Page 164 - June_2023

Purses + Perks in the Bayou State
Along with generous purses, the LQHBA Yearling Sale, Louisiana breeders’ incentives and other programs drive the state’s thriving Quarter Horse racing industry.
by Diane Rice
Louisiana’s flourishing Quarter Horse racing purses at and above the $300,000-$400,000 range. LQHBA pays out 25% of 1st, 2nd and 3rd
industry resides at the top of the list of states with glowing financial returns. Not only does the Bayou State offer year-round racing with 153 race dates, but its races offer rich rewards in both purses ($20 million per year) and LQHBA Louisiana-Bred incentives ($4 million a year) for stallion and mare owners.
In 2023, Quarter Horses run at Louisiana Downs in Bossier City from January 5 through April 1, followed by April 28 through July 15 at Delta Downs in Vinton, and at Fair Grounds in New Orleans and Evangeline Downs in Opelousas with dates yet to be announced.
The year’s races kick off with the Mardi Gras Futurity, a restricted Grade 2 race run at Louisiana Downs on March 25 this year. “It’s usually the first futurity in the nation each year,” says Bruce Salard, executive director of the Louisiana Quarter Horse Breeders Association in Alexandria. “We’ve revised the race’s added money and expect it to rise from $365,000 in 2023 to $600,000 next year.”
Major purses also include the state’s richest race, the Louisiana Million Futurity-G1 with a $1,000,000 purse; the LQHBA Derby with a $200,000 purse; and several stakes races with
Later in the season, the LQHBA Yearling Sale, to be held August 4-5 this year at Coushatta Casino Resort in Kinder, rewards breeders with the income from their efforts to produce the next year’s fastest runners.
Motivated by its rich rewards, it’s no wonder that breeders from Louisiana to as far away as Idaho participate in Louisiana racing. And the icing on the Louisiana Quarter Horse rewards cake comes from Louisiana-Bred award payments throughout the cycle of the horse’s racing career.
Decades of Lucrative LQHBA Breeders Awards
LQHBA breeders’ awards have served Louisiana horsemen and -women for decades through Louisiana-Bred incentives paid to the breeders—both stallion and mare owners—of accredited Louisiana-Bred foals. Each mare can have only one Louisiana-Bred foal per year.
“The breeders’ award program has been in effect pretty much since the tracks opened in the ’70s,” Bruce says. “It’s a longstanding program that has proven that people can depend on it continuing.”
place in any accredited Louisiana-Bred overnight race and any accredited Louisiana-Bred stakes race, and 25% of 1st, 2nd and 3rd place in
any accredited Louisiana-Bred regular or open overnight race, extending payouts throughout the cycle of the horse’s racing career.
Louisiana-Bred futurities and derbies in 2023 include:
• The LQHBA Louisiana Million Futurity-
RG1, which was first run in the fall of 1967, has grown to a $1 million purse. The Final and Invitational Stakes will be held December 16 at Evangeline Downs.
• The LQHBA Derby-RG3, with a $200,000 purse, to be held December 16 at Evangeline Downs
• The Lee Berwick Futurity-RG1 with an estimated purse of $850,000, with the Final and Invitational Stakes to be held on July 15 at Delta Downs
• The LQHBA Sale Futurity-RG1 with an estimated purse of $450,000 on September 2 at Delta Downs, which will bump up to an estimated $650,000 in 2024.
• The Mardi Gras Futurity-RG2 at $365,080,
Miss Flasholee winning the first ever LQHBA Louisiana Million Futurity-RG1 in 1967. The race was originally called the Louisiana Breeders Futurity until 2017.
LQHBA President Kirk Chaisson and Executive Director Bruce Salard
162 SPEEDHORSE June 2023