Delta Downs Racetrack, Hotel & Casino
4.1(8.0K)google
2.9(87)yelp
Horse Racing
Overview
Delta Downs Racetrack, Casino and Hotel is an American thoroughbred and quarter horse racetrack in Calcasieu Parish, near Vinton, Louisiana in the southwest portion of the state. The facility is owned by Boyd Gaming.
Practical Info
Suggested Duration0.5-1 day
Best TimeHighly recommended Friday or Saturday evenings (6:30 PM - 10:00 PM) from November to March. This period marks the premier live Thoroughbred winter racing season. Sitting in the grandstand under stadium floodlights allows you to experience the thundering hooves, complemented by lively indoor casino gaming and live music lounges.
Getting ThereLocated at 2717 Delta Downs Drive in Vinton, near the Texas-Louisiana border. Driving is mandatory: from Lake Charles, take I-10 West for roughly 20 miles to Exit 7 (Vinton/LA-109), travel north on LA-109 N for about 3 miles, and turn left at the massive Delta Downs sign into an expansive, free open-air parking facility.
Travel Tips
- Live thoroughbred racing runs seasonally on select Thursday-Saturday nights only; check the official racing calendar to avoid missing live tracks.
- Located in remote Vinton near the Texas border; surrounding rural highways lack lighting and have high semi-truck traffic, drive with extreme caution dusk onwards.
Photo Tips
Photo Rules
- Grandstands and betting lounges strictly ban professional telephoto lenses exceeding 300mm and tripods to avoid startling racehorses.
Reviews
Positive
- The live thoroughbred horse racing track is thrilling! Sitting in the grandstand watching the horses gallop brings an electric, high-energy betting atmosphere.
- The casino floor is massive with a vast selection of modern slots; the signature premium buffet offers excellent food variety and fresh seafood at a great value.
- The hotel features wide modern rooms kept impeccably clean with high-end plush beds and pillows; the massive outdoor parking lot is free and seamless.
- Security is top-notch with guard checkpoints at casino entrances, grandstands, and elevators 24/7; everything runs orderly with fast, efficient cashiers.
Heads up
- During the off-season or midweek when live racing isn't scheduled, the grandstands are locked, making the resort feel quiet with fewer non-gambling options.
- The designated non-smoking casino section is somewhat small and lacks a solid wall barrier from smoking zones, allowing secondary stale smoke to drift over.
- During big race weekends, basic room rates skyrocket heavily, dining lines get painfully long, and front desk counters are understaffed, causing long waits.
- The location is highly remote, tucked in the rural countryside near the TX/LA border; surrounding farmlands offer no commercial districts without a car.