October 16th marks the day thoroughbred horses will be back in action at the Delta Downs Racetrack & Hotel in Louisiana. The new racing season will continue until the 12th of March and will consist of 86 dates of racing with 32 stakes races taking place with over $4.6 million up for grabs.
The days that will see racing take place will be Wednesday to Saturday with the start time set at 5:40 pm. There is no cost to watch the races take place or to park. The track is considered kid-friendly so families can bring children along when visiting the venue.
A popular event of the schedule each year is the Jackpot Day, which will be in its 13th year. On November 21st, Jackpot Day will take place and will feature Grade 3, with a $1 million jackpot offered for the two year runners who will take a short race of 1 1/16. The race is one of the top producers of prize money for two year old horses and will be part of the point series connected to the Road to the Kentucky Derby. This is just 1 of 35 scheduled races that will take place in North America and the top four point earning horses will make it to the Run for the Roses race.
The first Jackpot Day took place in 2002 and had a purse of $500,000. The event has since upped the ante and seen 12 horses that moved on to the Kentucky Derby. Steve Kuypers, the Delta Downs Racetrack Casino & Hotel General President and Vice President, stated that the track is ‘so proud’ of the Jackpot Day program and how it has grown in recent years. During Jackpot Day, Kuypers pointed out the some of the best quality racing takes place with wagering opportunities in the sport and the team at Delta Downs is looking forward to the upcoming event in November.