The Super Derby at Louisiana Downs in Bossier City has been postponed until 2023 in order to increase purse money from historical horse racing (HHR) machines, off-track betting locations and the sportsbook, officials said. The venue is also adding 100 new slots.
Shane Wilson, current Louisiana Downs meet leading trainer, said, “All the horsemen here are for the postponing of the Super Derby. With the current purse cuts for the remainder of the season, we feel giving $300,000 to one day of racing doesn’t support the local horsemen who are here every week. Let’s give the new slots, the HHR machines and the OTB locations time to produce purse revenue which supports hosting a large race like Super Derby. Postponing the event until next year is what is in the best interest of the horsemen and the property.”
Thoroughbred horse trainer and LAHBPA board member Ron Faucheux stated, “I think this is definitely the right decision to postpone the event given the current purse structure. With the different forms of gaming, which will increase purses in the future, this is a great long-term event to have, just definitely not this year. Bottom line is I am excited about the future at Louisiana Downs and better Louisiana racing overall. This is very exciting from a horseman’s standpoint.”
Louisiana Downs President Kevin Preston said, “While we were excited to potentially bring the Super Derby back this year, we simply feel it’s not in the best interest of the property or horseman at this time. We value our relationship with the horseman and have been working hard to bring this property back to its iconic status. Ultimately, the closing of our acquisition simply did not allow us enough time to truly set Louisiana Downs apart and put us on the map from a timing perspective with the Super Derby.”
Preston added construction recently began on new restaurants.
Still, the mystery remains regarding the missing $2 million in purse money at Louisiana Downs. Money from the horsemen’s purse fund reportedly went missing around the time Caesars Entertainment sold the property to Rubico Gaming last year. Preston said delaying the Super Derby has nothing to do with Louisiana Downs or Rubico Gaming. He said, “This is an accounting matter between the former owners, Caesar’s and the horseman’s purse and the investigating agencies as they continue to work to account for the $2 million used in racing purse payouts.”
