Carencro Meets Hollywood

Acadiana bush tracks were famed for their jockeys. Unlike any other tracks in North America, unsanctioned tracks in south Louisiana let children, some as young as 5-years-old, race. The skills, strength, and intestinal fortitude required of a professional jockey were perfected at an early age, with jockeys from Acadiana gaining more ten years of experience over riders from other states. The excitement and uniqueness of racing in Acadiana caught the eye of Hollywood director, Martin Ritt, who filmed Casey's Shadow with Walter Matthau.