The $1 million Louisiana Derby (gr. II) set for March 27, 2011, will highlight the upcoming meet at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.
The 84-day meet runs from Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 25, 2010, to March 27, 2011. The track also announced expansion of its "Starlight Racing" series, which combines a social event with night racing once a month.
Fair Grounds will have live racing Thursdays through Mondays through February and Fridays through Mondays in March, except Dec. 24 (Christmas Eve) and Dec. 25 (Christmas Day). Live racing also will be conducted Dec. 22 and March 8 (Mardi Gras Day).
"The quality of racing at Fair Grounds compares favorably with any winter racetrack in the country," Fair Grounds vice president and general manager Eric Halstrom said in a release. "We feature impressive average field sizes, an abundance of turf racing, and a sizable population of accomplished horses that allows us to not only write a lot of allowance races but to actually fill them and run them.
"Between the great racing and a full calendar of special events led by the expanded Starlight Racing series, we think this will be one of the most exciting meets ever."
