Evangeline Downs 2023 American Quarter Horse Season Begins Friday

Louisiana Million night, on December 16th, highlights the 46-day 2023 Quarter Horse season at Evangeline Downs.

© Coady Photography

OPELOUSAS, LA—SEPTEMBER 26, 2023—Evangeline Downs will kick off the American Quarter Horse season on Friday, September 29.  The season will cover 46 days of racing and finishes up with the Million night card on December 16.    

In addition to the $1,000,000 guaranteed LHQBA Louisiana Million (RG1), there will be six other stake races on the closing night card. 

Highlighting the under card will be the $100,000-added LQHBA Breeders Derby (RG3), a trio of $100,000 guaranteed purse stake races with the Louisiana Champions Day Juvenile (RG2), Louisiana Champions Day Derby (RG3), and Louisiana Day Champions Day Classic (RG2). 

The $50,000 guaranteed LQHBA Louisiana Million Invitational and $35,000 guaranteed Scoopies Leaving You round out the stakes action.

It will be hard to top the 2022 edition of the Million, the richest race in Louisiana regardless of breed.  Tha Duke and San Lorenzo Jet finished in the first-ever dead-heat in a fantastic stretch battle.  Trials for the Million will take place on Friday, November 24.  Trials for the LQHBA Derby will be the following night.

Trials for the $100,000-added Evangeline Downs Futurity (GR2) will take place on Friday, November 17.  Trials for the $50,000-added EVD Derby are scheduled for November 18.  The finals for both stakes take place on Friday, December 15.

Family Night at the Races, including face painting, balloon animals, and a strolling magician, will take place on the following Saturdays:  September 30, October 28, November 18, and December 16.  Family night activities are free and fun for all ages.

After the opening weekend, racing will be conducted on a Wednesday through Saturday schedule through December 16, with an exception the week of Thanksgiving.  Thanksgiving week will include a Tuesday night card, with a dark day on Thursday.  First post each night is scheduled for 5:35pm Central Time.

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For more information on the American Quarter Horse season at Evangeline Downs, visit the track's website evdracing.com. Evangeline Downs' Twitter handle is @EVDRacing and the racetrack is also accessible on Facebook at www.facebook.com/EvangelineDownsRacing.

About Evangeline Downs
Evangeline Downs Racetrack Casino and Hotel, a property of Boyd Gaming Corporation (NYSE:BYD), features exciting casino action, live horse racing and fun dining experiences. Evangeline Downs is located in Opelousas, Louisiana, off I-49 on Cresswell Lane at Exit 18.