For the first time in a century-and-a-half of racing on this site, a Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots meeting will kick off under the lights with a Starlight Racing party for Opening Night of the 142nd Thoroughbred Racing Season on Nov. 22, a Friday. Of course, racing will also be held the following Thursday on Thanksgiving Day, continuing a revered New Orleans tradition dating back to 1898. The dates and stakes schedule for the 84-day meet were officially announced today.

Thoroughbred season will run Nov. 22 to March 30, highlighted by the 101st running of the $1 million Louisiana Derby (GII) on March 29. The complete stakes schedule, featuring 58 races cumulatively worth $7.51 million, closely mirrors that of last season.

A complete 2013-2014 racing calendar can be found online at www.FGNO.com/horsemen. First post will be 1 p.m. most days. The full stakes schedule also can be accessed at www.FGNO.com/horsemen.

Fair Grounds Wagering

Available wagers for Fair Grounds may include Win, Place, Show, Exacta, Trifecta, Superfecta, Daily Daily Double, Pick 3, Pick 4, PIck 5 and Black Gold 5.

The Black Gold 5 requires a bettor to hold the lone successful ticket with the winners of five consecutive races. On cards when there is no single-ticket winner, half of the pool is paid as consolation to tickets with the most correct and half of the pool goes to a carryover. The Black Gold 5 carries a $.50 minimum and is comprised of the final five races daily.

The Black Gold 5 moniker suggests the bonanza of an oil strike (“Black Gold” is slang for oil), while simultaneously paying tribute to the legendary 1924 Louisiana Derby and Kentucky Derby winner buried in the Fair Grounds infield.

To view the complete Black Gold 5 rules, click here.

Wagering minimums:

  • $1 Win, Place, Show, Exacta and Daily Double
  • $0.50 Trifecta, Pick 3, Pick 4, Pick 5 (Black Gold 5) and Hi-5
  • $0.10 Superfecta

Fair Grounds 2013-2014 Key Racing Dates

  • Dec. 14, Louisiana Champions Day, 11 stakes for Louisiana-breds
  • Dec. 21, Santa Super Saturday, four open stakes worth $300,000
  • Jan. 18, Road to the Derby Kickoff Day, five stakes worth $625,000
  • Feb. 22, Louisiana Derby Preview Day, five stakes worth $975,000
  • March 29, Louisiana Derby Day, seven stakes worth $2.51 million
     

Fair Grounds 2013-2014 Thoroughbred Racing Season

Dates: November 22, 2025 through March 30, 2025 (84 days)
Fair Grounds horse racing schedule:
Post Times:  First post is 1 p.m. daily, except Exotic Starlight Racing (November 22; 3 p.m.), Thanksgiving Day (November 28, 11 a.m.), Starlight Racing (December 20, January 17, February 7, March 14; 5 p.m.), Major Stakes Days (December 14, January 18, February 22; 12:30 p.m.) and Louisiana Derby Day (March 29, 12:30 p.m.)

Fair Grounds Race Course Information:

Main track (dirt): 1 mile, oval
Distance from last turn to finish line: 1,346 feet

Turf: Approx. 7 furlongs
Bets available may include: Win, Place, Show, Exacta, Trifecta, Superfecta, Daily Daily Double, Pick 3, Pick 4, PIck 5 and Black Gold 5.

Bet the Fair Grounds Racecourse horse racing online on TwinSpires and watch race replays for free on TwinSpiresTV!

Opening Weekend

Opening Night, presented for the third time by East Jefferson General Hospital, will feature a special nine-race Exotic Starlight Racing card that will include two ostrich races and a camel race. First post is 3 p.m. The Starlight Racing series is the place to ‘see and be seen’ while enjoying live racing, great bands, mouth-watering dishes from local restaurants, Tujague’s, Ho Shun and The Munch Factory, and special drink selections.

“From our Opening Night Exotic Starlight Racing through the 101st running of the Grade II Louisiana Derby, we anticipate another successful meet at the Fair Grounds with top-quality racing and marquee social events in New Orleans,” said Fair Grounds President Tim Bryant.

Miller Lite and Blue Moon are celebrating their fifth season as the Official Presenting Partner of the Starlight Racing Series. Fair Grounds is proud to welcome Absolut and Jameson to the Starlight Racing family as the Official Starlight Spirits Partners for the next two years. Not only will guests enjoy the best in beer offerings from the MillerCoors brand, but they will also enjoy the full-flavored spirits from the Pernod-Ricard portfolio (parent company for Absolut & Jameson). Local Production Company, Royal Productions, also new this year, will ensure the Miller Time Beer Garden tent is hopping with vibrant lights and wild beats as the Official Audio Visual Provider of the Series for the next three years.  For the fifth consecutive season, Where Y’at will be an official media partner of Starlight ensuring local revelers are in the know and ready to party at the track.

The first stakes race of the meet – the sixth running of the $60,000 Mr. Sulu Stakes – will also be contested opening weekend on Saturday, November 23. First post is 1 p.m.

Thanksgiving Day

Traditionally set on the racing calendar to begin the meet, Thanksgiving Day (November 28) will once again see fans treated to a festive holiday atmosphere and top-quality racing with a ten-race card highlighted by the 88th running of the $100,000 Thanksgiving Handicap, a six-furlong test for top sprinters.

