The Louisiana Million Night, December 20, highlights the 46-day season. San Lorenzo Chrome captured the 2024 edition of Louisiana's premier Quarter Horse race.

© Hodges Photography

OPELOUSAS, LA –SEPTEMBER 30, 2025–Evangeline Downs will kick off the American Quarter Horse season on Wednesday, October 1. 

The season will cover 46 days of racing and finish with a dozen stake races on the Million Night card on December 20. Numerous stake races and fun nights for families are also scheduled.

Trainer Kenneth Roberts, Sr., will bring a full stable to the backside to defend his back-to-back training titles.  The Roberts, Sr. contingent won 20 races to take the 2024 title.  Larry Keith, Kenneth Weeks, and Luis Martinez, Jr. are among the trainers hoping to build off their success at the track last season.

The jockey colony will feature many familiar faces trying to capture the riding title this year.  Ricardo Hernandez, Jr., Noe Castaneda and Ubaldo Luna each had 30 or more winners in 2024 and are prime contenders.

The first set of trials for the season are for the EVD Futurity on Friday, November 21.  Trials for the EVD Derby will be held on November 22.  The finals are part of the banner closing night card.

Trials for the Million will take place Friday, November 28.  Trials for the LQHBA Derby and LQHBA Oaks will take place the following night.

San Lorenzo Chrome added his name to the list of Million winners with a late surge to capture the 2024 edition.  Other recent winners include Special Wild Train B, trained by Kenneth Roberts, Sr., and the dead-heat in the 2022 Million with Tha Duke and San Lorenzo Jet hitting the wire together.

The closing night card will feature a whopping 12 stake races.  In addition to the $1,000,000 guaranteed LHQBA Louisiana Million (RG1) and $100,000-added LQHBA Breeders Derby (RG3), three new stake races have joined the slate with the $50,000-added LQHBA Oaks, the $25,000 guaranteed EVD Juvenile Stakes and $25,000 guaranteed EVD 870 Stakes.

Family Night at the Races, including face painting and a magician, will take place on the following Saturdays:  October 31, November 29, and December 13.  Family night activities are free and fun for all ages.

The racing schedule for the season is Wednesday through Saturday, except for the week of Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving week will feature racing on Friday and Saturday. The first post each night is scheduled for 5:35 p.m. Central Time.

For more information on Evangeline Downs, visit the track’s website.

Evangeline Downs' information can also be found on Twitter @EVDracing and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/EvangelineDownsRacing. 

About Evangeline Downs Racetrack& Casino
Encompassing over 750 acres, Evangeline Downs Racetrack & Casino, a property of Boyd Gaming Corporation, features over 39,000 square feet of casino space as well a racetrack that boasts state-of-the-art facilities with a 7/8-mile turf track and a one mile main track. The casino includes over 1,000 slot and video poker machines, two dining options, and plenty of meeting space including track-side private club suites. Evangeline Downs also includes a newly opened FanDuel Sportsbook. For more information, visit www.evangelinedowns.com and connect on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Founded in 1975, Boyd Gaming Corporation is a leading geographically diversified operator of 28 gaming entertainment properties in 10 states, and manager of a tribal casino in northern California. The Company is also a strategic partner and 5% equity owner of FanDuel Group, the nation's leading sports-betting operator.
 

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