Fair Grounds Race Course, often known as New Orleans Fair Grounds, is a

thoroughbred The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word ''thoroughbred'' is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed. Thoroughbreds are c ...

racetrack A race track (racetrack, racing track or racing circuit) is a facility built for racing of vehicles, athletes, or animals (e.g. horse racing or greyhound racing). A race track also may feature grandstands or concourses. Race tracks are also u ...

and

racino A racino is a combined race track and casino. In some cases, the gambling is limited to slot machines, but many locations are beginning to include table games such as blackjack, poker, and roulette. In 2003, Joe Bob Briggs described the econo ...

New Orleans, Louisiana New Orleans ( , ,New Orleans
Merriam-Webster. ; french: La Nouvelle-Orléans , es, Nuev ...

. It is operated by Churchill Downs Louisiana Horseracing Company, LLC. As early as 1838

Bernard de Marigny Jean-Bernard Xavier Philippe de Marigny de Mandeville (1785–1868), known as Bernard de Marigny, was a French- Creole American nobleman, playboy, planter, politician, duelist, writer, horse breeder, land developer, and President of the Louisia ...

, Julius C Branch and

Henry Augustine Tayloe Henry Augustine Tayloe (April 8, 1808 – July 15, 1903) was an American planter, slaveholder, horse breeder and racer, and land speculator in Alabama during the 19th century. A younger son of John Tayloe III, a wealthy planter in Washington, ...

, organized races at the "Louisiana Race Course" laid out on Gentilly Road, making it the second oldest site of

horseracing Horse racing is an equestrian performance sport, typically involving two or more horses ridden by jockeys (or sometimes driven without riders) over a set distance for competition. It is one of the most ancient of all sports, as its basic p ...

in America still in operation, after

Freehold Raceway Freehold Raceway is a half-mile racetrack in Freehold Borough, New Jersey, and is the oldest racetrack in the United States. Horseraces have been taking place at Freehold Raceway since the 1830s. The Monmouth County Agricultural Society was for ...

and before the

Saratoga Race Course Saratoga Race Course is a Thoroughbred horse racing track located on Union Avenue in Saratoga Springs, New York, United States. Opened in 1863, it is often considered to be the oldest major sporting venue of any kind in the country, but is actua ...

. It began on April 10 and lasted for five days. In 1852 it was renamed the Union Race Course. In 2009, the Horseplayers Association of North America introduced a rating system for 65 Thoroughbred racetracks in North America. Of the top Fifteen, New Orleans Fair Grounds was ranked #12, behind

Evangeline Downs Evangeline Downs Racetrack & Casino is a racetrack in St. Landry Parish, Louisiana, just east of Opelousas. It is owned and operated by Boyd Gaming. With a one-mile oval track, the facility provides close to 1,000 horse stalls for Thoroughbred f ...

Opelousas, Louisiana :''Opelousas is also a common name of the flathead catfish.'' Opelousas (french: Les Opélousas; Spanish: ''Los Opeluzás'') is a small city and the parish seat of St. Landry Parish, Louisiana, United States. Interstate 49 and U.S. Route 190 were ...

, which was ranked #6.

History

In 1838 on April 10

, Julius C Branch and

(son of

John Tayloe III John Tayloe III (September 2, 1770March 23, 1828), of Richmond County, Virginia, was a planter, politician, businessman, and tidewater gentry scion. He was prominent in elite social circles. A highly successful planter and thoroughbred horse b ...

The Octagon House The Octagon House, also known as the Colonel John Tayloe III House, is located at 1799 New York Avenue, Northwest in the Foggy Bottom neighborhood of Washington, D.C. After the British destroyed the White House during the War of 1812, the house ...

, a national leader on turf, founder of the

Washington Jockey Club The Washington Jockey Club was an American association in Washington, D.C. devoted to horse racing, founded in 1797. The Club established its first racecourse four blocks from the Executive Mansion where it extended from 17th and 20th Streets a ...

(1798), who imported the great English thoroughbred

Diomed Diomed, foaled in 1777, was an English Thoroughbred race horse who won 1780 Epsom Derby, the inaugural running of Epsom Derby, the Derby in 1780. He was subsequently a successful sire in the United States. Racing years A bright chestnut standin ...

that sired

Sir Archy Sir Archy (or Archy, Archie, or Sir Archie; 1805–1833) was an American Thoroughbred racehorse considered one of the best racehorses of his time and later one of the most important sires in American history. He was inducted into the National Muse ...

