Louisiana Downs Racing
Harrah's Louisiana Downs horse racing track and racino opened in 1974 with 15,000 fans in attendance for the first day of its inaugural meet. Its located near Shreveport in Bossier City, northwest Louisiana. It was purchased by Caesars Entertainment in December, 2002.
Louisiana Downs is considered to be a showcase for horses from Louisiana, Arkansas, and Texas. Thoroughbred meet takes place from early May through October. A quarter horse meet is held from January through March.
Louisiana Downs is home of the Super Derby, a 1-1/4 mile race, which is one of the premiere races for 3 year olds in North America and has been since its first running in 1980.
In its 24 runnings, the Super Derby has attracted four Kentucky Derby winners, four Preakness Stakes winners, five Belmont Stakes winners and seven Travers Stakes winners. Six previous Super Derby entrants have won the prestigious Breeders' Cup Classic and three Super Derby winners, Tiznow, Sunday Silence and Alysheba have been voted the Eclipse Award as Horse of the Year, the industry's highest award.
Louisiana Downs Race Track Schedule
Live Racing: Thursday to Sunday
Live Racing Calendar: Thoroughbred racing: May to October, Quarter Horse racing: January to March
Course type: Flat/Thoroughbred
Notable races: Harrah's Louisiana Downs Breeders' Cup Handicap, Independence Handicap, Island Whirl Handicap, LA Breeders' Derby, LA Bred Quarter Horse Stake, Fleur de Lis, Dixie Miss, Folklore Handicap, Lady Luck
Main track: 1 mile, oval
Distance from last turn to finish line: 1,010 feet
Turf course: 7/8 of a mile and 50 feet
Stakes Races at Louisiana Downs
John Franks Memorial
Honeymoon
Sunny’s Halo
Barksdale
Super Derby Prelude
Louisiana Cup Juvenile
Louisiana Cup Juvenile Fillies
Louisiana Cup Derby
Louisiana Cup Filly and Mare Sprint
Louisiana Cup Oaks
Louisiana Cup Sprint
Louisiana Cup Turf Classic
Louisiana Cup Distaf