Delta Downs facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Delta Downs |
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| No. of rooms | 200 | ||||||||||||
| Total gaming space | 48,000 sq ft (4,500 m2) | ||||||||||||
| Casino type | Racino | ||||||||||||
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Delta Downs Racetrack, Casino, and Hotel is a popular place in Louisiana, United States. It's known for its exciting horse races, featuring both thoroughbred and quarter horse breeds. You can find it near Vinton, Louisiana, in the southwest part of the state. This large facility is owned by a company called Boyd Gaming.
Contents
Discovering Delta Downs' Story
Delta Downs first opened its doors in September 1973. It was started by Lee Berwick, who wanted a special place for Quarter Horse races. Before this, he held races on his farm. Delta Downs became a place where both Quarter Horse and Thoroughbred races were held. Sometimes, they even had mixed races.
Changes and Improvements Over Time
In the 1990s, a developer named Shawn Scott bought the track. Later, it was sold to Boyd Gaming. This happened after a new law allowed slot machines at Delta Downs. After buying the track, Boyd Gaming spent a lot of money to make it even better.
In 2005, a big storm called Hurricane Rita caused damage to the casino, hotel, and track. But they worked hard to fix everything. The casino and hotel reopened in just two months. The racetrack was ready for races again about six months later. Because of the money from the slot machines, the quality of racing at Delta Downs has really improved. Many top horses have raced here in recent years.
A Mysterious Race in the Fog
On January 11, 1990, something very unusual happened at Delta Downs. A jockey named Sylvester Carmouche was riding a horse called Landing Officer. There was a very thick fog during the race. Carmouche and Landing Officer won by a huge distance. After the race, it seemed that Carmouche had used the fog to his advantage. He was later banned from racing in Louisiana for eight years.
Exploring the Racetrack
The main racetrack at Delta Downs is shaped like an oval. It's about 6-furlong (1.2 km) long. There's also a special 550-yard (0.50 km) chute for Quarter Horse races. For Thoroughbreds, there are chutes for 0.625 miles (1.006 km) and 1.0625-mile (1.7099 km) races.
What the Track is Made Of
The track surface is a mix of sand from the Sabine River and clay. It also has a base of limestone. This special mix helps the horses run well.
Home for Horses
Delta Downs has stables for 1,200 horses. This means many horses can stay right at the track. You can even see horse pastures from the entrance. Sometimes, you might spot different kinds of horses there, like draft horses, miniature horses, and thoroughbreds. A famous Quarter Horse named Red River Rebel holds a track record here. He's also won the most money of any Quarter Horse in Louisiana.
Fun at the Casino and Hotel
The casino at Delta Downs has more than 1,600 slot machines. Because of state laws, it only has slot machines. The hotel is a great place to stay, with 370 rooms and 50 fancy suites.
When to Catch the Races
Delta Downs usually has races from November until mid-July. The Thoroughbred races start in November. The Quarter Horse races begin in April.
Exciting Races to Watch
Delta Downs hosts several important races. These include:
- The Grade III, $1,000,000 Delta Jackpot Stakes for two-year-old horses.
- The Grade III, $500,000 Delta Princess Stakes for two-year-old female horses (fillies).
- The Restricted Grade I Lee Burwick Futurity.
- The Grade II Firecracker Futurity.
