Author: cmayet1

Tee Off for Thoroughbreds Golf Tournament Supports TRF

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Celebrating the organization’s 40th anniversary in 2023, the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation (TRF) will be hosting a charity golf event at the Nevel Meade Golf Course in Prospect, Kentucky on April 18th. This will be the first year for this fundraiser which has been organized by Goshen-based TRF volunteers, Robin and Ted Mizerak, who are the event Co-Chairs along with Honorary Co-Chairs Dale and Tammy Romans. Celebrity golfers will include Brian Hernandez, David Cohen, Joel Rosario and Joe Rocco Jr. among others.

The “Tee Off for Thoroughbreds” event has been generously underwritten by Platinum Sponsor, BMW of Louisville; Gold Sponsor, Restaurant Depot; and hole sponsors See Spot Grooming, State Farm, Hermitage Farm, Brook Ledge Horse Transportation, Oldham County Tourism, Dark Horse CPAs, John and Kelly Boyd, Joe Kemetz and Ted Mizerak, Puritan Bakeries and Churchill Downs Incorporated.

The event will begin with 12:30 p.m. (ET) registration and Chick-fil-A lunch, followed by a shotgun start at 2:00 p.m. An award ceremony will follow the conclusion of play. Included in the registration fee are greens fees, cart, lunch, range balls, a sleeve of TRF logo golf balls, an embroidered green golf shirt with TRF logo, a TRF baseball hat and more.

Prizes will be given for the 1st, 2nd and last place foursomes along with the longest drive and closest to the pin. Raffle tickets will be sold for the Justin Thomas line drive, mulligans, and a variety of fun and popular pet, golf and dining-themed raffle baskets. A silent auction of unique horse-racing themed items including a jockey-signed Woodford Reserve bourbon barrel and a morning on the backstretch with Dale Romans will help raise funds to support the TRF herd of 425 retired Thoroughbreds.

Breeders’ Cup Dirt Dozen Series Returns in 2023

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The Breeders’ Cup Dirt Dozen, an incentive-based participation bonus program for horsemen pointing runners to the dirt races in the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, will return this season. Launched in 2022, the series awards bonus credits funded by the Breeders’ Cup for first through third-place finishes in each of 12 existing graded stakes races scheduled from May through October at six tracks throughout the United States. Horsemen can use those credits toward entry fees for one of the six Breeders’ Cup World Championships dirt races.

In Dirt Dozen races in the $2-million Breeders’ Cup race divisions–which includes the GI Longines Distaff, GI Qatar Racing Sprint, GI FanDuel Juvenile and GI NetJets Juvenile Fillies–the bonus tier is allocated at $30,000 for first, $15,000 for second, and $7,500 for third.

In Dirt Dozen races in the $1-million Breeders’ Cup race divisions–the GI PNC F/M Sprint and the GI Big Ass Fans Dirt Mile–the bonus tier will award $15,000 for first, $7,500 for second, and $3,750 for third.

The Dirt Dozen program begins May 6 with the GI Derby City Distaff at Churchill Downs. The first three finishers in the race will earn credits toward entry fees for a potential start in the F/M Sprint. The program concludes Oct. 1 with the GI Zenyatta S. at Santa Anita, where the first three finishers in the race will earn credits toward entry fees for a potential start in the Distaff.

“After a successful launch in 2022, we are happy to again present our innovative Dirt Dozen program,” said Dora Delgado, Executive Vice President and Chief Racing Officer of Breeders’ Cup Limited. “Last year, many horsemen who took advantage of those credits toward entry fees for our dirt races were rewarded at the World Championships, and we look forward to extending the same incentive to connections who are targeting a start at Santa Anita Park in November.”

No Injuries Reported in Oaklawn Barn Fire

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An April 11 fire in Oaklawn Park‘s Wild Again barn detected shortly before 7 p.m. CT resulted in no injuries to horses or people after a safe evacuation, the Arkansas track said in a late Tuesday press release. The cause of the fire is currently unknown.

