Louisiana Downs Quarter Horse Meet Begins on January 7

Louisiana Downs kicks off its Quarter Horse meet on Saturday, January 7

Located near Shreveport, Louisiana Downs will kick off its season with two stakes on opening day, the $15,000 Marathon Stakes at 870 yards and the $15,000 Harrah's Dash, at 250 yards.  The track will offer a total of 12 stakes this season, including the $250,000-guaranteed Mardi Gras Futurity (RG2) and the $100,000-estimated Mardi Gras Derby on March 18.

Scoopies Leaving You, a multiple stakes-winner, who excels in 250-yard sprints, leads the field in the Harrah’s Dash Stakes.  Trained by Kevin Broussard, Scoopies Leaving You will defend his title from last year when he set a new track record.  Distance specialists will compete in the Marathon Stakes with Apollitical Courage installed as the 5-2 morning line favorite. Donald Watson drew the enviable rail post for the gelding, trained by John Stinebaugh.  Eyesa Shoofly Dandy, with Donell Blake in the irons, is another solid contender in the Marathon Stakes.

Eddi Martinez was the leading rider in the 2015 Louisiana Downs Quarter Horse meet

Kenneth Weeks was the top trainer last season and will be joined by noted conditioners including Trey Ellis, Kenny Roberts, Carlos Saldivar, Kevin Broussard, Willie Simien and Evangeline Downs leading trainer, Orlando Orozco.

Eddi Emanuel Martinez won 30 races in the 2016 Louisiana Downs Quarter Horse racing season to clinch the rider title. He will be joined by 2016 AQHA leading rider by wins David Alvarez, Alfonso Lujan, Gilbert Ortiz, Donald Watson and John Hamilton, who missed last year’s meet while he recovered from shoulder surgery.

Also, there will be a new voice in the announcer booth this season at Louisiana Downs. Peter Berry, who is best known for his work at Mountaineer Park in West Virginia, will be spending the first three months of the year in Bossier City.

Post time is 1:00 p.m. (Central) Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday.  For more information on the Louisiana Downs meet, visit www.caesars.com/harrahs-louisiana-downs.