The historic Fair Grounds in New Orleans will begin its 135th season on
Thanksgiving Day, staging its first live race meeting since Hurricane Katrina
devastated the city and damaged the nation’s third oldest Thoroughbred
racetrack. The storm’s aftermath had caused 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 in exile.
“Having racing return to Fair Grounds this year is just great for everybody,”
said trainer Tom Amoss, a New Orleans native. “On opening day, everyone is going
to see something really terrific happening in New Orleans. The people of New
Orleans really love this racetrack. They’ve always supported it and everyone
throughout the country is going to find that out once again on Thanksgiving.”
The traditional feature on the 10-race, opening day card is the $75,000
Thanksgiving H., a six-furlong contest that drew a field of 10. The Scott Blasi-trained
GAFF (Maria’s Mon) rates as the 3-1 favorite on the morning line. Successful in
the Mr. Prospector H. (G3) in his 2006 bow, the bay has not raced since his
fourth-place finish in the Harvey Arneault Memorial Breeders’ Cup S. at
Mountaineer Park on August 6. Among those standing in Gaff’s way are the top two finishers
from last year’s Thanksgiving, reigning titleholder ZARB’S DAHAR (Zarbyev) and
runner-up RODEO’S CASTLE (Rodeo).
The Thanksgiving H. kicks off a record stakes schedule, which is comprised of 64
stakes races worth $7.7 million, the highest totals in the track’s history. A
record 10 of those stakes are graded.
As always, the highlight is Louisiana Derby (G2) Day, slated for March 10.
The 94th “Run for the Orchids,” worth $600,000, is part of a five-stakes card
that also features the $400,000 Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) for fillies, the $500,000 New
Orleans H. (G2) for older horses and the $500,000 Mervin H. Muniz Jr. Memorial
H. (G2) on the turf.
Leading up to the marquee day are a pair of five-stakes Saturdays that will
serve as stepping stones. “Road to the Derby” Kickoff Day, scheduled for January
13, is headlined by the $100,000 Lecomte S. (G3). Following four weeks later on
February 10, Louisiana Derby Preview Day will feature the $300,000 Risen Star S.
(G3), the $200,000 Silverbulletday S. (G3), the $200,000 Mineshaft H. (G3) and
the $200,000
Fair Grounds Breeders’ Cup H. (G3).
Louisiana-breds will take center stage on two other weekends. The 16th annual
Louisiana Champions’ Day on December 9 now boasts 11 state-bred stakes,
including the newly minted $100,000 Ladies Sprint, but the richest contest
remains the $150,000 Classic. Closing weekend, March 24-25, is billed as
Louisiana Lagniappe Weekend, with a total of 10 stakes on tap, six of them for
state-breds.
Fair Grounds had to undergo extensive renovations in order to host the 81-day
meet. The facility lost half of its grandstand roof and stucco walls to
Katrina’s winds, resulting in significant water damage, particularly to the
clubhouse area.
The dirt track and turf course, along with the infield, had been under water
for several days after nearby levees were breached. 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.
Backstretch repairs, which cost a total of $8.6 million, included 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. The living quarters and restroom facilities for backstretch
workers have also been restored. Additionally, the dirt in the barn area was
scraped and replaced because it was likely contaminated with salt water from the
flooding.
The return of racing at the Fair Grounds can serve as both a symbol of, and
catalyst for, the restoration of New Orleans as a whole.
“This is history,” trainer James Hodges said of racing at Fair Grounds.
“They’ve been running races here well over a hundred years, and that’s the way
it should be — that New Orleans has horse racing once again.
“These people went through a lot down here last year,” the horseman
continued. “They’re looking forward to having their track back, and they deserve
it. And I’m going to give them all the support I can.”