The Hot Springs Fire Department along with Oaklawn’s security and staff worked quickly to extinguish the fire within minutes. The north end of the Wild Again barn was destroyed by the fire. All horses and humans have been relocated to nearby barns for the remainder of the season, which ends May 6. Trainer Ron Moquett posted a photo on twitter after the fire had been extinguished showing much smoke damage to the upper portion of the Wild Again barn.

Oaklawn expressed its appreciation to the Hot Springs Fire Department, Hot Springs Police Department, Garland County Sheriff’s Department, the horsemen, and the Oaklawn team members for their quick response and diligence in ensuring all horses were safe and sound and no other barns were affected.

LSU Vet Med plays major role in detecting toxin affecting Louisiana horses

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Discovered Clostridium toxin found in alfalfa cubes was causing serious illness and even death in horses

The Louisiana State University (LSU) School of Veterinary Medicine played a significant role in diagnosing and treating several horses in Louisiana infected with Clostridium botulinum type C, which causes botulism. They discovered that alfalfa cubes were infected with the toxin that originated from one source and were sold in various states, with horses in Louisiana, Texas, Colorado, and New Mexico reportedly falling ill and many even dying from the toxin.

According to the university release, “botulism is a rare but serious illness caused by toxins released by a bacteria. That toxin then binds to nerves that affect muscles throughout the body and causes difficulty breathing, muscle paralysis, and even death.” The toxin that causes Type C Botulism usually is ingested from contaminated feeds and binds to nerve receptors. After this happens, it cannot be reversed, however, if it’s discovered early, an anti-toxin can be used to keep free, unbound toxins from binding to the nerve receptors.

On December 3, 2022, a horse from a breeding farm in Vermilion Parish came to the LSU Veterinary Teaching Hospital and was seen by the equine emergency service, and a second horse came the following day; both were presenting with neurological issues. The horses were tested for infectious agents, including Eastern Equine Encephalitis, West Nile virus, herpes virus, and rabies. On December 5, additional horses from the same farm arrived with the same symptoms. In total, LSU saw 15 horses, while others were treated at the farm, with about 20 horses in Louisiana suffering from the toxin.1

The first round of horses was treated by Mustajab Mirza, DVM, DACVS, associate professor of equine surgery. Then, Rose Baker, BVMS, DACVIM (LAIM), assistant professor of equine medicine, took over the care of the horses. On December 6, Matthew Welborn, DVM (LSU 1987), MPH, DACVPM, professor of food animal health maintenance at LSU Vet Med; and Christine Navarre, DVM (LSU 1990), DACVIM, professor of veterinary science, visited the farm in search of potential toxins.

So far, LSU Vet Med has successfully treated 5 horses and sent them home and is still currently treating 2 horses. These horses came in on an emergency basis and were triaged and because of herd outbreak concerns, various diagnostic tests and intensive nursing care were required immediately. Management of the ill horses required round-the-clock care, and a committed nursing staff and veterinary students.

On December 17, 2022, the USFDA issued a warning regarding recalled lots of alfalfa cubes that seemed to have caused illness and death in horses. At this time, the FDA reported that horses in Louisiana, Texas, New Mexico, and Colorado have displayed neurological signs that may be associated with the toxin found.

An updated advisory on January 5, 2023, the LDAF released confirmed the cause of the illness and death to be botulism. Thanks to the tremendous efforts of farm owners and staff, LSU Vet Med, LADDL, LDAF, UC Davis, and the FDA, they got to the root of the issue quickly.

If you believe that your horse has been affected, contact your veterinarian immediately or the LSU Veterinary Teaching Hospital at 225-578-9500.

Fasig-Tipton April Digital Sale Bidding Now Open

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Bidding on the 33 entries in the Fasig-Tipton April Digital Sale is now open and will close next Tuesday at 2 p.m. The catalogue, which can be viewed at digital.fasigtipton.com, features horses of racing age, breeding stock, 2-year-olds, and yearlings. There are offerings located throughout the United States, including Arkansas, California, Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, New Mexico, New York, Pennsylvania, and Texas.

