Harrah's Louisiana Downs officially announced Tuesday that its signature event, the Super Derby, will be contested on the turf for the first time in 2017 Sept. 9. Inaugurated in 1980, the race once carried Grade I status and a purse as high as $1 million. This year's Super Derby purse will be $200,000, and it will not be graded. “The decision to move the Super Derby to the turf was made with several considerations in mind,” said Trent McIntosh, Louisiana Downs assistant general manager. “We felt that the surface switch would result in a larger field size for the Super Derby and attract a deeper and more competitive field. It was also important to maintain purse structure for the other 83 race days in the meet. The Super Derby will always be a valued signature race at Louisiana Downs; this restructuring will enable us to offer a higher quality overall meet for our horsemen and horseplayers.” Louisiana Downs's 84-day meet begins May 6 and concludes Sept. 27. Its 14 stakes races offer purses of $950,000.
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