$1,000,000 Delta Downs Jackpot to Run November 19

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Apr 21, 2011, 12:30 ET

VINTON, La., April 21, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Following its most successful racing program in track history, Boyd Gaming Corporation (NYSE: BYD) today announced that this year's $1,000,000 Delta Downs Jackpot (gr. III) for 2-year-olds at its Delta Downs Racetrack Casino Hotel will be held on the afternoon of Saturday, November 19.

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The ninth running of the $1,000,000 Delta Downs Jackpot, contested at 1 1/16 miles on a dirt surface, will be one of the richest races for 2-year-olds in the country this year, and is expected to once again provide an excellent opportunity for horses to earn graded stakes money to ensure a starting position in the 2012 Kentucky Derby (gr. I).

The 2010 Delta Jackpot was bolstered by increasing the total purse from $750,000 to $1,000,000 and moving the race to a Saturday afternoon program during the third week in November. The race had been held in prior years on the first Friday evening in December. These changes helped contribute to a record total wagering handle of nearly $3.9 million on the Jackpot Day program, up 73 percent from the total handle in 2009, when the event was held on the first Friday evening in December. Of the $3.9 million wagered on the 2010 Jackpot Day program, more than $1.1 million was wagered on the $1,000,000 Delta Downs Jackpot race.

"We look forward to building on the remarkable results of the 2010 event, and to continue making the $1,000,000 Delta Downs Jackpot one of the most important races on the 2-year-old stakes calendar," said Paul Chakmak, Executive Vice President and COO of Boyd Gaming. "We received overwhelmingly positive national response from our horsemen and fans to our November afternoon date last year, and will continue to create an outstanding racing experience for our 2011 edition."

The 2010 Delta Downs Jackpot was won by Our Sugar Bear Stables' Gourmet Dinner, who this year finished third in the Holy Bull Stakes (gr. III) at Gulfstream Park, and was subsequently second in Gulfstream's Fountain of Youth Stakes (gr. II).

About Boyd Gaming

Headquartered in Las Vegas, Boyd Gaming Corporation (NYSE: BYD) is a leading diversified owner and operator of 16 gaming entertainment properties located in Nevada, New Jersey, Mississippi, Illinois, Indiana, and Louisiana. Boyd Gaming press releases are available at www.prnewswire.com. Additional news and information on Boyd Gaming can be found at www.boydgaming.com.

SOURCE Boyd Gaming Corporation