Harrah's Louisiana Downs
Encyclopedia
Harrah's Louisiana Downs is a horse racing
track and racino
located in Bossier City, Louisiana
.
Louisiana Downs opened in 1974. It was built by shopping center developer Edward J. DeBartolo Sr.
, a longtime supporter of horse racing; it was third race track he developed, along with Thistledown
and Remington Park
. Harrah's Entertainment
purchased the track in 2002.
The track is home to the Grade II
Super Derby
, a race run each September since 1980 at the classic United States
stakes distance of 1¼ miles (2,000 m). The race often attracts winners and top finishers from the season's American Classic Races races.
The Thoroughbred
meet takes place from early May through October. A quarter horse meet is held from January through March.
The casino features 1,300 slot machines.
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
track and racino
Racino
A racino is a combined race track and casino. In some cases, the gambling is limited to slot machines, but many locations are beginning to include table games such as blackjack, poker, and roulette....
located in Bossier City, Louisiana
Bossier City, Louisiana
Bossier City is a city in Bossier Parish, Louisiana, United States.As of the 2010 Census, the city had a total population of 61,315. Bossier City is closely tied to its larger sister city Shreveport, located on the western bank of the Red River. The Shreveport-Bossier City metropolitan area is the...
.
Louisiana Downs opened in 1974. It was built by shopping center developer Edward J. DeBartolo Sr.
Edward J. DeBartolo Sr.
Edward John DeBartolo, Sr. was an American businessman who is widely regarded as the father of the American shopping mall...
, a longtime supporter of horse racing; it was third race track he developed, along with Thistledown
Thistledown (racecourse)
Thistledown is a thoroughbred race track in North Randall, Ohio at the outskirts of the city of Cleveland. It is owned by Harrah's Entertainment.-History and Information:...
and Remington Park
Remington Park
Remington Park is a horse racing track and casino located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Built in 1988, it was the first world-class pari-mutuel track in Oklahoma. Remington Park was built by the late Edward J. DeBartolo Sr., the shopping mall developer who also owned Thistledown in Cleveland, Ohio...
. Harrah's Entertainment
Harrah's Entertainment
Caesars Entertainment Corporation is a private gaming corporation that owns and operates over 50 casinos, hotels, and seven golf courses under several brands. The company, based in Paradise, Nevada, is the largest gaming company in the world, with yearly revenues $8.9 billion...
purchased the track in 2002.
The track is home to the Grade II
Graded stakes race
A graded stakes race is a term applied since 1973 by the American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to thoroughbred horse races in the United States and Canada to describe races that derive their name from the stake, or entry fee, owners must pay...
Super Derby
Super Derby
The Super Derby is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually in September at Louisiana Downs in Bossier City, Louisiana.Inaugurated in 1980, the Super Derby is open to 3-year-olds and the distance is 1 1/8 miles on the dirt. A Grade II event, it's the richest race held at Louisiana Downs...
, a race run each September since 1980 at the classic United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
stakes distance of 1¼ miles (2,000 m). The race often attracts winners and top finishers from the season's American Classic Races races.
The Thoroughbred
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
meet takes place from early May through October. A quarter horse meet is held from January through March.
The casino features 1,300 slot machines.