Opening Weekend at Delta Downs Features Stakes Races And Qualifying Trials

© Hodges Photography

By Don Stevens

VINTON, LA–APRIL 22, 2026–Delta Downs Racetrack Casino & Hotel will open its 2026 American Quarter Horse season on Friday and Saturday, April 24 and 25. After opening weekend, the 46-day meeting will feature live racing each Wednesday through Saturday until June 20. Beginning on June 25, the schedule will go to a Thursday through Saturday format until closing night. 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 (G3) and the $40,000 Titanium Stakes (RG3) as well as four qualifying trials for this year’s $112,225 Old South Derby.

Opening weekend will wrap up on Saturday night with a program that includes seven trials for this year’s $151,650 Old South Futurity. The Old South Derby and Old South Futurity finals will be contested on May 15 and 16 respectively.

Another important set of stakes races this season will take place on Friday, May 22 and Saturday, May 23 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 Thursday, April 30 and trials for the Laddie will be featured on the Friday, May 1 program.

The richest open-bred stakes races of the season will be run on Saturday, 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 18 with another edition of Louisiana Showcase Night, which features eight 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. Leonardo Rodriguez won his first local riding title at Delta Downs in 2025 and will return to defend his crown. Trainer Francisco Bernal was also a first-time leading horseman in 2025, and owner Rogelio Marquez, Jr. will be gunning for his fifth consecutive and sixth overall owner’s title this season.

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.

ABOUT DELTA DOWNS
Delta Downs Racetrack Casino Hotel, a property of Boyd Gaming Corporation, is the premier racing and gaming entertainment venue in Vinton, LA. 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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