EVANGELINE DOWNS RELEASES 2017 THOROUGHBRED STAKES SCHEDULE

By Michael Chamberlain —-

24 STAKES RACES WITH PURSES TOTALING $1,695,000 ON THE CALENDAR

OPELOUSAS, LA – Evangeline Downs Racetrack Casino & Hotel will begin its 52nd season of Thoroughbred racing action on April 12 in Opelousas, Louisiana. The 84-day season will run through Saturday, September 2 with live racing each Wednesday through Saturday night. The 2017 season will feature a first post time each live racing night of 5:40 pm Central time.

There will be 24 stakes races held during the season and the total purses for those races will be $1,695,000. The two biggest racing nights of the season will take place on a pair of Saturdays.

The Saturday, June 3 program will feature three stakes races, including the $100,000 Evangeline Mile for 3-year-olds and up at one mile on the main track. That night will also include the $50,000 Need For Speed Stakes for 3-year-olds and up at five furlongs on the turf course and the $50,000 Lafayette Stakes for 3-year-old Louisiana-breds at seven furlongs on the main track.

Louisiana-breds will also be in the spotlight on Louisiana Legends Night, which will be on Saturday, July 8. There will be eight stakes races run on Legends Night with purses totaling $750,000. The feature event of the evening will be the $100,000 Classic for 3-year-olds and up at 1-1/16 miles on the main track. The $100,000 Distaff is at the same distance as the Classic for fillies and mares 3 year-olds and up. There are several other stakes races on Legends Night with $100,000 purses including: the Sprint at 5-1/2 furlongs on the main track for 3-year-olds and up, the Mademoiselle at 5-1/2 furlongs on the main track for fillies and mares 3-year-olds and up, the Cheval at one mile on the main track for the 3-year-olds, the Soiree at one mile on the main track for 3-year-old fillies. There are two turf races scheduled as a part of Legends night: the $100,000 Turf at 1-1/16 miles for 3-year-olds and up and the $50,000 Starter at 7-1/2 furlongs for 3-year-olds and up.

Kentucky Derby weekend at Evangeline Downs will not only include the simulcast of the Run For The Roses from Churchill Downs, but also the $60,000 Equine Sales Oaks on Friday, May 5 at 1-1/16 miles on the main track for 3-year-old fillies and the $60,000 Equine Sales Derby on Saturday, May 6 at 1-1/16 miles on the main track for 3-year-old colts and geldings.

The final stage of the stakes schedule will be focused on 2-year-olds. On Saturday, July 29, two divisions of the D.S. “Shine” Young Futurity will be run. The $75,000 Filly Division is at 5-1/2 furlongs on the main track for Louisiana-bred fillies and the $75,000 Colts and Geldings Division is also at 5-1/2 furlongs on the main track for Louisiana-bred colts and geldings.

Closing night of the season, Saturday, September 2, will also showcase two stakes races for 2-year-olds. The $50,000 Evangeline Downs Princess will be at six furlongs on the main track for fillies and the $50,000 Evangeline Downs Prince is also at six furlongs on the main track for colts and geldings.

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

2017 Thoroughbred Stakes Schedule

Date Race Name Sex/Age Dist. Purse Closing date

Fri., April 14, 2017 Cajun Miss F 3 Yr olds 7f $50,000 G 3/31/2017
Sat., April 15, 2017 Ragin Cajun 3 Yr olds 7f $50,000 G 3/31/2017
Fri., April 28, 2017 Opelousas FM 3+ 1m (Turf) $50,000 G 4/14/2017
Sat., April 29, 2017 John Henry 3 + 1 1/16m (Turf) $50,000 G 4/14/2017
Fri., May 5, 2017 Equine Sales Oaks* F3 Yr olds 1 1/16m $60,000 G 4/21/2017
Sat., May 6, 2017 Equine Sales Derby* C&G 3 Yr olds 1 1/16m $60,000 G 4/21/2017
Fri., June 2, 2017 Tellike FM3+ 5f (Turf) $50,000 G 5/19/2017
Fri., June 2, 2017 Spotted Horse FM3+ 1m $75,000 G 5/19/2017
Fri., June 2, 2017 Acadiana ** F3YR La bred 7f $50,000 G 5/19/2017
Sat., June 3, 2017 Evangeline Mile 3+ 1m $100,000 G 5/19/2017
Sat., June 3, 2017 Need For Speed 3+ 5f (Turf) $50,000 G 5/19/2017
Sat., June 3, 2017 Lafayette** 3 La bred 7f $50,000 G 5/19/2017
Legends Night 7/8/2017
Sat., July 8, 2017 Louisiana Legends Classic 3+ La bred 1m 1/16 $100,000 G 6/23/2017
Sat., July 8, 2017 Louisiana Legends Distaff FM3+ La bred 1m 1/16 $100,000 G 6/23/2017
Sat., July 8, 2017 Louisiana Legends Sprint 3+ La bred 5 1/2f $100,000 G 6/23/2017
Sat., July 8, 2017 Louisiana Legends Mademoiselle FM3+ La bred 5 1/2f $100,000 G 6/23/2017
Sat., July 8, 2017 Louisiana Legends Turf 3+ La bred 1m 1/16 (Turf) $100,000 G 6/23/2017
Sat., July 8, 2017 Louisiana Legends Cheval 3 YR La bred 1m $100,000 G 6/23/2017
Sat., July 8, 2017 Louisiana Legends Soiree F 3YR La bred 1m $100,000 G 6/23/2017
Sat., July 8, 2017 Louisiana Legends Starter 3+ La bred 7 1/2 (Turf) $50,000 G 6/23/2017
Sat., July 29, 2017 D.S. “Shine” Young (Filly Division) F2 La bred 5 1/2f $75,000 G 7/14/2017
Sat., July 29, 2017 D.S. “Shine” Young (Colts & Geldings Division) 2 La bred 5 1/2f $75,000 G 7/14/2017
Sat., September 2, 2017 Evangeline Downs Prince 2 Yr Olds 6f $50,000 G 8/18/2017
Sat., September 2, 2017 Evangeline Downs Princess F2 Yr Olds 6f $50,000 G 8/18/2017

G-Guaranteed
*Restricted: Horses must have been a sale graduate of any Equine Sales Company Sale
**Restricted: Horses which have not won a sweepstakes
Total Stakes Purses – $1,695,000