The Louisiana Racing Commission on Thursday night voted 9-1 to adopt an emergency order providing for accommodations for horses displaced by Hurricane Laura. It calls for Thoroughbreds scheduled to be stabled at Delta Downs and those at Evangeline Downs, which ended its meet Saturday, be given immediate accommodations - and the ability to train - at Fair Grounds or Louisiana Downs. 

Hurricane Laura inflicted damaage on Delta Downs, which has postponed the start of its meet. Evangeline Downs is receiving Quarter Horses for a meet that starts Sept. 17. 

The emergency meeting Thursday ran from 5 p.m. to 7:40 p.m. Central and included testimony from a host of industry stakeholders. Fair Grounds officials had concerns about taking on horses at this time for a number of reasons, including planned work on the racing surface and environmental ordinances.

Louisiana Downs officials said the track has about 300 to 350 stalls available to displaced horses, and would help horsemen set up trailers for grooms as there is no current housing available on the backside with the meet in session in Bossier City, La.  

An official with the Louisiana Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association said about 400 to 500 horses are in need of accommodations. Some horses have been moved to training facilities in Louisiana, as well as the Texas tracks of Lone Star Park, which opens a Quarter Horse meet Friday, and Sam Houston, which is about two hours from Delta. 

The Louisiana HBPA is paying stall rent for displaced horses. The order calls for accommodations through Oct. 15, at which time a horseman's official believes horses will be able to be received at Delta. 

A representative with Delta could not give a concrete timeline for receiving horses because there are about 40 head still on the grounds from the Quarter Horse meet that recently ended. When they are moved, damages can be fully assessed, according to the representative. Delta provided commissioners with pictures of damage. 

There was no loss of human or equine life in the storm, according to documents from the commission meeting. 

The commission will reconvene next Tuesday to take up date requests from the state's tracks. For more background on the horse housing issue, and the dates requested by the state's track, please click here for a report from Wednesday.