Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots will offer high definition (HD) simulcasts of all of its races when the New Orleans track opens its 2009-10 Thoroughbred meet Nov. 6 it was announced Oct. 26. Fair Grounds will become the third in North America to offer a HD simulcast signal and second Churchill Downs Inc., track.
Churchill Downs became the first in North America to offer simulcasts in HD when Churchill Downs Simulcast Productions delivered HD simulcasts of races at the Louisville, Ky. track during its 2008 fall meet. Keeneland also simulcasts in HD.
The HD simulcasts will be available at select simulcast outlets, throughout Fair Grounds’ Louisiana OTB network, and at on-track locations during the 85-day meet that runs through March 28.
“The debut of high definition simulcasting at Fair Grounds is another step in our continuing effort to improve the Fair Grounds racing experience for our horsemen, on-track fans, and customers,” said Austin Miller, president of Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, in a release. “The introduction of our high definition simulcast signal will help bring the excitement of Fair Grounds racing to life for countless fans and is one more reason to look forward to the start of our spectacular meet on Nov. 6.”
The Fair Grounds season will feature a record stakes schedule set to include 66 stakes events with total purses of $7.24 million. The meet’s highlight will be the March 27 program headed by the $750,000 Louisiana Derby (gr. II), and five other stakes.