Flooding Forces Louisiana Downs Evacuation

In anticipation that flood waters will pour over a levee along Red Chute Bayou later tonight, March 11, Harrah's Louisiana Casino and Racetrack has ordered an evacuation of all horses and horsemen from its property.

The racetrack property near Bossier City backs up to the bayou, which has not seen this degree of flooding in many decades, according to residents.

"We have closed everything," said Shelli Briery, communications officer for Louisiana Downs. "Earlier today the roads were passable but that might not be the case tonight, so by 5 p.m. tonight everyone will be gone."

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is expecting for water to overflow the levee Friday night with more rain in the forecast through Saturday. Northern Louisiana has received about 24 inches of rain in the past 24 hours.

The track called for the evacuation late in the evening March 10, which started the relocation of 820 horses. Many of the horses were shipped to the Equine Sales of Louisiana facility near Opelousas.

"We started getting calls early and all our stalls are now accounted for," said sales director Foster Bridewell. "We've now got 150 to 175 horses on the grounds and more on the way."

Several other horses will be boarded at Cooper Crowne Training Center, which is adjacent to the sales grounds. 

Harold Forman, the owner of Cooper Crowne, said they are fortunate that the Opelousas area has not gotten as much rain. He was not so fortunate about his own home near Covington, which has been flooded by four feet of water overflowing the Butterfly River. His neighbor reported that the floodwater rose to four-feet deep in about 45 minutes.

"Maybe not so fortunate there, but I am glad we're able to help the Quarter Horses," Forman said. "Horse people are resilient and help one another."

Briery said racetrack executives have to ride out the next 24 hours before they know when the racetrack will reopen and how they'll handle the remainder of the Quarter Horse meet.