Quarter Horse Racing Returns To Evangeline Downs

OPELOUSAS, LA�SEPTEMBER 20, 2017�Live racing will return to Evangeline Downs in a scant two weeks with the start of the American Quarter Horse season on Wednesday, October 4. The 46-day meeting will run through December 19 and racing will be conducted on a mostly Wednesday throughSaturday schedule. There will be two special days of racing on Monday, December 18 and Tuesday, December 19 to conclude the season with an early post time of 3:15 pm Central Time.

Saturday, December 16 will be the richest night of the season with four stakes races that evening featuring combined purses of over $1.5 million dollars. The $1,000,000 Louisiana Million (RG1), the $300,000-estimated LQHBA Breeders Derby, the $100,000-added Evangeline Downs Futurity and the $50,000-added Evangeline Downs Derby all will highlight that Saturday night.

Trials for the Louisiana Million are on Friday, November 17, while the trials for the LQHBA Breeders Derby take place the next night, Saturday, November 18. The following weekend will feature the trials for the Evangeline Downs Futurity on Friday, November 24 and the Evangeline Downs Derby on Saturday, November 25.

The champion rider and trainer for the 2016 American Quarter Horse season at Evangeline Downs will both be returning to defend their titles in 2017. David Alvarez won the riding title in 2016 with 41 victories, which put him three wins ahead of runner-up, John Hamilton. Trainer Orlando Orozco topped the 2016 standings with 19 wins, which was two better than the three-way tie for second between Trey Ellis, Lanny Keith and Carlos Saldivar.

Opening weekend of the 2017 season will feature two stakes races with the $20,000 EVD Dash on Friday, October 6 at 220 yards for 3-year-olds and up. The following night, Saturday, October 7, will be the $30,000 Amelia Belle Stakes at 350 yards for 3-year-olds and up.

Post time for the 2017 American Quarter Horse season will be 5:35 pm Central Time.

For more information on the American Quarter Horse season at Evangeline Downs, visit the track�s website at evdracing.com. Evangeline Downs� Twitter handle is @EVDRacing and the racetrack is also accessible on Facebook at www.facebook.com/EvanglineDownsRacing.

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About Evangeline Downs
Evangeline Downs Racetrack Casino & Hotel is owned by Boyd Gaming Corporation, a leading diversified owner and operator of 22 gaming entertainment properties located in Nevada, New Jersey, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana and Mississippi. Boyd Gaming press releases are available at www.prnewswire.com. Additional news and information can be found at www.boydgaming.com, or evangelinedowns.com

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