Major Race Tracks in Louisiana

The State of Louisiana has a rich thoroughbred racing history. Racing in Louisiana started about the same time that a group of French called Acadians left Canada, traveled to Central Louisiana, and settled. Those settlers, who became what we now call Cajuns, ran races around man-made tracks with ropes that signified the inner and outer rails. Louisiana has produced some of the most popular jockeys, most of them of Cajun heritage, in the United States. Eddie Delahoussaye, Kent Desormeaux, Calvin Borel and Joe Talamo all began riding at Louisiana tracks.

Louisiana Thoroughbred Race Track List

Louisiana offers thoroughbred racing year-round. See below for profiles of Louisiana’s top race tracks.

Delta Downs

Delta Downs has garnered a reputation as “America’s Favorite Nighttime Racetrack”. The signature event is the Grade II Delta Downs Jackpot, a $750,000 race for two-year-olds.

Evangeline Downs

This Central Louisiana race track is the first “Racino”, a race track and casino, in the United States built from the ground up. Like Delta Downs, Evangeline runs races at night.

Fair Grounds Race Course

Because of its signature winter meet and a key Kentucky Derby prep, the $1,000,000 Louisiana Derby, the Fair Grounds has become one of the most popular race tracks in the country.