“There is something for everyone in this catalogue,” said Leif Aaron, Fasig-Tipton Director of Digital Sales. “We expect significant interest and a very active market.”

Among the entries in the digital auction are stakes-placed Buckey’s Charm (Kantharos), who was covered by Mandaloun Feb. 20; recent GIII Royal Delta S. third-place finisher Don’t Get Khozy (Khozan); multiple stakes-placed K P Slickem (Include), a half-sister to the dam of champion Forte (Violence), who sells in foal to Raging Bull (Fr); stakes-placed Regal Retort (Jimmy Creed), who was covered by Early Voting Feb. 23; stakes-winner Vilao (Grave Digger), who was covered by Omaha Beach Feb. 11; multiple graded stakes-placed Heavenly Hill (City Zip), who sells in foal to Not This Time; Athena’s War (Kor) (New Year’s Day), a full-sister to Maximum Security who sells in foal to Charlatan; multiple stakes-placed Queens Up (Classic Empire), who sells as a racing/broodmare prospect; graded stakes-placed Danessa Deluxe (Summer Bird), who was covered by Speaker’s Corner Feb. 12; and multiple stakes-placed broodmare prospect Tyler’s Dream (Carpe Diem).

Kentucky HBPA’s Hiles: We Don’t Apologize for Speaking Out About HISA’s flaws

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By Rick Hiles

Anthony Manganaro should get his facts straight before running his mouth.

His attack on the National HBPA and its affiliates is as inaccurate as it is unfair and shows a lack of understanding of the industry.

Let’s get something straight about the National HBPA’s cost of litigating the Horseracing Integrity & Safety Act: The Liberty Justice Center so believes that HISA is unconstitutional that the non-profit is handling the case pro bono, and if Mr. Manganaro ever read on the subject, he would have known that fact.

The HBPA is fighting the right fight and we have every expectation of winning. But even should we lose in the courts, the efforts of the National HBPA, many individual affiliates including Kentucky, four state racing commissions, the United States Trotting Association, several states’ attorneys general and others who have joined in the suits already have forced the HISA Authority corporation to make substantial improvements. In getting a so-called legislative “fix,” HISA and the Federal Trade Commission tacitly acknowledged the original enabling legislation was legally-challenged.

This all could have been avoided had the largest thoroughbred horsemen’s association and the Association of Racing Commissioners International been invited to the table to create a true path forward to improving horse racing. Instead, the powerful and well-financed minority backing HISA opted for class warfare.

Unlike the HISA corporation, the National HBPA and its affiliates have boards elected by their members. The HBPA is proud that our members participate in all levels of racing, not just the 1 percent at the top end. Any action taken by the HBPA is at the directive of the duly elected HBPA board.

Every day we hear from horsemen, too afraid to speak out themselves, thanking us for putting the spotlight on flawed legislation that led to a flawed organization. We believe a sign of our widespread support is the 1,500 participants from every racing jurisdiction who signed an open letter by trainers Wesley Ward and Larry Rivelli advocating for meaningful change and that HISA was fatally flawed.

We believe HISA’s Horsemen’s Advisory Group, which includes National HBPA President Doug Daniels DVM, was only formed in response to the HBPA pointing out the lack of knowledgeable people in creating rules and policy.

The National HBPA was calling for uniformity of regulations and drug and medication policy long before The Jockey Club began its push for federal legislation. We also were calling for uniform testing and more resources for racing surface safety years before Santa Anita’s rash of breakdowns. We have always called for cheaters to be handed stiff penalties. However, this being America, we also believe everyone is entitled to due process.

No one benefits from change just for change’s sake while ignoring science.

