Wednesday, 4 May, 2011 14:05
by Chris Jay
The 2011 live thoroughbred horse racing season begins Friday, May 6 at Harrah's Louisiana Downs.
At a media event today, officials from Harrah's Louisiana Downs celebrated the arrival of the 2011 live thoroughbred racing season, which begins Friday, May 6 at 1:25 p.m. The 2011 season will include 84 days of live racing, Thursday through Sunday, May 6-September 25. Racing begins at 1:25 p.m. each day. On Saturday, May 7, Harrah's Louisiana Downs will also feature a 10 race schedule, as well as a simulcast of the Kentucky Derby.
Louisiana Downs has also announced the date of their annual wiener dog races, which will be held Monday, May 30, beginning at 10:00 a.m. All proceeds from the dachshund dash will benefit Robinson's Rescue, a low-cost spay/neuter clinic located in Shreveport. If you're interested in entering a wiener dog for the races, contact Kim Shechter at (318) 525-4124 or by e-mail at kshechter@caesars.com. Remember that, at least in this race, "everyone's a wiener."
It may seem strange to folks who don't live in horse racing towns, but live racing at Harrah's Louisiana Downs actually reminds me of my childhood. My grandfather's been taking me to the track for about 25 years (I'm 31), and I pretty much still bet a dollar or two on the gray ones. It's the best system I've been able to come up with in all of that time. My grandmother's system is to bet on the horses who have braided hair because, she says, "they're ready to have their pictures taken." I'll be out at the track on opening day, and will post a gallery of photos afterward.