Louisiana Downs Picks

Harrah's Louisiana Downs is one of the most prominent tracks in North America, with live racing being staged throughout the year. It has been staging live racing since 1974 and is located on 350 acres ofland near Shreveport in Bossier City, La. 

In the heart of northwest Louisiana, it hosts both Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse action and has an adjoining casino that boasts over 1,300 slot machines.

At Louisiana Downs, there are two tracks with the one-mile dirt course hosting the majority of live racing, while the seven-furlong turf course also stages a number of competitive contests throughout the course of the season.

Over 130 live race days are held each year at the track. Thoroughbred racing tends to take between May and September, with the Quarter Horse action taking over until the end of the year.

In May 2019, it was announced that LouisianaDowns is set to form its own Racing Hall of Fame, which will honor the achievements of the sport's greats who have enjoyed success at the track.

The Grade II Super Derby is the highlight of the year, with this prestigious contest being held each September. It is contested over 1 1/16 miles and commands a purse of just over $300,000. It is open to 3-year-old colts, geldings and fillies.

The Super Derby was moved from the dirt to the turf in 2017 in a bid to attract a higher quality field.

The Tiznow Handicap is another top-class race held at the track.

Louisiana Downs Racetrack History

Prolific developer Edward J. DeBartolo Sr. was responsible for the opening of Louisiana Downs. As well as being credited with the design and opening of several shopping malls, he was also the brains behind Thistledown and Remington Park.

The inaugural meet took place in 1974 and was held at the end of October. More than $23 million was wagered within the first12 months, as 15,000 spectators descended upon the track across the opening couple of days.

Numerous national and state records were broken when it came to wagering totals and handle throughout the first two decades.

The Super Derby was first held in 1980 and was contested over 1 1/4 miles. It was designed to attract the best 3-year-olds in the country to the track and would be staged in late September to tie in with the end-of-season Championships.

The inaugural contest commanded a purse of $500,000, with Temperance Hill becoming the first winner of the race. Prior to triumphing at the track, the 3-year-old had been successful in the Belmont Stakes. The race has attracted a number of competitors over the years who've also been successful in that prestigious contest.

Sunday Silence was one of the most notable runners at the track. He won the Super Derby in 1989 and was named Horse of theYear as a result. He was also successful in the Kentucky Derby, PreaknessStakes and Breeders Cup Classic.

In December 2002, the track was purchased by Caesars Entertainment. They continue to oversee the daily operations at the venue, though spin-off company Vici Properties is currently listed as the official owner.

In 2019, it was announced that Louisiana Downswill name a race after trainer Frank L. Brothers. The decorated horseman won just shy of 800 races at the track as well as nine consecutive training titles in the 1980s. He trails C.W Walker, who chalked up 820 winners at the course, as the all-time leading trainer.

Louisiana Downs Track Configuration and Bias

There isn't a great deal of bias at the track, although wire-to-wire winners do strike 35 percent of the time over the 5 1/2 furlongs. Early speed is marginally preferable at this track, particularly over the distance of one mile or greater.

Those who have the rail can bag themselves an extra advantage here as well. Horses who press the pace on the turf tend to also fare well at the track.

Winning Post Position

There was a fairly even spread of winners on the main track throughout 2019. Stall five came out marginally on top with a return of 18.5 percent. Stall six was also fairly productive, with 17.3 percent of winners over the shorter trip coming from this position.

Stall two was responsible for fewer winners, with just 38 of the 364 runners entering the winner's enclosure (10.4 percent).Only one of the 10 runners who began the race in stall 10 passed the post in front, while none of the four runners who were drawn on the wide outside could land a blow.

Over the longer distance, the inside stalls produced a better return, with 17.3 percent of winners being drawn against the rail. Stalls four and six also yielded a decent return, producing over 16percent each.

Stall eight was a very disappointing spot, with just 4.8 percent of horses drawn in this position coming home in front.Three of the 30 runners positioned in stall 10 were victorious, while none of the eight thoroughbreds starting in stall 11 were able to produce a victory.

On the turf, almost 20 percent of the winners came from stall four. It produced 37 winners throughout the course of 2019.Stall three was responsible for 15.4 percent of winners, while stalls one, six and seven all produced respectable returns.

Stall five offered the most disappointing results, with just 9.1 percent of winners coming from this position. None of the 20 runners who began the race in stall 10 entered the winner's enclosure, while stall 11 also failed to produce any winners on the grass.

Louisiana Downs Racing Season

Racing takes place at the track throughout the majority of the year. Thoroughbred racing attracts the bigger crowds, and this takes center stage between April and September. Once the meet has concluded, Quarter Horse racing takes over and runs until mid-March. The track takes a short break for the holiday season.

StakesRaces:

●     Super Derby

●     Louisiana Cup

●     Louisiana Cup Distaff

●     Louisiana Cup Turf Classic

●     Tiznow Stakes

●     Frank L Brothers Stakes

●     Sunday Silence Stakes

●     Happy Ticket Stakes

●     Louisiana Distaff

●     Louisiana Fillies and Mares Sprint

 
Harrah's Louisiana Downs Race Track Address

8000 E Texas Street

Louisiana Downs Best Jockeys and Trainers

There are a number of talented horsemen who regularly send their runners to the track. There are plenty of options forLouisiana-based trainers, and many of them regularly fire in winners at the track. 

Many of the finest riders in North America come to Louisiana Downs, and these talented jockeys regularly ride their mounts to victory at the track. 

Top Jockeys