We don’t apologize for insisting any federal legislation governing horse racing be lawful. We don’t apologize for doing our due diligence so that rules-offenders are properly punished and don’t get off because they were sanctioned under an unconstitutional law.

We don’t apologize for demanding HISA actually be transparent, instead of simply tossing around the word. For instance, the people paying the freight – which most likely will fall on horse owners — have every right to know the salaries of HISA staff and consultants. But HISA refuses to make them public, hiding behind being a private organization.

We don’t apologize for pointing out when new rules rubber-stamped by the FTC are not in horses’ best interest.

We don’t apologize for questioning a largely duplicative bureaucracy whose burdensome price tag will threaten the financial viability of some small and medium-sized tracks and force trainers and owners out of business.

We don’t apologize for wanting to know who tabbed the nominating committee that in turn tabbed the HISA board, whose terms match that of Supreme Court Justices – meaning for life.

And we sure don’t apologize for speaking out and standing up to bullies such as Manganaro.

Manganaro is the same guy who tried to restructure the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association. He’s the same guy who tried to destroy the Kentucky HBPA and the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association, calling for a new organization that would have only billionaires on the board.

Manganaro is correct about one thing: the Interstate Horse Racing Act of 1978 indeed requires the consent of horsemen before tracks can export the betting signal on the horsemen’s property – their horses – to other states. That’s how it should be, and Congress agreed.

Manganaro seems to think we should stay quiet like good little boys and girls at the kiddie table instead of standing up for what’s right. By speaking out, we have forced HISA to get better, though fatal flaws remain. We will continue to do so, and HISA will pay attention because they know the National HBPA, its affiliates and a few dozen Senators and Congressmen are watching them like hawks.

Rick Hiles is the longtime president of the Kentucky HBPA and the First Vice President of the National HBPA.

LOUISIANA DOWNS ANNOUNCES THE RETURN OF THE SUPER DERBY ON SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2023

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                         
March 29, 2023
 
The annual Thoroughbred Meet Commences on Saturday, May 6
 
Bossier City, LA – The 2023 Thoroughbred racing season at Louisiana Downs kicks off on Saturday, May 6. The 61-day live racing season will run through Tuesday, September 12.

The Bossier City racetrack will complete its annual Quarter Horse meet on Saturday, April 1 and is looking forward to preparing for opening day of the Thoroughbred live racing season on Saturday, May 6. Now under its second year of operation under Rubico Acquisition Corporation, president and owner Kevin Preston and his team continue to make improvements to both the racetrack and onsite casino.
“As you know, we have made significant changes to the track and have enhanced many of the areas including adding over 100 new slot machines to the casino floor, opening up two new restaurant concepts, adding our sportsbook and freshening up all aspects of the race track,” said Preston. “This year we have added many special features of our live race broadcasts.  As we move into 2023, we have a lot of additional changes happening for this upcoming racing season.”
One of many goals set by Preston, was bringing back the track’s marquee race, the Super Derby.  Inaugurated in 1980, the annual event attracted the top owners, trainers and jockeys in North America.  Belmont Stakes winner Temperence Hill won the first edition of the Super Derby. Three Super Derby winners, Tiznow, Sunday Silence and Alysheba were voted the Eclipse Award as Horse of the Year, the industry’s highest award.
Louisiana Downs brought back the Super Derby in 2017 with Mr Misunderstood winning on the turf for trainer Brad Cox. Reverted to the main track, the next year, Hall of Fame conditioner Steve Asmussen won the next two editions with Limation in 2018 and Rotation in 2019.
Preston and Matt Crawford, Louisiana Downs racing operations/racing secretary, worked hard to bring the Super Derby back in 2023. It will be contested on Saturday, September 2.
“We are looking forward to a great Thoroughbred season and the return of the Super Derby,” said Crawford. “Of course, Louisiana Cup Day will return with purses of $75,000 for the six stakes for Louisiana-breds. In addition, we will debut the $50,000 Alabama Stakes and the $50,000 Cotton State Stakes.”
Here is the stakes schedule for the 2023 Louisiana Downs Thoroughbred racing season.