-whose descendants include Lexington,

Secretariat Secretariat may refer to: * Secretariat (administrative office) * Secretariat (horse) Secretariat (March 30, 1970 – October 4, 1989), also known as Big Red, was a champion American thoroughbred horse racing, racehorse who is the ninth winne ...

and

American Pharoah American Pharoah (foaled February 2, 2012) is a Thoroughbred racehorse who won the American Triple Crown and the Breeders' Cup Classic in 2015. He was the 12th Triple Crown winner in history, and in winning all four races, became the first ho ...

; the grandson of

John Tayloe II Colonel John Tayloe II (28 May 172118 April 1779) was a planter and politician, among the richest planters in colonial Virginia. He served in public office including the Virginia Governor's Council, also known as the Virginia Council of State. ...

who imported Childers (by

Flying Childers Flying Childers (1715–1741) was a famous undefeated 18th-century thoroughbred racehorse, foaled in 1714 at Carr House, Warmsworth, Doncaster, and is sometimes considered as the first truly great racehorse in the history of thoroughbreds and the ...

), Jenny Cameron and Jolly Rogers (three of the most important colonial imports) and who built the grand colonial estate and stud farm Mount Airy), organized races at the "Louisiana Race Course." FairgroundGentillyGate10Dec07P

1838

April 10 the first race for "The Creole Purse" $1,000, free only for horses bred and owned in the state of

Louisiana Louisiana , group=pronunciation (French: ''La Louisiane'') is a state in the Deep South and South Central regions of the United States. It is the 20th-smallest by area and the 25th most populous of the 50 U.S. states. Louisiana is borde ...

; two-year-olds a feather' three-year-olds 86lbs; four-year-olds, 100lbs' five-year-olds, 110lbs; six-year-olds, 118lbs; aged 124lbs; with the usual allowance of three pounds to mare and geldings; mile heats. First Day, First Race - owners and horses: Fergus Duplantier, Louisianese; John F Miller, Lord of the Isles; Robert J Barrows, Tom Jones; Y.N. Oliver, Pocohantas; Sosthene Allian, Tresorrier. Second Race, sweepstakes for three-year-olds, weights as before, five subscribers at $1000 each, $250 forfeit, mile heats. Owners and horses: William J Minor, Britiania; Thos. J Wells, Taglioni; John F Miller, John Boy; Henry Tayloe, Tom Thurman; Col Robert Smith, Lavinia. The second day, first race, purse $1,200, entrance $120, free for all ages, weights as before, two-mile heats. Owners and horses: Minor Kenner, Richard of York; A Barrows, Louisa Bascombe; Fergus Duplantier, Wren. The third day, purse $1,800, entrance $180, free for all ages, weights as before, three-mile heats. Owners and horses: Wm. R Barrow, Pressure, Thos. J Wells, Dick Chin; J. S. Garrison, Pollard;

John Randolph Grymes John Randolph Grymes (December 14, 1786 – December 3, 1854) was a New Orleans attorney, member of the Louisiana state legislature, U.S. attorney for Louisiana district, and '' aide-de-camp'' to General Andrew Jackson during the Battle of N ...

, Susan Yandall; Robert Smith, Pete Whetstone. Fourth day "Creole Plate" (as seen in the picture), valued at $1,000. Entrance $100, five-year-olds and over to carry 100lbs; four-year-olds and under their appropriate weights, two-mile heats. Owners and horses:

Adam Lewis Bingaman Adam Lewis "A.L." Bingaman (February 11, 1793 - September 6, 1869) studied law in Massachusetts, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts, Harvard University Class of 1812. While in Boston he met and married Julia Maria Murray, daughter of Judith Sargen ...

