Fair Grounds will again have 10 graded stakes in 2008 after the American
Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association
completed its annual grading session Tuesday.
After no changes were made to Fair Grounds’ slate of graded stakes last year,
two changes are on tap for 2008. The Col. E.R. Bradley H. for older turf horses
was awarded Grade 3 status, while the Bayou H. for fillies and mares on turf was
lowered from Grade 3 to ungraded.
The graded status of the Bradley gives Fair Grounds three graded stakes for
turf males. The Fair Grounds H. received Grade 3 status two years ago.
“Road to the Derby” Kickoff Day on January 12, 2008, will now feature a pair
of Grade 3 stakes – the Bradley and the Lecomte for three-year-olds, which again
will serve as the first graded stakes race of the year for three-year-olds on
dirt.
All 10 graded stakes on Fair Grounds’ schedule will fall on one of three
event days — “Road to the Derby” Kickoff Day; Louisiana Derby Preview Day on
February 9, which features four Grade 3 stakes; and Louisiana Derby Day on March
8, with four Grade 2 events.