Delta Downs opening weekend on Friday features stakes races and qualifying trials.

© Hodges Photography

VINTON, LA–APRIL 22, 2025–Delta Downs Racetrack Casino & Hotel will open its 2025 American Quarter Horse season on Friday and Saturday, April 25 and 26. After opening weekend, the 46-day meeting will feature live racing each Wednesday through Saturday. First post time is at 6:15 pm.

Fans who attend the track on opening night will be treated to the $50,000 Miss Polly Classic Stakes (G2) and the $40,000 Titanium Stakes (RG2) as well as four trials for this year’s Old South Derby.

Opening weekend will wrap up on Saturday night with a program that includes 10 trials for this year’s Old South Futurity. The Old South Derby and Old South Futurity finals will be contested on May 16 and 17 respectively.

Another important set of stakes races this season will take place on Friday, May 23 and Saturday, May 24 when the track hosts the $75,000-added Louisiana Lassie Futurity (RG2) and the $75,000-added Louisiana Laddie Futurity (RG2) finals. Trials for the Lassie will take place on May 2 and trials for the Laddie will be featured on May 3.

The richest open-bred stakes races of the season will be run on Friday, July 4 when the $75,000-added Firecracker Derby (G3) and the $100,000-added Firecracker Futurity (G2) are contested respectively. Qualifying trials for the Firecracker races will be held on June 12 and 13.

The racing season will wrap up at Delta Downs on July 12 with another edition of Louisiana Showcase Night, which features nine stakes races for Louisiana-bred horses and the richest race of the season, the $200,000-added Lee Berwick Futurity (RG1). In 2020 Lee Berwick purse set a record at $1,025,782. It was the largest horse racing purse ever awarded in the state of Louisiana regardless of breed.

Some of the nation’s top horsemen will be back at Delta Downs this season. Ubaldo Luna won his first local riding title at Delta Downs in 2024 and will return to defend his crown while last year’s top trainer, Guillermo Martinez, will face stiff competition from the likes 2017 American Quarter Horse Association World Champion Trainer and 11-time Delta Downs leading conditioner Kenneth Roberts, Sr. and others as he attempts to score his third consecutive title. And finally, last year’s leading owner, Rogelio Marquez, Jr. will campaign another strong contingent of runners as he tries to snare his fifth owner title since 2017.

For more information about the upcoming season visit the track’s website at www.deltadowns.com/race, Fans can also follow the track through social media on Facebook and Twitter.

Delta Downs Racetrack Casino Hotel, a property of Boyd Gaming Corporation, is the premier racing and gaming entertainment venue in Vinton, LA. Named “America’s Best Horse Racing Track” by readers of USA TODAY 10Best in 2023, Delta Downs features a six-furlong oval track, 15,000 square feet of casino space and more than 1,500 of the most popular slot machines. Amenities include two restaurants, chart-topping entertainment at the Delta Event Center and the FanDuel Sportsbook.

Delta Downs is located in Vinton, Louisiana, on Delta Downs Drive. From Lake Charles, take Exit 7 and from Texas, take Exit 4.

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