, Angora; Henry A. Tayloe, Hortense. File:Louisiana Race Course 1838 Spring Meeting.png, Louisiana Race Course 1838 Spring Meeting Day 2 File:Louisiana Race Course Spring 1838 Day 4.png, Louisiana Race Course 1838 Spring Day 4 File:Louisiana Race Course Spring 1838 Day 6.png, Louisiana Race Course Spring 1838 Day 6 File:Louisiana Race Coures Fall 1838.png, Louisiana Race Course Fall 1838 File:Henry Augustine Tayloe I.jpg, Henry Augustine Tayloe, Co-Proprietor File:BernardMarignyPortrait.jpg, Bernard de Marigny, Co-Proprietor File:John Randolph Grymes.jpg, John Randolph Grymes owner of Susan Yandall (horse) File:Adam Lewis Bingaman.jpg, Adam Lewis Bingaman owner of Angora, winner of above Louisiana Jockey Club Plate

1839

Began on March 20, 1839, and lasted five days. "The First Day was the "Creole Purse" for $500, one-mile heats; the same day the "Proprietors Purse" for $250, one mile heats; and third race "Sweepstakes" (See Spirit of Times). Second Day-"Proprietors Purse" $1,200—two-mile heat; if more than two start the second best to be entitled to $200-but if two, the winner to receive $1,000. Third-Day-"Jockey Club Purse" $1,800—three-mile heats; of which the second best will be entitled to $300, if more than two start-if but two, the winner to receive $1500. Fourth Day-"Jockey Club Plate" value $1,500 and $500, -four-mile heats-to the winner, and $500 to the second-best horse, provided more than two start. Fifth Day-"Proprietors Purse" $600—mile heat-best 3 in 5; Same Day-"The Louisiana Plate" value $1,000—two-mile heats; five-year-olds and over will carry 100lbs.- four-year-olds and under their appropriate weight." File:First race at the Fair Grounds Race Course New Orleans.png, Louisiana Race Course 1939 Spring Meeting Day 1 File:Louisiana Race Course Fall 1839.png, Louisiana Race Course Fall 1839 Announcement File:Gentily Race Course 5th Day 1839.png, Gentily Race Course Fall 1839 5th Day

Second Opening

The track opened again as the "Union Race Course" in 1852. The track closed in 1857 due to competition from the Metairie Course. In 1859 the track was renamed the "Creole Race Course." In 1863, the name was changed again to the "Fair Grounds" and racing was conducted during the

Civil War A civil war or intrastate war is a war between organized groups within the same state (or country). The aim of one side may be to take control of the country or a region, to achieve independence for a region, or to change government policies ...

. The track then closed when the Metairie Course reopened after the war. In 1871, the younger members of the Metairie Jockey Club broke away to re-form the then defunct

Louisiana Jockey Club Louisiana , group=pronunciation (French: ''La Louisiane'') is a state in the Deep South and South Central regions of the United States. It is the 20th-smallest by area and the 25th most populous of the 50 U.S. states. Louisiana is borde ...

and again hold meets at the Fair Grounds. In 1872 the first race card is held at the Fair Grounds under the auspices of the Louisiana Jockey Club. The Crescent City Jockey Club was established in 1892 and ran a winter racing season from December to April until they had to liquidate their assets in the spring of 1913. In 1907, Colonel Matt Winn arrived in

New Orleans New Orleans ( , ,New Orleans
Merriam-Webster. ; french: La Nouvelle-Orléans , es, Nuev ...

to establish racing dates and deal with other matters in the

horse industry. In 1908, racing was banned in New Orleans but returned in 1915. In 1919 a fire burned down the grandstand but the track was still able to conduct a race meeting. In 1921, an auto race was held at the track, the only car race at the fairgrounds. In 1940, legislative sanction was given to racing in

. The track was then sold to developers Morris and Jake Hyman for the construction of a subdivision. In 1941, a group of investors saved Fair Grounds from destruction. The track resumed racing after

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

. The

Fair Grounds Racing Hall of Fame The Fair Grounds Racing Hall of Fame was created in 1971 by the Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans, Louisiana Louisiana , group=pronunciation (French: ''La Louisiane'') is a state in the Deep South and South Central regions of the Uni ...

was established in 1971

In 1981 a Horse-racing, turf no course was installed. In 1990 the track was sold to the Krantz family. In 1993, the grandstand was completely destroyed by a seven-alarm fire and racing continued with temporary facilities in place for a couple of years. A new $27 million construction project began in 1994 and the completed grandstand/clubhouse was opened to the public on Thanksgiving Day 1997. The track was purchased by

