Racing returns to Louisiana after a more than 10-week absence Friday night with the opening of a 50-date Thoroughbred meet at Evangeline Downs in Opelousas. It’s the first live card in the state since the Louisiana Derby Day program March 21 at Fair Grounds. Evangeline, which was scheduled to open April 8, had its meet postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. The track’s amended season will run through Aug. 29. Evangeline will race every Wednesday through Saturday. First post each evening is 5:50 p.m. Central. :: To stay up to date, follow us on: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter Evangeline will be able to welcome spectators Friday night after Louisiana government officials announced Thursday night that the state has moved into Phase 2 of its reopening process. Chris Warren, director of racing for Evangeline, said patrons will be able to bet the live races only Friday night as simulcasting at the track will not start until Wednesday.  Evangeline has drawn a number of new faces for the meet, including trainers Robertino Diodoro, who is coming off titles at both Oaklawn Park and Will Rogers Downs, and Isai Gonzalez, who just won his third title at Fonner Park. Among riders, Ty Kennedy is invading from Will Rogers. Karl Broberg, a perennial leading trainer at Evangeline, is back for the new season. Other regulars returning include jockeys C.J. McMahon, Gerard Melancon, Diego Saenz, and Tim Thornton. There is a notable face missing from the entries. Kerwin Clark, a 61-year-old veteran journeyman who won more than 3,000 races in North America, retired from riding in late May, said Charles Ashy Jr., his agent for the past five years. Purses this meet are projected to average $150,000 a program, according to Warren. The track’s stakes schedule has been adjusted, with the Louisiana Legends card of six stakes for Louisiana-breds moved from May to July 4. The only other stakes scheduled are two $60,000 divisions of the D.S. “Shine” Young Futurity on Aug. 29. The canceled stakes include the track’s signature race, the Evangeline Mile. “We may have some overnight stakes,” Warren said. “We’ll see how things go when we open up.” Warren said the stakes schedule this meet was amended to set aside as much money as possible for overnight purses. At this time, plans are to run nine-race cards. Evangeline, which has an onsite casino of more than 1,200 slot machines, was able to reopen that facility at a limited capacity on May 20. The opener on Friday drew 102 horses. The feature is an entry-level allowance at six furlongs. It is for 3-year-olds and up bred in Louisiana. Knockalittlelouder could go favored after running third in a first-level allowance March 7 at Fair Grounds. The start was his first against winners. Thornton has the mount from post 12 for trainer Sam David. The Saturday night card is led by an optional $30,000 claiming turf sprint that carries three-other-than allowance conditions. The field includes a number of stakes winners, including Oil Money for Diodoro. Laughingsaintssong, a top Louisiana-bred sprinter, is entered for the main track-only.