For most of Fair Grounds’ modern history, New Orleans racing fans had to wait eight months between Thoroughbred seasons to get a live racing fix. But ever since an American Quarter Horse meet was established in 2008 there’s been a late-summer window for locals to savor the majesty of a post parade and the thrill of a photo finish. This year’s Quarter Horse Racing Season kicks off a 10-day stand on Tuesday, September 14, and continues Tuesdays to Saturdays through September 25.
Fair Grounds will offer 10 races per day with a first post of 12:40 p.m. CDT. General admission is free. Food and beverage specials at Grandstand concession areas include $1.50 hamburgers and $1.50 domestic drafts every day during live racing. The Grandstand Buffet is open Fridays to Sundays with a delectable all-you-care-to-eat buffet for only $12.99.
Average daily overnight purses of more than $150,000 are complemented by a rich stakes schedule worth nearly $300,000, with added-money events scheduled for Opening Day and both Saturdays. The stakes action kicks off with a pair of Louisiana-bred juvenile stakes on Sept. 14 – the Big Easy Stakes for colts and geldings and the Belle of New Orleans Stakes for fillies. The Mid City Stakes on Sept. 18 showcases older Louisiana-breds. On Closing Day, Sept. 25, 3-year-old Louisiana-breds compete in the Treme Stakes prior to the meet’s most important event, the Fair Grounds Challenge Stakes Presented by Markel, an opportunity for top older horses to qualify for the Bank of America Challenge Championships, the Quarter Horse world’s annual stakes blowout to be hosted at Fair Grounds for the first time Nov. 19.
The excellent purses for the Quarter Horse Racing Season have once again attracted many of the sport’s top horsemen. Jockeys expected include Alfonso Lujan, currently the nation’s leading rider; John Hamilton, the track’s all-time leading Quarter Horse Racing Season rider; and other national Top 10 riders Bobby Ransom, Gilbert Ortiz and Danny Lavergne.
As for trainers, three of the nation’s current Top 10 by wins are expected to return: Janet Van Bebber, leading trainer at the inaugural Fair Grounds Quarter Horse Racing Season; Heath Taylor, the track’s all-time leading Quarter Horse Racing Season trainer and 2009 leading trainer; and Kenny Roberts, seeking his first Fair Grounds training title after consecutive seasons finishing one win behind the leader.
The American Quarter Horse, known as “The World’s Fastest Athlete” for short bursts of speed that can reach as high as 55 miles per hour, competes at sprint distances from 220 yards to 870 yards.
A PDF file of the complete 2010 Quarter Horse Racing Season Condition Book can be accessed here.
2010 Quarter Horse Racing Season At a Glance
September 14-25, Tuesdays to Saturdays (10 days)
First post 12:40 p.m. daily, 10 races every day
Free Grandstand general admission
$1.50 hamburgers and $1.50 domestic drafts every day
Grandstand Buffet open Fridays and Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. ($12.99, all you care to eat)
More info: (504) 944-5515
2010 Quarter Horse Racing Season Stakes Schedule
Date, Race, Purse, Conditions, Distance
Tuesday, Sept. 14, The Big Easy, $75,000, 2yo, La.-bred, males, 330 yards
Tuesday, Sept. 14, The Belle of New Orleans, $75,000, 2yo, La.-bred, fillies, 330 yards
Saturday, Sept. 18, The Mid City, $50,000, 4yo and up, La.-breds, 400 yards
Saturday, Sept. 25, The Treme, $50,000, 3yo, La.-breds, 350 yards
Saturday, Sept. 25, Fair Grounds Challenge Stakes, $50,000, 3yo and up, 440 yards