Opelousas, Louisiana –Calvin Borel and Robby Albarado, the winning jockeys in this year’s first two legs of the Triple Crown, The Kentucky Derby and The Preakness Stakes are set to renew their rivalry in the Inaugural Cajun Jockey Challenge at Evangeline Downs Racetrack and Casino on Friday evening. The “Challenge” is a four-race contest featuring twelve accomplished riders who began their career here and/or have strong “Cajun” roots. Although Borel and Albarado have garnered the most publicity of late, the field assembled is talented and deep featuring riders who have won more than 37,000 races and earned more than $640 million in purses in their careers combined. The night will also honor some of the greats from yesterday who began their illustrious careers at Evangeline Downs “the birthplace of legends”. Those greats of yesterday set to appear and take part in the Cajun Jockey Challenge include Randy Romero, Shane Sellers, Ray Sibille, and Ronald Ardoin.

The festivities on Challenge Night will begin at Noon with a brunch hosted by recently retired Hall-of-Fame Jockey Pat Day in Silks Dining Room on the third floor of the facility with a portion of the proceeds going to the Racetrack Chaplaincy fund. In addition to Pat Day, the brunch will also feature appearances by those riders scheduled to compete later that evening and those retired riders being honored. Tickets are available either for purchase beforehand or at the door for $75 a piece. Following the brunch, from 3:30 to 5:00, the fans will have an opportunity to meet the riders in an autograph signing session to be held at Mojo’s, Evangeline Downs’ sports bar that is located adjacent to the paddock. There will also be a welcome ceremony in the winner’s circle introducing all of the participants prior to the night’s first race. Evangeline Downs is also issuing a souvenir program to commemorate the evening.

Long known as the birthplace of riders, Evangeline Downs and the surrounding area has been home to and/or the starting off point for dozens of jockeys who competed and succeeded at the highest levels of our sport. They include Hall-of-Fame inductees such as Eddie Delahoussaye, Kent Desormeaux, and Eric Guerin, as well as the aforementioned Shane Sellers, Randy Romero, Robby Albarado, Calvin Borel, Mark Guidry, Ronald Ardoin, and Ray Sibille to name just a few.

The official line-up for the Challenge, which will be conducted on races #3, 5, 7, and 9 are as follows. Calvin Borel, Robby Albarado, Mark Guidry, Curt Bourque, Gerard Melancon, Corey Lanerie, Larry Melancon, E.J. Perrodin, Tracy Hebert, Kerwin Clark, Steve Bourque, and B.J. Hernandez Jr. In addition to the regular prize money, First place in the challenge as well as bragging rights is worth $5,000 in cash. Second place is worth $2,500, and Third place receives $1,000. The points will be awarded as follows, 5 points for each win, 3 points for each runner-up finish, and 1 point for each third place finish. In the case of any late scratches, one point will be awarded to the corresponding rider. If there are any dead heats, the total points of the two positions will be divided equally. In case of any ties, the total win/place/show mutuel payoffs will be the deciding tiebreaker. Riding assignments were drawn at random with each participant having an equal chance to ride one horse in the top three, second three, third three, and bottom three in the corresponding races.

In the first event, race #3 on the 10-race program, Gerard Melancon drew the 3-1 morning-line favorite Duclaw in a maiden special weight race for state-breds at six furlongs. In the second leg, an entry level allowance event for state-breds at seven furlongs that is race #5, Calvin Borel has the mount on St. Zarb, the morning-line favorite at odds of 2/1 off a good third place finish in the Free Spirits Joy Stakes at Louisiana Downs in his last start. Race #7, the third leg of the event, is another entry level allowance race for state-breds at seven furlongs. B. J. Hernandez, the 2004 Eclipse Award winner for Outstanding Apprentice Jockey, has the riding assignment on the 5/2 morning-line favorite Louisa Lee. Race #9, the fourth and final leg, a $50,000 starter handicap event at 1 mile & 70 yards sponsored by Ranch Outlet of Lafayette, La. finds Tracy Hebert assigned to the 2/1 morning-line favorite, Tiger Monarch.

“Interest in the Challenge has been overwhelming,” said Jason Boulet, Racing Secretary at Evangeline Downs and the driving force behind the event. Boulet further stated “All of these athletes have strong ties to this area, even though many no long compete here on a regular basis this is and always will be home to them. We, as their family, friends, and fans have followed them on their various paths to success in our great sport and are tremendously excited to welcome them all back home on this special night”.

Racing continues on a four-evening a week schedule, Wednesday thru Saturday, with a first post of 6:20 p.m. Central time.

For more information contact Evangeline Downs at 337-594-3000.