My first week at the Fair Grounds!

Hello horse racing fans!

I have survived my first week of live racing at Fair Grounds & WOW, what a great time I am having and it's only the first week!

First of all, Fair Grounds has one of the more beautiful paddocks that I have seen set in one of the nation's oldest racetracks that happens to be only minutes away from the French Quarter. Secondly, the turf course looks immaculate as it seems to be in great condition from what I see and hear.

I am glad to be spending this winter down in New Orleans. Not only am I the paddock host/analyst, but I hope to gather valuable information for all the horse racing fans who love to play Fair Grounds and can't make it down here this season. Of course, you really should check out airline flights and see it all for yourself.  (I heard West Jet offers great deals as they just started flying here.)

For those of you not familiar with my work, I have been the paddock host at two other racetracks for the past three years, Hawthorne Racecourse and Presque Isle Downs. I have handicapped horses who have run on the dirt, turf, and Tapeta (very similiar to the Polytrack.) In addition, I am a fan of watching the horses who are on the Derby trail (which here means the Louisiana Derby and the Kentucky Derby). I will try to note horses to add to your horse watch list on my blog as we get closer to the Kentucky Derby prep races including the Fair Grounds' three-race series for 3-year-olds comprised of the Lecomte, Risen Star and Louisiana Derby.  
 
After four days of live racing for the 2010-2011 meet, trends I have noticed so far:
 
78% of the winners have had at least one breeze at FG
38% of the horses who last raced in Chicago have won (3/8)
23% of the horses who last raced in Kentucky have won (11/48)
0% of the horses coming from Indiana have won (0/50)
 
Out of the 40 races:
40% of the winners had no layoff
33% of the winners had 60 days layoff
 
Jockeys, trainer, owners, and horses to watch:
Jamie Theriot off to a good start with 8 wins
Richard Eramia had 6 wins opening weekend
Rosie Napravnik won 2 races for the trainer Sturges Ducoing
Owners Team Block won 3 races.
Flash Mash won by 10 lengths in the opener on Saturday for Michael Stidham's barn. Fair Grounds Oaks contender?
Dynamic Time was caught on the inside with nowhere to go settling for 4th on Sunday. One to watch next out.
 
As I become more acquainted with my new home, I will offer more insight at the races. Thank you everyone for being so welcoming. I look forward to being here all winter!
 
GOOD LUCK!
 
Katie Mikolay
Fairgrounds TV analyst
 
(Check out my daily selections at Mikolay's Plays!)