Fair Grounds, the nation’s third oldest Thoroughbred racetrack, continues to
recover from the destruction caused by Hurricane Katrina. The facility lost half
of its grandstand roof and stucco walls to Katrina’s winds, and the breaches of
nearby levees flooded the racing surfaces, infield and backstretch.
Fair Grounds President Randall E. Soth said last week the grandstand
restoration is “about 80 percent complete,” while the backstretch is “about 60
percent.” The grandstand is scheduled to be completed in time for the start of
the track’s 135th season of racing on Thanksgiving Day, while the backstretch
work should be done in time for the opening of the barn area on November 1.
On Tuesday’s first anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, crews were installing
new counters in the grandstand box seat area, while above in the clubhouse, work
on new flooring continued.
The grandstand did not flood, but had significant water damage, particularly
in the clubhouse area, because the roof and walls were peeled away.
The exterior walls were restored by February, and replacement of the roof,
which required an upgrade to withstand a Category 4 storm, was completed in late
March. Electrical power was restored a week later, and by late April, the
facility was repaired sufficiently to play host to the New Orleans Jazz and
Heritage Festival.
On the backstretch, water was as high as chest deep. Backstretch repairs
include the replacement of roofs on eight barns and repair of 20 others, the
removal and replacement of plywood that line the individual stalls, and
replacement of nearly 300 doors. Additionally, the dirt in the barn area is
being scraped and replaced because it was likely contaminated with salt water
from the flooding, and the backstretch fire protection system has been upgraded.
The dirt track and turf course, along with the infield, was under water for
several days. To remove any salt from these surfaces, crews put down 90,000
pounds of granulated gypsum, and the drainage pond on the east end of the
infield, which is also used for irrigation, was completely drained and dredged.
Hurricane Katrina forced Fair Grounds to shift its 2005-06 season from New
Orleans to Louisiana Downs in Bossier City, Louisiana, where it conducted an
abbreviated 37-day meet. It marked the first time since 1915, when the Locke Law
was repealed, that winter racing was not conducted in the Crescent City.
Over the years, the track has endured two destructive fires, wars, a ban of
racing for seven years and, most recently, increased gaming competition
regionally.