Evangeline Downs Closes Out Its 2014 Quarter Horse Season With Increases In Daily Handle

OPELOUSAS, LA—DECEMBER 23, 2014—Evangeline Downs wrapped up its 46-day American Quarter Horse season on Saturday, December 20, 2014 with total daily average handle coming in at $300,944 for the meet compared to $255,968 for 2013, a 17.5% increase per day.

Chris Warren, Director of Racing Operations at both Evangeline Downs and sister track Delta Downs said, “Changes in our stake program along with strong support from our horsemen enabled us to offer more competitive and exciting race cards to the fans”.

On closing night the Craig Lauger owned Zoomin Baby won the $216,650 Evangeline Downs Futurity. Michael Taylor trained the gelding with leading jockey at the meet John Hamilton aboard.

Hamilton rode 60 winners and was in the money 53% of the time to earn $825,175. David Alvarez finished second in the jockey standings with 47 wins followed by Patrick Watson who rode 31 winners.

The Evangeline Downs Derby was won by Cartels Fortune owned by the well-respected Rodney Verret and trained by the meet’s leading trainer Kenneth Roberts Sr. Cartels Fortune was ridden to the nose victory by Patrick Watson.

Roberts saddled 35 wins while his stable earned $612,919. They were in the money 52% of the time to help him earn the leading trainer title. Kevin Broussard finished second with 24 wins and Robert Touchet was third with 16 wins.

The leading owner title at the meet ended in a tie, as both Joan Rood and Geral Dewitt each had 8 wins. Dewitt's stable picked up $95,610 while Rood's horses earned $72,620. Donna and Kenneth Weeks finished third with seven wins and $55,800 in earnings.

Three other stakes were contested on closing night.

The $25,000 IP 870 was won by David Lee Vance’s Keepn It Kool trained by Danny Eldridge and ridden by John Hamilton. The $20,000 Blue Chip Starter was won by First Prize Copy trained by Martin Trejo and the exciting $25,000 Sam’s Town stakes was won by new track record holder Dashin Brown Streak trained by Macias Lopez and ridden by all-time leading Quarter Horse rider G. R. Carter Jr. Dashin Brown Streak stopped the clock in 17.235 for the 350 yards.

Live Racing returns to Evangeline Downs with the Thoroughbreds next spring. The 2015 season, which will include 84 days of live racing, will begin on opening night, Wednesday, April 8 and run through Saturday, August 29.