
LOUISIANA DOWNS RINGS IN 2022
The New Year ushers in the first Quarter Horse meet of 2022 when Louisiana Downs kicks off their live season on Monday, January 10. The track, located in Bossier City, will conduct 46 days of racing through Thursday, April 7.New Owners Looking to Do More!
Louisiana Downs is now under new ownership. Rubico Acquisition Corporation purchased the Bossier City racetrack for $22 million with approval from both the Louisiana Gaming Control Board and Louisiana State Racing Commission. They hosted a family-friendly New Year's Eve fireworks show to ring in 2022 that was well-attended by fans in the Bossier City-Shreveport Metroplex.
Frank Kersh, who has been involved in gaming operations since 1992, is the new General Manager of Louisiana Downs. His most recent tenure was with Indiana Grand, but he has been involved in the opening of four casino operations as well as four casino expansions.
Kersh and Rubico are relatively new to owning and managing a racing property but are firm in their commitment to integrate racing and the casino as "one experience".
Improvements for racing are underway, according to Kersh. Already, the entire property has been power washed; landscaping has been updated; fences have been painted and the toteboard will have a brighter look on opening day. New guard stations have been ordered and plans for the jockey quarters are in the works.
"We are looking to upgrade many areas of the property," said Kersh. " There is a lot of history at Louisiana Downs; we want the facility to look presentable as we work to attract more fans."
The racing office, under the direction of David Heitzmann, Director of Racing, is busy preparing for the 46-day season, and reports that the transition to the new ownership is going well.
"They are very enthusiastic," stated Heitzmann. "It's very clear that they want make changes to the property and attract new fans. While Rubico has not owned a racetrack in the past, they have opened their ears to our horsemen."
Over 1,100 Stall Applications Received
Heitzmann also reported that he and his staff reviewed over 1,100 stall applications for the 2022 live season. Last year's leading conditioner Jose Carrizales will return, along with Rosendo Valdez, Jr., Kenny Roberts, Lanny Keith, Trey Ellis and Vann Haywood.
Everardo Rodriguez, who topped the 2021 North American Quarter Horse jockey standings in wins leads a competitive rider colony. 2020 leading Louisiana Downs jockey David Alvarez will be prominent, along with Juan Garcia, Jr., Gilbert Ortiz, Ubaldo Luna, Arturo Alvarez, Luciano Duenez and Bobby Ransom.
Mardi Gras Futurity Nominations Set Record
Three Quarter Horse stakes will be contested in 2022 highlighted by the $100,000-added Mardi Gras Futurity (RG2) , which is the first official futurity of the year, on Sunday, March 27. The 15th running of the $50,000 Mardi Gras Derby will also be run that day. Both are restricted to Louisiana-bred Quarter Horses. The $75,000-added Louisiana Downs Futurity (G3) will be run on Sunday, April 3. Louisiana Downs will also offer schooling races for 2-year-olds paid into the Mardi Gras Futurity as well as the Louisiana Downs Futurity.
"We received a record 233 nominations for the Mardi Gras Futurity," said Bruce Salard, LQHBA Executive Director. "We thank the connections and look forward to seeing the talent of these Louisiana-bred juveniles in trials on March 6 at Louisiana Downs."
So, full steam ahead for the first Quarter Horse meet of 2022. Wishing the best to everyone!
The LQHBA Insider is a monthly feature written by Martha Claussen, who served as publicity director at Sam Houston Race Park for ten years. She continues to be active in writing, fan education and Quarter Horse racing publicity in Louisiana, Texas, Indiana and other regions in North America.
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LOUISIANA DOWNS RACE DAYS
JANUARY 9TH TO MARCH 30TH, 2024 - LOUISIANA DOWNS RINGS IN 2022
- HOPES AND DREAMS FOR THE MILLION
- LQHBA YEARLING SALE GRADS IMPRESS
- BACK TO THE TRACK!
- JOCKEY BRYAN CANDANOSA
- DOUBLING UP IN THE LASSIE AND LADDIE FUTURITIES
- FILLIES FOREVER FOR OWNERS JASON RICHARDS AND MICHAEL LEBLANC
- LOUISIANA DOWNS MEMORIES
- MOVING INTO MARCH!
- SCHOOLING RACES REAP MAJOR BENEFITS
- PLENTY TO CHEER ABOUT AS WE LOOK AHEAD TO 2021
- DOUBLE THE THRILLS FOR BREEDER BUTCH STEVENS
- 2020 LQHBA SALE FUTURITY CHAMPION A DOUBLE CORONA
- OFF AND RUNNING AT EVANGELINE DOWNS
- ALL AMERICAN SUCCESS FOR HART FARMS
- ALL SYSTEMS GO FOR TRAINER TREY ELLIS
- EXCITING FINALS SET FOR THE LASSIE AND LADDIE FUTURITIES
- GRATEFUL FOR THE RETURN OF LIVE RACING
- LARRY FINDLEY, DVM
- FINDING HOPE THROUGH OUR CHALLENGE
- J & J STABLES HOPING TO WIN THE FIRST OFFICIAL FUTURITY OF THE YEAR
- SCHOOL IS NOW IN SESSION!
