Evangeline Downs will host the Louisiana Festival of Racing on Saturday, December 20.

© LQHBA

By H. David Smith, StallioneSearch

OPELOUSAS, LA—DECEMBER 3, 2025—Evangeline Downs is set to host one of the most anticipated Quarter Horse events of the year as the Louisiana Festival of Racing returns on Saturday, December 20, showcasing more than $2 million in total purses and a full slate of high-profile stakes races.

Billed as "The Biggest Night in Louisiana's Rich Racing History," the festival once again spotlights the strength of the Louisiana-bred racing program while offering a full day of elite competition.

This year's edition also features another educational component, with $25,000 in scholarships to be awarded on race day — including six $2,500 awards and two $5,000 awards — reinforcing the Louisiana Quarter Horse Breeders Association's commitment to supporting youth and community involvement.

A Full Card of Elite Stakes Racing

A powerful lineup of graded stakes and guaranteed-purse events anchors the December 20 program:

> Leverne Perry Stakes – $35,000 Guaranteed
> LQHBA Breeders' Derby (G3) – $150,000 Est.
> LQHBA Oaks – $150,000 Est.
> LQHBA Louisiana Million Invitational – $50,000 Guaranteed
> Louisiana Champions Day Juvenile (RG2) – $100,000 Guaranteed
> Louisiana Champions Day Derby (RG3) – $100,000 Guaranteed
> Louisiana Champions Day Classic (RG2) – $100,000 Guaranteed
> Evangeline Downs Derby – $125,000 Est.
> Evangeline Downs Futurity – $300,000 Est.
> The Louisiana Million (RG1) – $1,000,000 — the night's marquee event

The showcase race, The Louisiana Million (RG1), headlines the Festival with its seven-figure purse, drawing the top Louisiana-bred juveniles of the season and serving as a cornerstone event for breeders, owners, and trainers across the region.

A Night That Celebrates Louisiana Racing

Presented by the Louisiana Quarter Horse Breeders Association (LQHBA), the Louisiana Festival of Racing continues to grow as a year-end celebration of the state's thriving breeding, training, and racing industries.

From promising 2-year-olds to seasoned older runners, the stakes lineup offers championship-level matchups that consistently deliver fireworks on track.

The event also gives fans and families an opportunity to enjoy the sport's pageantry, with Evangeline Downs providing a festive atmosphere fitting for one of the richest nights of Quarter Horse racing in the country.

For more information about the Festival or scholarship participation, please visit LQHBA.com or contact the LQHBA office in Alexandria, Louisiana.

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