Fair Grounds opens next week with upgrades, new trainers
Live racing returns to Fair Grounds next Thursday, launching the 154th Thoroughbred racing season. The nation’s second-oldest racetrack will unveil a series of venue improvements aimed at enhancing the guest and racing experience.
“We are thrilled to welcome local faces, out-of-town visitors and the sport’s top trainers and jockeys to experience the newly enhanced Fair Grounds for our 154th racing season,” said Cathy Beeding, president and general manager of Fair Grounds. “These enhancements reflect our commitment to providing guests, horsemen and fans with the best experience possible.”
Track upgrades include a renovated paddock, highlighted by a horse sculpture and coin fountain with proceeds benefiting equine rehabilitation charities; a new lounge overlooking the paddock; an updated Tenacious Bar with expanded views of the paddock; and winner’s circle upgrades to provide an improved backdrop for post-race photos and celebrations.
Fair Grounds’s turf course, stakes schedule, and signature road to the Kentucky Derby series again has attracted leading trainers and jockeys from across the nation and Louisiana.
Returning trainers include last year’s meet leader Joe Sharp, as well as Steve Asmussen, Brad Cox, Cherie DeVaux, Brendan Walsh, Kenny McPeek, Tom Amoss, Shane Wilson, Bret Calhoun, Al Stall Jr. and Mike Stidham. Emerging horsemen such as Whit Beckman, Lindsay Schultz, Brittany Russell, Rob Atras and Adrianne DeVaux will expand their presence on the backside, joined by new barns including Ethan West, Peter Eurton, Keri Brion and Jorge Duarte Jr.
They’ll compete alongside perennial standouts Eddie Kenneally, Dallas Stewart, Keith Desormeaux, Greg Foley, Grant Forster and Sam David Jr.
The jockey colony once again will feature Jose Ortiz, the 2024-25 Fair Grounds leading rider and 2017 Eclipse Award winner, who tallied 97 victories in his first local meet. Returning riders include Jareth Loveberry, Ben Curtis, Axel Concepcion, Florent Geroux, Jaime Torres, James Graham, Declan Cannon, Mitchell Murrill, Marcelino Pedroza Jr. and C.J. McMahon.
Louisiana native Brian Hernandez Jr., a longtime Fair Grounds mainstay sidelined since late September, is expected to return to action by opening day.
The 70-day meet will run through Sunday, March 22, highlighted by the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby, centerpiece of Fair Grounds’s road to the derby series. This season’s road to the Derby program carries a total value of $1.875 million, with 57 stakes races offering a combined $8.75 million in purses. Two additional race dates might be added in March, pending recommendation from the Louisiana Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association and approval by the Louisiana Racing Commission.
Purses for maiden special weight races have been set at $54,000, and allowance purses will range from $55,000 to $58,000.
The road to the Derby series begins with the Gun Runner on Dec. 20 and the Lecomte (G3) on Jan. 17, both run at 1 1/16 miles. The series continues with the Risen Star (G2) on Feb. 14 at 1 1/8 miles, followed by the Louisiana Derby on March 21, contested at 1 3/16 miles for 3-year-olds.
Closing weekend of the 2025-26 meet will card 11 stakes, including the 101st running of the $500,000 New Orleans Classic (G2).