- YOUNG TRAINERS START THE NEW YEAR WITH FIRST STAKES SCORES
- FULL STEAM AHEAD FOR NO FREIGHT IN THE LQHBA LOUISIANA MILLION
- LQHBA LOUISIANA MILLION TRIALS ARE COMING!
- EVANGELINE DOWNS OFF AND RUNNING!
- NOT TWO, BUT THREE RODRIGUEZ BROTHERS!
- LQHBA SALE FUTURITY SURPRISES
- TRAINER ROBI MECHE
- CATCHING UP WITH CHRIS WARREN
- LOOKING AHEAD TO THE LASSIE AND LADDIE FUTURITIES
- ONE IN THE BOOKS; THREE MORE TO GO!
- TEAM TF SHEZ JESS DASHIN READY FOR MARDI GRAS FUTURITY
- GRANT FARMS HONORED AS 2018 AQHA CHAMPION BREEDER
- THE TALENT AND DEDICATION OF OUR LOUISIANA TRACK PHOTOGRAPHERS
- MEMORABLE FIRST YEAR IN LOUISIANA FOR JOCKEY LUIS VIVANCO
- TRAINER JOSUE HUITRON
- BRIGHT OUTLOOK FOR SPRING HILL FARMS
- SANCHEZ BROTHERS UNITE WITH POWERFUL QUARTET
- TEN DAYS IN THE BIG EASY
- LEE BERWICK FUTURITY
- FABULOUS FRESHMAN SIRE FIVE BAR CARTEL
- JOCKEY EDDIE SANCHEZ
- ALMOST DELTA TIME!
- GEARING UP FOR THE MARDI GRAS FUTURITY
- TRACK ANNOUNCER JOHN McGARY
- JOCKEY EVERARDO RODRIGUEZ
- MEMORIES FROM MILLION DOLLAR FUTURITY WINNING TRAINERS AND JOCKEYS
- IMPACT OF WINNING A MILLION DOLLAR FUTURITY LASTS A LIFETIME
- JOCKEY AGENTS: HARD WORKING UNSUNG HEROES
- STEVE HOLLAND – STRONG SUPPORTER OF LOUISIANA RACING
- THE WINS KEEP COMING FOR KENNETH ROBERTS, SR.
- YOUNG OWNER ROGELIO MARQUEZ JR. SAVORING DREAM YEAR
- HALFWAY MARK OF THE YEAR AND MUCH MORE TO COME!
- LYLE GUILLORY, OWNER, BREEDER AND LQHBA PRESIDENT
- TRAINER ORLANDO OROZCO
- JOCKEY DAMIAN MARTINEZ
- NATIONAL RECOGNITION FOR LOUISIANA
- LOUISIANA DOWNS GETS THE RACING YEAR STARTED
- REFLECTIONS FROM THE WINNING CONNECTIONS OF THE LQHBA BREEDERS' FUTURITY (RG1)
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RDD LAJOLLANFASTDASH SETS SIGHTS ON THE
$1 MILLION RG1 LQHBA BREEDERS FUTURITY - WHAT WE DID ON OUR SUMMER VACATION
- MOTHER NATURE HAS CHALLENGED LOUISIANA HORSEMEN IN 2016
- KENNETH ROBERTS, SR.
- CARRY ON TEE
- STRONG JOCKEY COLONY AT DELTA DOWNS
- INCOMING LQHBA PRESIDENT JULIEN 'BUTCH' STEVENS III
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LEVERNE PERRY
A LOUISIANA LEGEND BELOVED BY ALL - LQHBA SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM: SERVING YOUTH IS A WINNER!
- PROUD CONNECTIONS BEHIND OPEN ME A CORONA, 2015 AQHA CHAMPION AGED STALLION
- RYAN ROBICHEAUX: TAKING LOUISIANA BREEDING TO THE NEXT LEVEL
- JOCKEY GILBERT ORTIZ CELEBRATES HIS 3,000TH CAREER WIN IN A VERY MEMORABLE WEEKEND
- LQHBA Fall Mixed Sale, Move to Opelousas Well Received By All
- 2015 LQHBA Fall Mixed Sale, Move to Opelousas WellReceived By All
- ANNOUNCER MICHAEL CHAMBERLAIN
- JOCKEY ALFONSO LUJAN
- AUCTIONEER KEITH BABB
- JOCKEY WIVES STANDING BESIDE THE MEN THEY LOVE
- TRAINER KENNETH ROBERTS, SR.
- BREEDER RUSSELL MOWAD
- TRACK ANNOUNCER DON STEVENS
- TRAINER BOBBY TOUCHET
- JOCKEY JOHN HAMILTON