Louisiana Downs Horseracing

Louisiana Downs is a thoroughbred racing track in Bossier City, Louisiana. It features live thoroughbred racing from May to November and quarter horseracing in November and December. It is considered to be one of the premiere racetracks in the Southern United States.

Louisiana Downs' signature race is the Super Derby. It is touted as a preparatory race for prospective participants to the Breeders' Cup Classic. The race tests the nation's best three-year-old thoroughbreds at a distance of one and one-eighth mile. It is the highlight of Louisiana Downs' distinguished stakes schedules. Among the other stakes events are the following:

• John Franks Memorial
• Chapel Belle
• Fleur de Lis
• Dixie Miss
• Independence Handicap
• Island Whirl Handicap
• Folklore Handicap
• Razorback Futurity
• Lady Luck
• Harrah's Louisiana Downs Breeders' Cup Handicap
• LA Breeders' Derby
• LA Bred Quarter Horse Stake

Louisiana Downs Facts

• Main Track: one mile, oval
• Turf Course: 80 feet, all around
• Distance from last turn to finish line: 1,117 feet

Louisiana Downs Records – Dirt Track

Distance	Horse	Age	Weight	Time	Date
2 Furlongs	Boston Cadillac	2	112 lbs	22.08	Jul 01, 2019
4 Furlongs	A Lady for Junius	5	123 lbs	45.43	Oct 09, 1997
4 ½ Furlongs	Sondor	2	119 lbs	51.60	May 16, 1984
5 Furlongs	Joyful Tune	4	124 lbs	56.90	Sep 07, 2002
5 ½ Furlongs	Fighting K	4	122 lbs	1:02.84	Sep 11, 1993
6 Furlongs	Tangent (NZ)	4	123 lbs	1:08.40	Apr 28, 1984
6 ½ Furlongs	Prince of the Mt.	5	117 lbs	1:14.98	May 23, 1996
7 Furlongs	Emerald Forest	3	117 lbs	1:21.07	Jul 13, 2021
1 Mile	Highly Attractive	4	116 lbs	1:44.60	May 28, 1990
1 Mile 70 Yards	Country Jim	4	111 lbs	1:39.40	Jul 04, 1982
1 1/16 Miles	Nelson	6	113 lbs	1:41.44	Aug 15, 1993
1 1/8 Miles	Mocha Express	5	118 lbs	1:48.14	Jul 24, 1999
1 ¼ Miles	Tiznow	3	124 lbs	1:59.84	Sep 30, 2000

Louisiana Downs Records – Turf Course

Distance	Horse	Age	Weight	Time	Date
5 Furlongs	Sunshine Classic	5	119 lbs	55.79	Aug 31, 2002
About 5 Furlongs	Tough Charlie	6	117 lbs	54.71	Jul 17, 2022
7 ½ Furlongs	Our Love	5	116 lbs	1:27.96	Aug 14, 2005
About 7 ½ Furlongs	Home in Front	4	112 lbs	1:27.40	Aug 22, 1987
1 Mile	Oh My Aching Arch	6	119 lbs	1:34.10	May 28, 2023
About 1 Mile	Dressy Time	7	114 lbs	1:33.40	Sep 01, 1984
1 1/16 Miles	Erroneous I D	5	115 lbs	1:40.17	Sep 02, 2006
About 1 1/16 Miles	Inevitable Leader	7	116 lbs	1:40.00	May 26, 1986

History of Louisiana Downs

1973

• Louisiana Downs started construction on reclaimed swampland near Shreveport, Louisiana. The reported cost was $20 million. Backing for the project came from Kemmons Wilson, chairman of Holiday Inn of America and real estate developer Edward J. DeBartolo, who also owned Thistledown racetrack in Ohio. He eventually built Remington Park in Oklahoma City.

1974

• The inaugural day of racing was held on October 30.

1980

• The track's centerpiece event - the Super Derby - was first run as a Grade 3 event.

1984

• The Super Derby was given Grade 1 status.

1999

• Edward J. DeBartolo's daughter Denise York assumed control of Louisiana Downs in March after winning a lawsuit against her brother Edward DeBartolo Jr. who had been involved in a gambling scandal.

2000

• Edward J. DeBartolo's daughter Denise York assumed control of Louisiana Downs in March after winning a lawsuit against her brother Edward DeBartolo Jr. who had been involved in a gambling scandal.

2001

• The Super Derby was downgraded to Grade 2 effective the 2002 running.

2002

• On December 20, Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. announced that it has completed its acquisition of a controlling interest in Louisiana Downs.

2003

• Improvements to the racing facility included upgrades to the racetrack turf rail system, barn and stable areas, turf course irrigation, paddock area, winner's circle, racetrack apron areas, exterior entry landscaping and a new VIP Lounge.

2004

• The second phase of the expansion was completed in late May and included an additional 150,000 square feet of space that will house 1,500 slot machines.

2005

• Following the catastrophic destruction of the Fair Grounds track in New Orleans by Hurricane Katrina, Louisiana Downs hosted the relocated 2005–2006 winter meet, which helped sustain the state's racing industry during the recovery period.

2017

• The marquee Super Derby underwent a significant operational shift when it was run on the turf course for the first time in its history. The experimental turf running was won by the Brad Cox-trained Mr Misunderstood.

2018

• The Super Derby returned to its traditional dirt surface at its historic 1 1/8-mile distance. Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen secured back-to-back victories in the event with Limation in 2018 and Rotation in 2019.

2020

• Track management canceled the 2020 renewal of the Super Derby due to scheduling and operational disruptions stemming from the global COVID-19 pandemic. The purse money was reallocated to support everyday overnight purses for local horsemen.

2021

• In November, Caesars Entertainment and Vici Properties finalized a $22 million sale of the racing complex to Rubico Acquisition Corp, led by Kevin Preston. Following the acquisition, the property dropped the "Harrah's" prefix and was officially rebranded as Louisiana Downs Casino & Racetrack.

2022

• Under the new Rubico ownership group, Louisiana Downs expanded its gaming operations by becoming the first venue in Northwest Louisiana to install historical horse racing (HHR) machines alongside its standard slot offerings.

2023

• Following a three-year hiatus, the historic Super Derby returned to the racing calendar on September 2. The running of Super Derby 41 anchored a modernized and revitalized stakes schedule for the track.

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