Evangeline Downs American Quarter Horse Season Begins October 2 and Highlights of the 46-Day Season

Evangeline Downs will kick off the American Quarter Horse season on Friday, October 2. The season will cover 46 days of racing and finishes with a monster card of 12 stake races, including the $1,000,000 LQHBA Louisiana Million, on closing night December 19. Numerous stake races and fun nights for families are scheduled for the season.

Pedro Chavarria Espinosa will be back to defend his riding title in a jockey colony that will include many familiar faces. Noe Castaneda, Leonardo Rodriguez, Juan Francisco Garcia, Jr. and Humberto Vital were the closest pursuers in the 2025 race and will look to challenge again for the top spot.

Larry Keith, Luis Martinez, Jr., Ismael Solis-Guevera and Kenneth Roberts, Sr. are among the trainers hoping to build off their top 10 finishes at the track last season. Roberts, Sr. is a recent two-time winner in the trainer race.

The first set of trials for the season are for the EVD Futurity on Friday, November 20. Trials for the EVD Derby will be held on November 21. The finals are part of the banner closing night card.

Trials for the Million will take place Friday, November 27. Trials for the LQHBA Derby and LQHBA Oaks will take place the following night.

Rf Fast Dash N Blood completed his sensational season with a gutty victory in the 2025 edition of the Million. Other recent winners include Special Wild Train B, San Lorenzo Chrome and the dead-heat in the 2022 Million with Tha Duke and San Lorenzo Jet hitting the wire together.

The closing night card will again 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 Louisiana Champions Day stakes, each with a $100,000-guaranteed purse, highlight the card.

Family Night at the Races, including face painting, arts and crafts and a magician, will take place on the following Saturdays: October 31, November 28, and December 19. 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 Tuesday and Wednesday, a dark day on Thanksgiving, and racing Friday and Saturday. First post each night is scheduled for 5:35pm 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.

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 machines, two dining options, and plenty of meeting space including track-side private club suites. Evangeline Downs also includes a sportsbook in the Center Bar. 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.

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