Saturday, June 24  
$50,000 Alabama Stakes                                3 YO & up                              6 ½ furlongs

 

Saturday, August 5   Louisiana Cup Day
$75,000 Louisiana Cup Juvenile                    2 YO LA-Bred                        5 ½ furlongs
$75,000 Louisiana Cup Juvenile Fillies          2 YO Fillies LA-Bred             5 ½ furlongs
$75,000 Louisiana Cup Filly & Mare Sprint  3 YO & Up F&M, LA-Bred  Six furlongs
$75,000 Louisiana Cup Sprint                        3 YO & Up LA-Bred              Six furlongs
$75,000 Louisiana Cup Turf Classic              3 YO & Up LA-Bred              1 1/16 miles (T)
$75,000 Louisiana Cup Distaff                      3 YO & Up F & M LA-Bred  1 1/16 miles (T)

 

Saturday, August 19  
$50,000 Cotton State Stakes                           3 YO & up                              Six furlongs

 

Saturday, September 2   Super Derby
$200,000 Super Derby                                   3 YO                                       1 1/8 Miles

 

The 61-day meet will feature live racing on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday through September 12, with a few Tuesday cards added to the schedule. Post time will be 2:05 pm (Central). For details on simulcasting and special events, visit ladowns.com.
About Louisiana Downs
Located near Shreveport in Bossier City, Louisiana, Louisiana Downs opened in 1974 and is owned by Rubico Acquisition Corporation. With annual Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing seasons, the track is committed to presenting the highest quality racing programs paired with its 150,000 square foot entertainment complex offering casino gambling, dining and plasma screen televisions for sports and simulcast racing.

Reylu Gutierrez, Ron Faucheaux Capture Leading Rider, Trainer Titles At Fair Grounds

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Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots wrapped up its 151st season of racing on Sunday, March 26, having offered the richest stakes schedule in Louisiana history at $8.5 million. The pinnacle was Louisiana Derby Day on March 25, which set a single-card record for purses offered in Louisiana at $3.1 million. With 12 new stakes and a total of 65, the meet kicked off on Nov. 18-19 with the inaugural Louisiana Champions Day Preview Weekend, featuring six stakes written for horses bred in the Pelican State. The 110th running of the $1 million TwinSpires.com Louisiana Derby (G2) was the highlight of the 65 stakes contested over the 80-racing day meet.

With 64 wins, Reylu Gutierrez captured the first leading rider title of his young career. The 27-year-old won many for trainer Bret Calhoun who had a banner meet and accounted for approximately half of Gutierrez’ wins. In just his second year at Fair Grounds, the rest of Gutierrez’s scores came for a host of different trainers, proving how well Gutierrez has been received by local connections. His top moment came when Southlawn posted an upset in the Fair Grounds Oaks, offering personal redemption for Gutierrez after he and his mount Hidden Connection finished a diminishing nose shy of Echo Zulu last year.

James Graham, who was denied his third consecutive title and fourth overall, finished second with 53 wins. Jareth Loveberry vied for the title most of the meet, but he missed three weeks with a fractured fibula and finished with 50 wins, tied for third with Corey Lanerie. Knocking on the door of his 5,000th career win, Lanerie made the most of his return to Fair Grounds, offering difference-making rides week in and week out. No win was more special than in the final race of the meet when he piloted a difference-making trip aboard Rocket Ship Racing’s Nosilverspoonshere to win the $75,000 Shantel Lanerie Memorial, which is named in honor of Corey’s departed wife. Though Brianne Culp lost her “bug” status in February, her 18 wins proved to be enough to win the 2022-2023 apprentice title over Treylon Albert (15) and Sophia Barandela (13).