Louisiana Derby

Louisiana Derby Preview Day Presented by Lamarque Ford, The Official Automotive Partner of Fair Grounds, consists of five stakes worth $975,000 on February 22. The 41st running of the Grade II Risen Star Stakes Presented by Lamarque Ford is the second of three preps for Kentucky Derby hopefuls and the final local prep for the Grade II Louisiana Derby. The Grade III Rachel Alexandra Stakes, the Grade III Mineshaft Handicap, and the Grade III Fair Grounds Handicap will also be run on Louisiana Derby Preview Day.

Louisiana Derby Day on closing weekend brings the curtain down on the season’s stakes program with seven stakes events worth a combined $2.51 million. Fair Grounds’ marquee event, the Grade II $1 million Louisiana Derby will offer hopeful three-year-olds a final local chance to qualify for the Kentucky Derby. The Grade II $500,000 Fair Grounds Oaks, a race that has remarkably produced five of the last nine Kentucky Oaks winners, will also be presented on Louisiana Derby day, along with the Grade II New Orleans Handicap and the Grade II Mervin H. Muniz, Jr. Memorial Handicap.

Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks Points Systems

A points-based qualifying system for the Kentucky Derby was put into effect for 2013 and renewed for the 2014 Derby. It includes all three major Louisiana prep races: the Grade II Louisiana Derby was installed as one of the major, final preps given the highest consideration in determining Kentucky Derby eligibility. Under the system, 3-year-old Thoroughbreds earn their way to the Kentucky Derby by earning points in select stakes. The $1 million Louisiana Derby (GII), the signature event at Fair Grounds, is one of only seven races that will offer the maximum 170 points (100 for first, 40 for second, 20 for third, 10 for fourth).

Thirty-four stakes are included in the “Road to the Kentucky Derby” point system.

The first two stakes in Fair Grounds’ three-race graded stakes series for 3-year-olds also carry significant value. The Grade II Risen Star will offer 85 points (50-20-10-5) and the Grade III Lecomte will be worth a total of 17 points (10-4-2-1).

A similar point system is used for 3-year-old fillies aspiring to the $1 million Kentucky Oaks. All three of Fair Grounds’ major route stakes for 3-year-old fillies are included in the “Road to the Kentucky Oaks.” The Grade II Fair Grounds Oaks will be one of the premier 170-point (100-40-20-10) stakes, the Grade III Rachel Alexandra is worth 85 points (50-20-10-5) and the Silverbulletday is worth 17 points (10-4-2-1).

New Stakes Added

Two minor stakes restricted to Alabama-breds – the $50,000 Magic City Classic for older horses and the $25,000 Kudzu Juvenile for 2-year-olds – are the only new additions to the stakes schedule. Every race that appeared on last season’s schedule is back, most with identical purses and conditions. Two stakes for older females – the $75,000 Mardi Gras Handicap, now a turf sprint, and the $75,000 Happy Ticket Stakes, now on the main track – swapped conditions due to where they would fall on the calendar relative to Fat Tuesday.

The meet’s final Louisiana-bred stakes event for older horses has been renamed the Star Guitar Stakes in honor of the five-time Louisiana Champions Day winner and member of the Fair Grounds Hall of Fame. Star Guitar became the all-time Louisiana-bred earning leader in 2012 by winning the race that will now bear his name, previously known as the Costa Rising Stakes. The Costa Rising name will now be applied to another Louisiana-bred stakes race, replacing the Bayou St. John Stakes name.

Ten Graded Stakes

The Fair Grounds stakes schedule is highlighted by 10 stakes that were graded last season – five Grade II and five Grade III. The Grade II events are the Risen Star Stakes and Louisiana Derby for 3-year-olds, the Fair Grounds Oaks for 3-year-old fillies, the New Orleans Handicap for older horses and the Mervin H. Muniz Memorial Handicap for older turf horses.

The Grade III events are the Lecomte Stakes for 3-year-olds, the Rachel Alexandra Stakes for 3-year-old fillies, the Mineshaft Handicap for older horses, and both the Fair Grounds Handicap and the Colonel E.R. Bradley Handicap for older turf horses.

The North American Graded Stakes committee will meet in December to determine grades for 2014.

“We continue to hope that the esteemed committee will finally recognize that Fair Grounds deserves a Grade I race,” said Eric Halstrom, Vice President and General Manger for Racing. “The Louisiana Derby produced two of the top three finishers in the Kentucky Derby and the winner of the Belmont Stakes. Our three-race prep series overall featured five of the top six Kentucky Derby finishers plus the Preakness and Belmont winners. A nationally televised, million-dollar race that is now proven as the key final Triple Crown prep has probably earned Grade I status.”

Four Starlight Dates Announced

Fair Grounds also announced four Starlight Racing dates in addition to Opening Night. The popular social events feature live music, DJs, drink specials and live racing under the lights on select Friday nights. The 2013-2014 Starlight dates are Nov. 22, Dec. 20, Jan. 17, Feb. 7 and March 14.

About Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots

Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, the nation’s third-oldest racetrack, has been in operation since 1872. Located in New Orleans, Fair Grounds is owned by Churchill Downs Incorporated (NASDAQ Global Select Market: CHDN); it also operates a slot-machine gaming facility and 11 off-track betting parlors throughout southeast Louisiana. The sixth Summer Quarter Horse Meet runs Aug. 16 to Sept. 7. The 142nd Thoroughbred Racing Season – highlighted by the 101st running of the $1 million Louisiana Derby and the accompanying Infield Festival – will run from November 2013 through March 2014. More information can be found online at www.FairGroundsRaceCourse.com.