $50,000-added Evangeline Downs Derby, are now part of the final night festivities. The $100,000-added LQHBA Breeders Derby (RG3), a trio of $100,000 guaranteed purse stake races with the Louisiana Champions Day Juvenile (RG2), Louisiana Champions Day Derby (RG3), and Louisiana Day Champions Day Classic (RG2), $50,000 guaranteed LQHBA Louisiana Million Invitational and $35,000 guaranteed Laverne Perry round out the stakes action.

Last season, jockey Arnulfo Gutierrez and trainer Kenneth Roberts, Sr. culminated their championship seasons, partnering with Special Wild Train B to capture the Million.  Trials for the Million, Louisiana’s richest race regardless of breed, will take place on Friday, November 29.  Trials for the LQHBA Derby will take place the following night.

Trials for the EVD Futurity will take place on Friday, November 22, and trials for the EVD Derby will be held the following night.

Family Night at the Races, featuring face painting, balloon animals, and a magician, will take place on the following Saturdays: October 5, November 23, and December 21. The activities are free and fun for all ages.

The racing schedule for the season is Wednesday through Saturday, except for the week of Thanksgiving.  Thanksgiving week will feature racing on Friday and Saturday.  The first post each night is scheduled for 5:35 p.m. Central Time.

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

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About Evangeline Downs Racetrack& Casino
Encompassing over 750 acres, Evangeline Downs Racetrack & Casino, a property of Boyd Gaming Corporation, features over 39,000 square feet of casino space as well a racetrack that boasts state-of-the-art facilities with a 7/8-mile turf track and a one-mile main track. The casino includes over 1,000 slot and video poker machines, two dining options, and plenty of meeting space, including track-side private club suites. Evangeline Downs also includes a newly opened FanDuel Sportsbook. For more information, visit www.evangelinedowns.com and connect on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Founded in 1975, Boyd Gaming Corporation is a leading geographically diversified operator of 28 gaming entertainment properties in 10 states, and manager of a tribal casino in northern California. The Company is also a strategic partner and 5% equity owner of FanDuel Group, the nation's leading sports-betting operator.