The Super Derby is making a comeback! The historic Louisiana Downs race last held in 2019 will be returning during the course of the track’s 84-date meet, which opens on Saturday. It’s among a number of improvements new owners Kevin Preston and Tom Benninger of Rubico Gaming have in store for the 47-year-old track they purchased Nov. 1. “We’re bringing the Super Derby back,” Preston said of the race, which will be run Sept. 10. “I think that was important to people. I don’t know that it’s going to be back to the level that it was way back in the day, but it’s a start and we’re going to continue to grow it and make it extremely special for the area and for the track.” Preston said in an interview last week that the race’s purse and distance were still being determined. He said plans are to also bring back the supporting stakes that made for Super Derby Day. “We’re finalizing that right now,” he said. :: Want the best bonus in racing? Get a $250 deposit match, $10 free bet, and free Formulator with DRF Bets. Code: WINNING Rubico Gaming has been making improvements and repairs to the facility, which includes a slots casino, and has plans for two new ontrack restaurants. Preston said one will be the project of an established name to be announced soon, and the other will be a sports bar and grill that will be the permanent home of a sports betting operation Louisiana Downs launched in February. Preston said work also is being done on the facility’s off-track betting sites. “My goal at the end of the day is to continue to get the purses up and so we’ve got an OTB in Mound, Louisiana, that we’re remodeling right now,” Preston said. “We’ll have [historical horse racing] machines going in there fairly shortly, and then we’ve got the ability to do four more OTBs in and around the track and so we’re working on that plan right now.” Preston said there’s also a marketing push, with the track looking at concerts, food trucks, playground equipment, and other means of bringing people to Louisiana Downs. “I was at Keeneland two weeks ago,” Preston said. “You get so motivated being at a place you ultimately want to get to, and I think that we really want to make sure we can bring this track back and make it special and bring back some of the memories that people have had.” Louisiana Downs will race on a Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday schedule through Sept. 27. First post will be 3:05 p.m. Central. Louisiana Downs plans to run seven-race cards, and overnight purses are projected to average $107,000 a day, said Mitch Dennison, a former assistant trainer to Steve Asmussen who has assumed the newly created position of general manager of racing. Russ Ramstad is the interim racing secretary. Dennison said Louisiana Cup Day is scheduled for Aug. 6. The annual event will feature six divisional stakes for Louisiana-breds, each worth $50,000. The wagering format this meet will include a 10-cent jackpot pick six, said Dennison. He said the simulcast feed will feature improved graphics. The track also has seen an increase in horse population. “There’s exciting things going on at Louisiana Downs,” said Dennison. Some might even say super . . .