The “Shine” contested at the distance of five furlongs features both a filly division and a colts & geldings division each with a purse of $100,000 added headline the ultra successful Louisiana Legends Night which will be held on Friday, July 4th at Evangeline Downs Racetrack and Casino. The fourth edition of Louisiana Legends Night, the signature event at Evangeline Downs will feature the best the state of Louisiana has to offer on a single program with eleven stakes races restricted to Louisiana Bred horses competing against each other for more than $950,000 in purse money.
The second and final payment for the “Shine” is due on May 21st, and there will also be a starting fee of $400 due at the time of entry for the respective trials with all fees and payments added to the purse of each division of the Futurity. Trials for the Filly division will be contested on Thursday, June 12th, and the colts & geldings will follow on Friday, June 13th.
The “Shine”, formerly run as both the Cajun Futurity and the Southwest Futurity, has been held every year during the 43-year history of racing at Evangeline Downs. During its heyday in the late 70’s and early 80’s, the “Shine” annually attracted more than 100 nominees before dipping in popularity in the 1990’s. Since the addition of other stakes for two-year-olds at Evangeline Downs, many with six-figure purses, the “Shine” has seen a marked resurgence in popularity as evidenced by this year’s total of 152 nominees, a 200% increase from just five years ago.
Tom Early, Director of the Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association stated “Evangeline Downs has always been a proving ground for babies, and especially so now with the expanded stakes schedule which includes a total of six stakes races for the two-year-olds with a minimum purse of $75,000.” Early further added “With the racino-infused purse structure at record levels throughout the state, we have seen a dramatic increase in both the quality and quantity of foals produced over the last few years and with the influx of new stallions and broodmares each year, that is a trend I feel is sure to continue.”
Racing continues at Evangeline Downs on a Wednesday thru Saturday schedule with a first post each evening of 6:20 pm central time.
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