Delta Downs, which postponed its race meet when damaged by Hurricane Laura last month, could begin racing in late November, according to a company spokesman.
Delta had been scheduled for its regular Thoroughbred season for 84 days from Oct. 6-Feb. 27. Now, track officials aim to open its backstretch for training by late October before racing begins about a month later, said David Strow, the vice president of corporate communications for Boyd Gaming, the track owner.
Delta is located in Vinton, La., part of the Lake Charles metropolitan area, which sustained heavy damage from Laura, a Category 4 storm. Devastating winds and other storm elements damaged or destroyed barns, the backside dining room, the track toteboard, its data/computer room, and its safety rail and starting gate, Strow said.
"The damage was fairly extensive. The good news is we are making great progress in our repairs, and we're confident we can have the horses return in late October," he said.
Boyd is working with the Louisiana Racing Commission to extend the meet beyond its originally planned ending, though specific dates and the length of the season are still to be determined, according to Strow.
Delta Downs reopened its casino Sept. 16.
Some Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse horsemen in the state have been impacted for the past month following the hurricane.
Evangeline Downs, another Boyd property, delayed its Quarter Horse meet and will now run from Oct. 1-Dec. 19.
The LRC voted this month to force Churchill Downs Inc., the owner of Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots in New Orleans, to allow displaced horses to base at its facility at a time that horses would not normally stable there. Fair Grounds opposed the action in court by obtaining a temporary restraining order, which was later dissolved, leaving the LRC's ruling in effect, according to the Louisiana HBPA.
Louisiana Downs, located in the northwestern portion of the state, an area not as affected by the hurricane, finishes its season Sept. 26. The track had been scheduled to close Sept. 23 but added racing on Saturday after a separate weather-related cancellation of races on Sept. 22-23.
