Expanded Road to Derby on Fair Grounds Stakes Schedule

In what will be a historic, 150th anniversary racing season, Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots has announced that 59 stakes worth a combined $7.795 million, up more than $600,000 from last season, will be offered during the 80-day, 2021-22 Thoroughbred meet, which is set to begin Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Nov. 25. 

"Fair Grounds Race Track is embedded in the history of New Orleans," said Fair Grounds president Doug Shipley. "We have always been very proud to be part of such a great city and this year marks the 150th anniversary of our inaugural season. We are very excited to continue our growth and support of the Thoroughbred racing industry with our purse allocation and this year's diverse and dynamic stakes schedule. Having not only the best fans, but also the best horsemen and jockeys from all around the world provides an unforgettable experience of high caliber racing at The Fair Grounds."

The Louisiana Derby Day card on March 26 will feature eight stakes worth a total of $2.525 million, including the 109th running of the $1 million Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby (G2) for 3-year-olds. Run at 1 3/16 miles for the second time last year, the Louisiana Derby, which is worth 100-40-20-10 Road to the Kentucky Derby points to the top four finishers, is the fourth and final local prep on the Road to the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1).

This year's Louisiana Derby winner Hot Rod Charlie , along with Midnight Bourbon  and Mandaloun , all came out of Fair Grounds' Kentucky Derby preps and have factored prominently in this season's 3-year-old division. 

"Fair Grounds has proven to be one of the premier winter racing destinations," said Fair Grounds' racing secretary Scott Jones. "Once again last year, the quality of horses who stabled or came through New Orleans have made a huge impact in premier stakes races all over the country. Adding the Gun Runner and the Untapable to our progressive schedule of 3-year-old races for both the boys and girls gives horsemen even more opportunity to develop their horses and compete for excellent purses."

A pair of new 2-year-old stakes with Kentucky Derby and Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) point implications (10-4-2-1) have been added to the Fair Grounds stakes schedule for the Dec. 26 "Road to the Derby Kickoff Day" card. The $100,000 Gun Runner will be contested at 1 1/16 miles and the $100,000 Untapable for fillies will be run over one mile and 70 yards.

In addition to the Gun Runner and the Untapable, Fair Grounds has added four other new stakes to the schedule: the Joseph R. Peluso Memorial Stakes, named for the longtime racing official who passed away in January, for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles on turf on Nov. 25; the Bob Wright Memorial Stakes, named for the longtime chairman of the Louisiana Racing Commission, who passed away in March, for older horses at 1 1/16 miles on turf on Nov. 27; the Fred P. Aime Memorial Stakes, named for the New Orleans native and longtime jockey agent who passed away in December, for older fillies and mares at 5 1/2 furlongs on turf on Jan. 29; and the Page Cortez Stakes, named for the Louisiana senator, for older Louisiana-bred fillies and mares at 5 1/2 furlongs on turf. 

Stakes races receiving purse increases for the 2021-22 meet include the $150,000 opening day Thanksgiving Classic ($25,000 purse increase), the $100,000 Tenacious Stakes on Dec. 26 ($25,000 purse increase), the $150,000 Louisiana Stakes (G3) on Jan. 22 ($25,000 purse increase), the $250,000 Mineshaft Stakes (G3) on Feb. 19 ($50,000 purse increase), and the $500,000 New Orleans Classic (G2) on March 26 ($100,000 purse increase).

The 80-day, 2021-2022 Fair Grounds racing season runs through Sunday, March 27. Regular post time will be 1:05 p.m. CT, but there will be an earlier noon CT first post on Thanksgiving Day (Nov. 25), Louisiana Champions Day (Dec. 11), Road to the Derby Kickoff Day (Dec. 26), Road to the Derby Day (Jan. 22) Louisiana Derby Preview Day (Feb. 19) and Louisiana Derby Day (March 26).