Churchill Downs Incorporated Churchill Downs Incorporated is the parent company of Churchill Downs. The company has evolved from one racetrack in Louisville, Kentucky, to a multi American-state-wide, publicly traded company with racetracks, casinos and an online wagering comp ...

in 2004. Fair Grounds was heavily damaged in

Hurricane Katrina Hurricane Katrina was a destructive Category 5 Atlantic hurricane that caused over 1,800 fatalities and $125 billion in damage in late August 2005, especially in the city of New Orleans and the surrounding areas. It was at the time the cost ...

, and was closed for over a year, until re-opening on

Thanksgiving Day Thanksgiving is a national holiday celebrated on various dates in the United States, Canada, Grenada, Saint Lucia, Liberia, and unofficially in countries like Brazil and Philippines. It is also observed in the Netherlander town of Leiden a ...

2006. The track conducted a 37-day meet at Louisiana Downs in replacement of the scheduled 2005-2006 meet. Both the great race mare

Pan Zareta Pan Zareta (born 1910) was an American Thoroughbred racehorse who won 76 races and was known as the "Queen of the Turf.". She raced in eight different states of America as well as Mexico and Canada. While she never won a significant race, and only ...

and the winner of the 1924

Kentucky Derby The Kentucky Derby is a horse race held annually in Louisville, Kentucky, United States, almost always on the first Saturday in May, capping the two-week-long Kentucky Derby Festival. The competition is a Grade I stakes race for three-year ...

, Black Gold are buried in the infield. It's also here that

Tippity Witchet Tippity Witchet (foaled 1915) was an American Thoroughbred racehorse, noted for his durability and consistency in a career which lasted from 1917 until 1929. Background Tippity Witchet was a son of the great sire Broomstick who was the son of Be ...

, the beloved son of

Broomstick A broom (also known in some forms as a broomstick) is a cleaning tool consisting of usually stiff fibers (often made of materials such as plastic, hair, or corn husks) attached to, and roughly parallel to, a cylindrical handle, the broomstick. I ...

, ran many of his 266 races.

Physical attributes

The track consists of a one-mile (1.6 km) dirt track and a seven-furlong turf oval. Unlike most dirt courses in North America, the track has no chutes. In addition to the grandstand and clubhouse, an adjacent building, formerly used for simulcasting, opened on September 21, 2007 as a temporary slot-machine gaming facility. On November 14, 2008, the new slot-machine facility opened for operatio

TV Personalities

Donna Barton Brothers Donna Barton Brothers (born April 20, 1966 in Alamogordo, New Mexico) is a former jockey who won over 1,100 horse races and now covers horse racing and other equestrian sports for NBC Sports and USA Network. She is probably most recognizable ...

(1999–2002) *

Vince Marinello Vince Marinello (1938/1939 – February 21, 2020) was an American longtime sportscaster who was featured on WWL AM/ FM radio and, previously, on WVUE and WDSU in New Orleans, Louisiana. He was later known as a leading media personality, coveri ...

(1990–2005) * Mike Diliberto (1990–2005) * Jessica Pacheco (2006–2010) * John G. Dooley (2004–present) * Rick Mocklin (2009 fill-in) * Katie Mikolay (2010-2013) * Brian W. Spencer (2013–2017) *Joe Kristufek (2017–present)

Racing

In a normal year, the following graded stakes are run at Fair Grounds, the most prestigious of which is the

Louisiana Derby The Louisiana Derby is a Grade II American Thoroughbred horse race run annually at the Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans, Louisiana. Run in late March, the race is open to horses, age three, willing to race miles on the dirt. It currently o ...

, a

Grade II In the United Kingdom, a listed building or listed structure is one that has been placed on one of the four statutory lists maintained by Historic England in England, Historic Environment Scotland in Scotland, in Wales, and the Northern Irel ...

stakes. The race is a major preparatory race for the

as part of the Second leg of series for points on the Road to the

. The following Graded events were held at Fair Grounds in 2019. Grade II: *

Fair Grounds Oaks The Fair Grounds Oaks is a Grade II American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old fillies at a distance of one and one-sixteenth miles on the dirt run annually in March, usually on Louisiana Derby day at Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orle ...

