Commission Approves Louisiana Downs to Open June 6

Louisiana Downs received authorization by the Louisiana State Racing Commission during a May 5 teleconference to begin its Thoroughbred meet June 6 and continue until Sept. 23. The commission also approved the cancellation of the track's lone graded race, the Super Derby (G3), which carried a $300,000 purse last year.

"We decided to take care of the local horsemen and put all that money toward overnight purses," David Heitzmann, director of racing at Louisiana Downs, said in an interview after the commission meeting.

Purses in Louisiana are heavily subsidized by revenue from racetrack casinos, which have been suspended due to the global COVID-19 pandemic. Determinations are still being made regarding the track's purse structure, according to Heitzmann.

"We lost so much money, like everyone else did. It would be hard to project when slots are going to open and what handle is going to look like at this point," Heitzmann said.

Louisiana Downs was scheduled to open May 2, but delayed its start due to COVID-19, as did Evangeline Downs and Delta Downs in the state. They were scheduled to run meets beginning this spring for Thoroughbred and Quarter Horses, respectively.

The last Thoroughbred racing in the state took place March 21 at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, which closed its meet early after racing for a short period without spectators. Training has continued there since and resumed after a delay at Evangeline Downs and Delta Downs.

Louisiana Downs will open its backstretch May 6 for horsemen allotted stalls for the upcoming Thoroughbred season, which will run for 64 dates, down 20 dates from its original schedule. The track continues to house Quarter Horses on its grounds—its Quarter Horse meet was conducted earlier this year—but has asked the trainers of those horses to make shipping arrangements.