Opelousas, Louisiana –Bucking an industry wide trend, Evangeline Downs Racetrack & Casino’s recently concluded 2007 spring/summer thoroughbred season showed across the board gains in nearly all major categories including total handle, on-track handle, purse distribution, and average field size for the 89-night meet.

The average nightly handle of $1.695 million was more than 9% higher than last year’s $1.55 million average, which represented a gain of more than 32% from 2005’s average. Despite a reduction of three racing nights, all sources handle reached an all-time high as a total of $149,162,803 was wagered, an increase of more than $6.49 million from last year’s breakthrough season. On track handle showed gains as well with a total of $6,168,301 wagered at the Opelousas, La. oval compared to last year’s $5,829,096. The nightly average of $69,278 was an increase of more than 9 π % from last year’s average.

Increased business and casino proceeds also drove purses to an all-time level. The nightly overnight purse distribution of slightly more than $180,000 not including state-bred bonuses was more than $10,000 higher than last year’s and with the beefed up stakes program a total of more than $19.4 million was paid out to horsemen. A total of nineteen stakes worth more than $1.8 million were contested during the meet highlighted by the $200,000 Evangeline Mile, the richest thoroughbred race in the 42-year history of Evangeline Downs. Costa Rising dominated his rivals in the “Mile” with a track record performance in which he earned a 114 Beyer Speed figure, one of the highest dirt figures recorded thus far this year in North America. By comparison Street Sense earned a figure of 110 in his Kentucky Derby victory. Owned by Charles Castille Jr. and trained by Glenn Delahoussaye, Costa Rising was ridden to victory by Kerwin “Boo Boo” Clark. Horsemen responded in kind to the rich offering’s and produced an average field size of more than 10 runners per race over 893 races, believed to be the highest in the nation for an extended racing season.

Evangeline Downs Director of Racing Operations Steve Darbonne stated “Our entire team worked above and beyond the call of duty to make this season a success and we are certainly proud of our results and are thankful for the support we’ve received from both horsemen and racing fans who have really embraced our exciting brand of racing with full and contentious fields.” Darbonne further added “Construction of a seven furlong turf course with a 1 1/8th mile chute is set to begin in the near future, and other improvements are also in the planning stages as we continue to strive to make Evangeline Downs Racetrack & Casino the best place to race and wager.”

In addition to improved business, racing also showed a dramatic increase in quality and recognition. Local fans were treated to the sight of many new outfits making their way to South-Central Louisiana to take advantage of the lucrative stakes offerings as well as the solid overnight program. Numerous Graded Stakes performers from the Midwest, Northeast, and the Mid-South made appearances this summer as well as many notable horsemen and riders.

Known as the birthplace of “Legends”, Evangeline Downs paid homage to those past and present riders and horsemen with the creation of the Cajun Jockey Challenge. Held on July 13, Calvin Borel edged Robby Albarado after a stretch-long duel to win the four-race contest. It was a fairy tale ending to an exciting day and evening which also featured a brunch hosted by Hall-of-Fame Jockey Pat Day on behalf of the Racetrack Chaplaincy and a free autograph signing session attended by all participants and guests of the “Challenge”.

On June 30, an all-time record handle of $2,218,014 million was wagered on Louisiana Legends Night III, a program featuring eleven stakes races worth more than $900,000 restricted to state-bred horses. This eclipsed the previous record of $2,182,506 wagered on the 2006 edition of Louisiana Legends Night.

Curt Bourque & Keith Bourgeois captured the leading jockey & trainer titles. For Bourque, a past leading rider at The Fairgrounds, Hawthorne Racetrack, and Sportsman’s Park, as well as the old Evangeline Downs, it was his first title since returning from a more than 2 π year absence from the saddle. Bourque recorded 93 wins and his mounts earned more than $1.69 million during the season, easily outdistancing his nearest rival Gerard Melancon who finished second in both categories. Bourqeois, who has won the leading trainer title in all three seasons at the new facility, chalked up an impressive 76 wins and earnings of more than $1.269 million from 302 starts, finishing well ahead of runner-up Sam Breaux who recorded 54 wins from 280 starts.

Madison’s Music, who won all three of her starts at Evangeline Downs including two stakes races, was named horse of the meet. After winning an allowance/optional claiming event, the six-year-old daughter of Prospector’s Music captured the J. Archie Sebastien Memorial on “Legends” Night before annexing the Matron stakes over defending champion Plaid in her final start of the meet. Leased by Marvin Boudreaux from William Boudreaux, Madison’s Music is conditioned by Keith Bourgeois and was ridden to victory in each start by Kirk LeBlanc.

Racing resumes in three weeks with the 40 night fall quarter horse season. Beginning on Thursday, September 27, and thru Sunday, December 2, racing will be conducted on a four evening a week schedule, Thu-Sun with a first post of 6:20 p.m. central time. The one exception will be Thanksgiving week in which racing will be conducted on Wed, Fri-Sun.

The 2008 spring/summer meet will begin on Wednesday, April 9th, 2007 and run thru the traditional closing night, Monday, September 2nd, Labor Day.

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