Thursday, June 16, 2005 | 9:45 a.m.
BATON ROUGE, La. -- A horse racing track in St. Landry Parish should be allowed to extend its season to make up for the days it lost because of track repairs, the House decided on Wednesday.
The thoroughbred season at Evangeline Downs Racetrack and Casino halted on May 12, when three horses were injured because of an uneven surface, and two horses had to be euthanized. Jockeys refused to continue riding, and track officials said they would have the track repaired, with a safe surface, by June 30.
State law requires that tracks hold an 80-day meet within 20 weeks, and Evangeline will not be able to comply, which could lead to revocation of the track's license and its closure, said Rep. Arthur Morrell, D-New Orleans, a racehorse owner and supporter of the bill.
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