The structure of the Fair Grounds meet will offer more major events, more stakes on event days and even longer events than last year. Opening day is Thanksgiving, with the meet ending March 23.

The three major events are “Road to the Derby” Kickoff Day (Jan. 12), Louisiana Derby Preview Day (Feb. 9) and Louisiana Derby Day (March 8). Each has grown from five to six stakes events.

Louisiana Derby Day will offer $2.3 million in stakes purses, the most on a card in Louisiana history. Four of the six are grade II events, including the $400,000 Fair Grounds Oaks, $500,000 New Orleans Handicap, and $500,000 Mervin H. Muniz Jr. Memorial Handicap.

Louisiana Preview Day has four grade III races, highlighted by the $300,000 Risen Star Stakes for 3-year-olds. The $100,000 Lecomte Stakes (gr. III) is the “Road to the Derby” Kickoff Day feature.

The season-ending Louisiana Lagniappe Weekend has stretched to the final three days of the meet. It includes nine stakes races.

There is one new stakes race on the schedule: the $60,000 Allen Lacombe Memorial Handicap for older horses on the turf March 15 .

The New Orleans-based racetrack is the nation’s third-oldest Thoroughbred racing facility, in operation since 1872.