After trailing both the fast starting and longtime leader Bret Calhoun and Brad Cox early, New Orleans native Ron Faucheux finished with a flourish to capture his third consecutive training title with 42 wins. Affectionately known as “Mr. March” following an amazing hot streak that saw his barn win 23 races between Ash Wednesday (Feb. 22) and Closing Day (March 26), Faucheux swept the $75,000 Crescent City Derby and Oaks. He also strung together five wins in a row over March 8-9.

The race for the title went down to the last day as Bret Calhoun, the early leader who was in search of his first local crown, and four time champ Brad Cox were both in striking range but instead settled for a tie for second with 37 wins apiece. Trainer Patricia West started the meet scorching hot, winning with six of her first 14 entries, including her first stakes when A G’s Charlotte took the $75,000 Big World Stakes on opening day. Justin Jeansonne had a banner meet, winning 14 races at a 25% clip. Coming off his Summer title at Evangeline Downs, trainer Shane Wilson finished in fourth with 25 wins.

“What impressed me most this meet was Ron Faucheux’s ‘March’ to the title – that hot streak was amazing,” senior producer and racing analyst Joe Kristufek said. “Equally impressive was Brad Cox unveiling ridiculous talent week after week; Big Chopper winning stakes on both surfaces, route and sprint; Touchuponastar’s dominance; Corey Lanerie’s resurgence and Reylu Gutierrez and Jareth Loveberry taking their games to the next level.”

Two milestones were reached this year, as 4-time leading trainer Brad Cox and two-time leading jockey Florent Geroux both won their 2,000th race. On Jan. 26, Cox legged up Geroux on his 2,000th winning mount, Warrant, and fittingly, it was Geroux who was onboard when Bishops Bay broke his maiden on the Feb. 18 Risen Star undercard, giving Cox win 2,000. Away from Fair Grounds last year, Geroux returned successfully, scoring with a colony-best 32% of his mounts for a total of 33 visits to the winner’s circle.

With 20 wins from 137 starts in their first full meet at Fair Grounds, L and G Racing Stable won the owners’ race, as trainer Cesar Govea saddled each score. A welcome addition to the local backstretch, L and G Racing Stable was only formed two years ago. At a 33% clip, Godolphin impressed with 13 wins, including with their homebred star-filly Pretty Mischievous. Lothenbach Stables came up big yet again with 11 wins, and in terms of winning percentage, at 67% none could surpass Mansfield Racing among owners who entered at least ten races.

The 2022-2023 meet began with unveiling the new state-of-the-art toteboard in the infield, along with a new industry-low 15% takeout structure for the 50-cent Pick 5. Two new wagers were offered with the daily $1 minimum Pick 6 (15% takeout and no-jackpot) and the Bayou Bluegrass 5, an innovative collaboration between Fair Grounds and Turfway Park combining three graded stakes from the Louisiana Derby Day card with the Bourbonette Oaks and the Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3).

Since the points system began in 2013, no other prep races have produced as many Kentucky Derby starters as the Risen Star (G2) presented by Lamarque Ford-Lincoln and the Louisiana Derby, both at 33. After the stellar performances put on by 3-year-old males at Fair Grounds this meet, that total is sure to rise. At season’s end, six of the top ten and nine of the top 20 horses on the Kentucky Derby points leaderboard ran in Fair Grounds’ prep series.

Brad Cox dominated Fair Grounds’ “Road to the Kentucky Derby and Oaks,” sending out the $100,000 Gun Runner Stakes winner Jace’s Road on Dec. 26, the $200,000 Lecomte (G3) winner Instant Coffee on Jan. 2, the $400,000 Risen Star winner Angel of Empire on Feb. 18, and the $150,000 Silverbulletday Stakes presented by Fasig-Tipton winner The Alys Look on Jan. 21. With 37 wins on the meet, the Cox barn won a phenomenal 37% of their races entered.

