The 2023 Thoroughbred season at Evangeline Downs will kick off on Wednesday, April 5. The race meet will feature 84 days of racing, running on a Wednesday through Saturday schedule and concludes on August 26. First post is scheduled for 5:30pm Central time.
Stall applications for horsemen are due by Tuesday, Feb. 14. Horsemen interested in an application can visit the track website at www.evdracing.com and click on the Horsemen's Info tab. The racing office can be contacted directly at 337-594-3000.
The 2023 stakes schedule begins on April 14 with the running of the Acadiana Stakes for 3-year-old fillies. The following night will feature the Lafayette Stakes for 3-year-olds. Both races are contested over the distance of six furlongs and have a purse of $60,000. May features a couple of stakes during the week of the Kentucky Derby. The EVD Distaff, for 4-year-old and up fillies and mares, will take place on Friday, May 5, with the EVD Classic on Saturday, May 6. Both races will be run over the distance of one mile and each offers a purse of $60,000.
The highlight of each race meet at Evangeline Downs is Louisiana Legends Night. Taking place on Saturday, June 3, the card will include six stake races for Louisiana-bred runners. Each stake race will have a purse of $75,000. Fan favorites Net a Bear and Free Like a Girl were among the winners last year.
A couple of turf stakes on the schedule are the Opelousas Stakes on Friday, June 30 and the John Henry Stakes on Saturday, July 1. The Opelousas, for 3-year-old and up fillies and mares, and the John Henry, for 3-year-olds and up, will each have a purse of $60,000.
The final month of the racing calendar will have a couple of stakes weekends. The Friday, August 4 card will include the $60,000 Spotted Horse, a stake for 3-year-old and up fillies and mares. The $75,000 Evangeline Mile, for 3-year-olds and up, will be contested Saturday, August 5. Louisiana-bred 2-year-olds will take center stage on closing weekend with the D.S “Shine” Young Futurities. The filly division will be run on Friday, August 25, with the colts and geldings division on the final night of the meet, August 26, each with a purse of $60,000. All of the stake races on the calendar will run for a guaranteed purse.
For more information on Evangeline Downs, visit the track's website at www.evdracing.com. Evangeline Downs information can also be found on Twitter @EVDracing and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/EvangelineDownsRacing.
Evangeline Downs Racetrack Casino and Hotel, a property of Boyd Gaming Corporation (NYSE:BYD), features exciting casino action, live horse racing, the Fan Duel Sportsbook and fun dining experiences. Evangeline Downs is located in Opelousas, Louisiana, off I-49 on Cresswell Lane at Exit 18.
The post Evangeline Downs Plans 84 Thoroughbred Dates For 2023; Stall Applications Due Feb. 14 appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
