For Immediate Release
Evangeline Downs Contact:
Evangeline Downs Racetrack & Casino
Anthony Breaux
(337) 594-3138
anthony.breaux@evangelinedowns.com
Public Relations Contact:
Calzone & Associates
Julie Calzone
(337) 235 2924 ext. 3
jcalzone@calzone.com
(Opelousas, La.) - The 2013 Evangeline Downs Thoroughbred-racing season begins Wednesday, April 17. The 84-day meet runs through September 7, 2013.
This will be the first racing season for Evangeline under the ownership of Boyd Gaming, which purchased the track and casino late last year. Boyd Gaming also owns Delta Downs Racetrack Casino Hotel in Vinton, La.
As a part of the season opening activities, Hall of Fame jockey, Chris McCarron, and Dave Johnson, nationally known track announcer, will be on hand to meet horse racing fans on Friday and Saturday, April 19 and 20. They will also broadcast two live radio shows from Evangeline Downs on Saturday, April 20.
Chris McCarron, elected into horse racing's Hall of Fame in 1989, had one of racing's most successful careers, highlighted by two Kentucky Derby wins and five Breeders' Cup Classic wins. He has won every major horse race the sport has to offer. He was the first jockey to win more than 1,000 races in a two-year period.
For more than 40 years, Dave Johnson has been a famous personality in the Thoroughbred and Standardbred horseracing industry. Dave was the Voice of the Triple Crown for ABC Sports. He has called all of the sport's biggest races. Dave is best known for his signature race call "And Down The Stretch They Come!"
On Saturday, April 20, Dave Johnson and his co-host, award-winning writer Bill Finley, will host two Sirius XM shows live from Evangeline Downs Racetrack. They will first broadcast their weekly, "Down The Stretch" show from 8am - 11am CST.
From 4pm-5pm CST, they will broadcast a special "Kentucky Derby Preview Show" with special guest, Hall of Fame jockey Chris McCarron.
Both shows will air on Sirius channel 93 and XM channel 209.
In addition to the excitement around these racing legends, this year Evangeline Downs is hosting events and promotions all season long in their Clubhouse, paddock area and trackside, said Steve Darbonne, Director of Racing Operations. All the action kicks off April 17 and continues through September 7 with racing Wednesdays through Saturdays; first post time of the night is at 5:40pm.
A total of 23 events worth 1.7 million dollars make up this year's stakes schedule.
As usual, Louisiana Legends Night, slated for July 6, will be one of the highlights of the meet. The Legends card will feature a total of eight races restricted to Louisiana-breds worth a total of $775,000.
Also in July are two divisions of the rich D.S. "Shine" Young Futurity. Trials for the futurity will be run on July 3 and July 4, with the finals, estimated to be worth $120,000 each, set for July 27.
The meet's richest event will once again be the Evangeline Mile. The Mile is for 3-year-olds and up and will be contested on August 10.
The Opelousas, Louisiana-based facility has evolved to the entertainment destination that was the vision when the facility was built in 2003 as a casino, live horse racing facility, and simulcast off-track betting facility. Evangeline Downs Racetrack & Casino features a state-of-the-art facility with a one-mile oval, 7/8-mile turf course, a 1 1/8-mile chute and nearly 1,000 stalls on the backside. The entire property consists of nearly 750 acres.
The live action of racing has deep roots in the Cajun culture along with a party atmosphere for people of all ages. Louisiana has the most successful racing and breeding incentive program in North America, said Darbonne. We believe our racing program is one of the best entertainment values and something the whole family can enjoy.
Click here to download a copy of the 2013 Thoroughbred Racing Calendar.
ADMISSION, PARKING AND MORE
• Clubhouse admission is free with a minimum purchase of food and beverage.*
• Free valet and general parking
• Looking for directions, click here.
*Proper attire in clubhouse, reservations recommended. Group Rates are available.
*No age too young or old to attend the races. (Must be 18 or older to bet.)
For more information call (337) 594-3000 or go to evangelinedowns.com.
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