With three of the 12 horses entered including morning line favorite Instant Coffee, Cox held a strong hand in Fair Grounds’ signature race, but it was Spendthrift Farms’ Kingsbarns who shipped in and wired the Louisiana Derby field under Flavien Prat to earn 100 points towards the “Run for the Roses.” It was the fifth Louisiana Derby win for trainer Todd Pletcher, and the first since Noble Indy took home top honors in 2015. After racing 3-year-old Eclipse Champion Epicenter through the 2021-2022 prep series, Winchell Thoroughbreds’ and Steve Asmussen teamed up with Disarm, who finished second (40 points) in the Louisiana Derby, and all but assuring a spot in the Kentucky Derby 149 starting gates.

A new partner this year, Fasig-Tipton was named the title sponsor of Fair Grounds’ 2023 series for 3-year-old fillies. The Fasig-Tipton Tremé Triple consists of the $150,000 Silverbulletday Stakes on Jan. 21, the $300,000 Rachel Alexandra (G2) on Feb. 18., and $400,000 Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) on March 25. The name of the race series is a tribute to the historic Tremé neighborhood of New Orleans that borders Fair Grounds.

As the calendar turned over to 2023, two of the most talented 3-year-old fillies in training were stabled at Fair Grounds in Godolphin’s homebred Pretty Mischievous and Gold Standard Racing Stable’s Hoosier Philly. Trained by Brendan Walsh, Pretty Mischievous rose to the top, winning both the Untapable and the Rachel Alexandra. She finished second in the Fair Grounds Oaks to Robert Masterson’s Southlawn. The filly trained by Norm Casse ascended to beat a field that included Pretty Mischievous, The Alys Look, and Hoosier Philly, earning 100 points towards the Kentucky Oaks starting gate under leading rider Reylu Gutierrez. Southlawn’s win became the crown jewel of Norm Casse’s young training career. As of meet’s end, Pretty Mischievous and Southlawn led all 3-year-olds in Kentucky Oaks points, and The Alys Look stands tall in fifth, giving Fair Grounds claim to three out of the top five Oaks-dreaming fillies.

In addition to the Louisiana Derby and Rachel Alexandra, two other G2 stakes were also contested on the meet’s big day, with Gary and Mary West’s West Will Power winning the $500,000 New Orleans Classic with Flavien Prat in tow for Brad Cox and the veteran Spooky Channel taking down the $300,000 Muniz Memorial Classic presented by Horse Racing Nation for NBS Stable, trainer Jason Barkley and jockey Joel Rosario.

The veteran Louisiana-bred sprinter Bootsie’s Galaxy led all horses with four wins (from seven tries). Fifteen horses tied with three wins apiece, with Surveillance, Oeuvre, Big Chopper all scoring stakes hat tricks. Set-hut’s Touchuponastar emerged as the top Louisiana-bred, winning both the $150,000 Louisiana Champions Day Classic and the $75,000 Star Guitar Stakes so impressively that he could be seen stepping up to face open company in the year ahead.

From hosting Rasi Harper’s “The Real Players Inside the Backstretch” over Louisiana Champions Day weekend at the beginning of the meet to putting on the Shantel Lanerie Breast Cancer Survivor Second Line on closing day, the 2022-2023 Fair Grounds meet continued the tradition of celebrating and memorializing the many members of the horse racing community who often go overlooked. On Thursday, March 23, Fair Grounds also honored the equine athletes with the third annual “New Vocations Day at the Races.” Jockey Rosie Napravnik, a four-time local champion, joined Fair Grounds personality Joe Kristufek on-air to raise money for all aspects of racehorse aftercare.

“Our 151st season was one for the books,” Fair Grounds president Doug Shipley said. “Throughout the entire season our racing team proved once again they are the best in the business. Starting with an amazing Thanksgiving celebration to kick off the season and finishing with a fairytale ending with the Shantel Lanerie Second Line celebration. There were tears on the course this year as jockey Corey Lanerie returned to Fair Grounds to take home the win in the race named to honor his beloved-by-all wife. Their daughter Brittlyn served as the Grand Marshal for the Second Line walk completing out the season with full hearts all around.”