Two Scholarships to be Awarded at Louisiana Legends Night

Media Contact: Julie Calzone (337) 235-2924 ext. 18 jcalzone@calzone.com LTBA Contact: Roger Heitzmann (504) 947-4676 roger@louisianabred.com

Two Scholarships to be Awarded at Louisiana Legends Night OPELOUSAS, La. – Louisiana Legends Night will take place on Saturday, May 25, at Evangeline Downs Racetrack Casino & Hotel in Opelousas, La. The Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association will award a total of two scholarships, each valued at $1,000, during the event.  The requirements for the scholarship are as follows:  Must be a college student enrolled full-time for Fall 2019.  Must be in good standing with the college or university.  Must be present to win at the Winner’s Circle when the announcement is made.  Must have college ID and government-issued ID.  For Louisiana Legends Night:  Registration: 4:40 p.m. – 5:40 p.m. at the designated booth  Races begin: 5:50 p.m.  Drawing Time: The scholarships will be awarded after the fifth race. The scholarship will be deposited directly into the student’s account at the college or university. The student is asked to know the name and address of the college that they are attending.  “The Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association continues to make an investment in the future of our state by investing in our students and the education process,” said Roger Heitzmann, secretary/treasurer for the Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association. “This type of investment is for our future, the state, as well as the organization. Our hope is that these scholarships get the younger generations invested in LTBA so that our organization stays the top breeding incentive program in the United States.” Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association manages the best incentive program for breeding thoroughbreds in the United States. Since the organization formed, this has led to increased purses, better quality horses, and increased interest in racing and breeding horses. The thoroughbred racing and breeding industry generates over $1 billion and employs over 60,000 people in the state of Louisiana. For more information about Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association visit louisianabred.com or call (504) 947-4676. ###

Horse Racing Legends Chris McCarron and Dave Johnson Help Kickoff the 2013 Thoroughbred Racing Program at Evangeline Downs

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.

###

Calzone Agency Tapped to Promote Horse Racing

For Immediate Release

Evangeline Downs Racetrack & Casino contact:
Mike Howard
Michael.Howard@evangelinedowns.com
337.594.3116

Media contact:
Julie Calzone
jcalzone@calzone.com
337.235.2924 ext.18

(Lafayette, La.) – Evangeline Downs Racetrack & Casino has hired the Louisiana-based firm, Calzone advertising | innovation | public relations, to market its horse racing program.

Calzone will design promotions and marketing activities to increase attendance at the racetrack by creating new fans, increasing lifetime value of current customers and integrating the successful rewards and database marketing systems developed by the Opelousas, Louisiana –based facility. The program will be a team effort with the Evangeline Downs racing and marketing staff.

“We want to create more traction and visibility for the racing product,” said Mike Howard, general manager for Evangeline Downs Racetrack & Casino. “Calzone has several years of experience in horse racing and has helped this industry through many changes including off track betting, video poker, slots at the racetrack and our move from Carencro and is experienced with Louisiana’s breeding and racing incentive programs.”

Calzone has served in many capacities for Evangeline Downs as the agency of record and/or the public relations firm for the track. Owner, Julie Calzone, is a well-known horsewoman with many equestrian-related businesses and horses of her own. She is an active rider, trainer and breeder of sport horses.

“We are passionate about horse racing in Louisiana,” said Calzone. “It is great entertainment and we are planning on promoting Evangeline Downs’ Cajun-racing roots. It is what makes Evangeline Downs unique in this business. That is marketable at many levels.”

“Louisiana has the most successful racing and breeding incentive program in North America,” said Steve Darbonne, director of racing operations. “We believe our racing program is one of the best entertainment values and something the whole family can enjoy.”

While bettors must be 18 years of age or older, the racetrack admits people of all ages.

“We want to get people off their mobile devices, tablets and computers and get them to socialize with real people,” said Calzone. “We bet people will have a lot more fun and interesting experiences than any device can provide!”

The 2012 thoroughbred racing season begins on April 18 and runs through Labor Day. Daily post time (start of the first race) is 5:40 p.m Wednesdays through Saturdays. For more information, go to evangelinedowns.com.

Evangeline Downs Press Conference a Success for our client!

National coverage gained through the public relations efforts and a press conference organized by the Calzone crew.

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/horses/2011-04-06-3193839682_x.htm