By TONY TAGLAVORE, Journal Sports
No weekend thoroughbred racing at Louisiana Downs next year?
That’s what the Bossier City track proposed, ahead of today’s regularly scheduled meeting of the Louisiana State Racing Commission. The 10 a.m. session will be at Evangeline Downs Racetrack and Casino in Opelousas.
However, the Shreveport-Bossier Journal has learned the commission will counter with a schedule which mirrors the current 84-day meet, with racing Saturday through Tuesday.
According to the meeting agenda published on the commission’s website, the track requested dates mostly comprised of Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. There were three Friday dates, but no Saturday or Sunday dates.
The track also proposed that the 2023 meet start May 8 — two days after the Kentucky Derby. In recent years on Derby Day, the track has had live racing and has offered the opportunity to wager on the first leg of the Triple Crown. The track has also encouraged fans to dress in Derby Day attire.
Andrea Butler, spokesperson for Louisiana Downs, did not respond to questions from the Journal as to why the track would not want to race on at least one weekend day.
Also at today’s meeting, the commission is expected to receive an update on the “purse issue” between the Louisiana Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association, and Harrah’s Bossier City Investment Company. As the Journal first reported July 29, approximately $1.9 million was unaccounted for —apparently a result of the transition of purse money when the sale of Louisiana Downs Casino and Racetrack was closed last February. Caesars Entertainment sold what was then Harrah’s Louisiana Downs Casino, Racing and Entertainment, to Rubico Acquisition Corporation.
On Aug. 1, the Journal reported the amount of money unaccounted for was actually $2.3 million — the $400,000 difference thought to involve money from video poker machines at the time of the ownership shift. Following the Journal’s reporting, the Louisiana Attorney General’s Office issued its first public statement on the issue, saying it was aware of the complaint, and was working with the Commission “and other parties to resolve the matter.”
Late Monday, a spokesperson for the AG’s office told the Journal there wasn’t any new information to provide. That may be under wraps until today’s commission meeting.
Other items on today’s agenda include the consideration and anticipated approval of 17 off-track betting sites (OTB’s) for which the Downs has applied. Six of those are in Caddo Parish, with 11 others in surrounding parishes.
Also at today’s meeting, Louisiana Downs will ask for approval of a 46-day quarter horse meet. Racing would take place January 5-April 1, mostly on a Wednesday-Saturday schedule, with some racing Thursday-Saturday and Tuesday-Saturday.
Contact Tony at SBJTonyT@gmail.com