* Mervin H. Muniz Jr. Memorial Handicap * New Orleans Handicap *

Rachel Alexandra Stakes The Rachel Alexandra Stakes is a Grade II American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old fillies at a distance of one and one sixteenth miles on the dirt run annually in February at Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans, Louisiana. The ...

Risen Star Stakes The Risen Star Stakes is a Grade II American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old horses at a distance of one and one-eighth miles on the dirt run annually in February, usually during the President's Day weekend at Fair Grounds Race Course i ...

Grade III: *

Lecomte Stakes The Lecomte Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old horses at a distance of one and one-sixteenths miles on the dirt run annually in mid-January, at Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans, Louisiana. The event c ...

Fair Grounds Handicap The Fair Grounds Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for four-year-olds and older run over a distance of about miles (9 furlongs) on the turf annually in mid-February at the Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans, Louisiana. ...

Mineshaft Handicap The Mineshaft Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for four-year-olds and older run over a distance of miles on the dirt in mid-February at the Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans, Louisiana. The event currently offers a pur ...

Also on the card are several important ungraded races including: * Bayou Handicap *

Black Gold Stakes The Black Gold Stakes at Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans, Louisiana is a race on turf for three-year-old Thoroughbred horses. First run in 1958, the race is named in honor of the 1924 Kentucky Derby winner and U. S. Racing Hall of Fame s ...

* Bonapaw Stakes * Colonel E.R. Bradley Handicap * Crescent City Derby * Crescent City Oaks *

Dixie Poker Ace Stakes Dixie, also known as Dixieland or Dixie's Land, is a nickname for all or part of the Southern United States. While there is no official definition of this region (and the included areas shift over the years), or the extent of the area it cover ...

* Duncan F. Kenner Stakes * Louisiana Champions Day Classic * Louisiana Champions Day Juvenile Stakes * Louisiana Champions Day Ladies Stakes * Louisiana Champions Day Ladies Sprint Stakes *

Louisiana Handicap The Louisiana Stakes is a Graded stakes race, Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for horses aged four years and older over a distance miles on the dirt track held annually during the third week of January at Fair Grounds Race Course in New ...

* Mardi Gras Stakes * Marie G. Krantz Memorial Handicap *

Pan Zareta Stakes The Pan Zareta Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race run at the Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans, Louisiana, each winter. An Graded stakes race, ungraded stakes, the Pan Zareta is a 5.5 furlong Sprint (horse racing), sprint on turf ...

Silverbulletday Stakes The Silverbulletday Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually each January at Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans, Louisiana. A race for three-year-old fillies, it is contested on dirt over a distance of miles. Previously ...

Sugar Bowl Stakes The Sugar Bowl Stakes is an American race for Thoroughbred horses run near Christmas at the Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans, Louisiana. Set at a distance of six furlongs on the dirt for two-year-olds, the Sugar Bowl currently offers a purs ...

Tenacious Stakes Tenacious may refer to: Ships * HMS ''Tenacious'' (R45), a 1943 Royal Navy destroyer *, an R-class destroyer (1916) * RSS ''Tenacious'' (71), a ''Formidable''-class frigate of the Republic of Singapore Navy * USNS ''Tenacious'' (T-AGOS-17), a U ...

*Thanksgiving Classic * Tiffany Lass Stakes *

Woodchopper Stakes Woodchopping (also spelled wood-chopping or wood chopping), called woodchop for short, is a sport that has been around for hundreds of years in several cultures. In woodchopping competitions, skilled contestants attempt to be the first to cut or s ...

Other events

The Fair Grounds is also the location of the

New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival (commonly called Jazz Fest or Jazzfest) is an annual celebration of local music and culture held at the Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans, Louisiana. Jazz Fest attracts thousands of visitors to New ...

, held each year over a consecutive three-day and four-day weekend - generally the last weekend in April and the first weekend in May.

References

External links

Fair Grounds Race Course official site

Featured in the inaugural issue of Stride Magazine
{{Authority control Churchill Downs Incorporated Music venues in Louisiana Economy of New Orleans 1852 establishments in Louisiana Tayloe family of Virginia