Fair Grounds goes Classic!
As one who both advocates the entertainment of racing and the celebration of all the wonderful stars that make up the most colorful and rich history of any sport known to man, I am thrilled that the New Orleans track has put together the Fair Grounds Legends Purse. The undertaking provides something for the fans to get excited about while they learn more about the horses that made the Fair Grounds what it is today.
The Legends Purse, which will match stars like Whirlaway, Risen Star, Black Gold, and Pan Zareta against one another, will be a twelve-horse, two-turn affair on the dirt. Track announcer John Dooley will call the names of the legends as if competing against one another in a fantasy race. Fans will be able to bet on the race as normal, with the silks and the race call from Dooley being the elements that make it a race of legends. The race-day programs will include a centerfold insert depicting the silks of the Legends, along with their biographies and photos.
The modern horses competing will be assigned their throwback colors according to their morning line odds, a process to be headed by oddsmaker Mike Diliberto. The morning line favorite among the contemporary horses will bear the colors of the foremost legend in Diliberto’s estimation, and so on. The Legends Purse will be drawn with the rest of entries on Wednesday.
As much as I love the idea, I wanted to add an assist to Diliberto. Here’s how I rate the amazing field of New Orleans’ greatest equine superstars:
| Horse | Odds | Comment |
| Whirlaway | 3 to 1 | Triple Crown winner, 2-time Horse of the Year and Hall of Famer. |
| Black Gold | 9 to 2 | Hall of Fame 1924 Kentucky Derby winner, won 18 of 35 lifetime. |
| Risen Star | 5 to 1 | Won Preakness and then Belmont by 14 ¾ in his final two starts. |
| Pan Zareta | 6 to 1 | Hall of Fame mare finished career with 76 wins in 151 starts. |
| Lexington | 10 to 1 | Legendary runner and sire of the mid-19th century |
| Master Derby | 12 to 1 | Preakness winner was a key part of an excellent 1975 3yo crop. |
| Lecomte | 12 to 1 | Lexington's great rival at New Orleans in the 1850's. |
| Grindstone | 15 to 1 | Short career colt got up to win the Kentucky Derby in his last race. |
| Tiffany Lass | 15 to 1 | Champion filly won her first 8 races including the Kentucky Oaks. |
| Tenacious | 20 to 1 | Winner of 11 stakes at the Fair Grounds in the 1950's. |
| Blushing K.D. | 20 to 1 | Louisiana filly swept the Fair Grounds and Kentucky Oaks in 1997. |
| Cabildo | 20 to 1 | Winner of six stakes at the Fair Grounds in the 1960's. |