Sharp and Ortiz Top 2025-26 Fair Grounds Season
Updated: March 30, 2026 at 9:25 am
The 2025-26 meet at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots concluded with repeat leaders–trainer Joe Sharp and jockey Jose Ortiz–heading the 154th racing season at the New Orleans oval.
Trainer Joe Sharp and jockey Jose Ortiz each secured back-to-back titles. Sharp led all conditioners with 47 wins from 211 starts, earning more than $1.7 million in purses while posting a 22% strike rate. He finished ahead of Bret Calhoun, who tallied 31 victories, while Sam David Jr. added 19 wins and veteran Tom Amoss closed out his Fair Grounds career with 14.
Ortiz once again topped the jockey standings despite missing the first two weeks of the meet, finishing with 93 wins–just three shy of his total from last season–and more than $4 million in earnings. He posted a 29% win rate and was a key presence aboard several standout runners.
Marcelino Pedroza Jr. finished second with 65 wins, the most in his local tenure, while Ben Curtis placed third with 49 victories. First-year rider Sofia Vives made an immediate impact, recording 27 wins and more than $759,000 in earnings.
Veteran jockey Jareth Loveberry reached a career milestone during the meet, earning his 2,000th victory aboard Island Cabana on Dec. 8 for trainer Justin Jeansonne.
The ownership title went to the partnership of Earl Hernandez, Keith Hernandez and John Duvieilh, who won 13 times from 77 starts and earned more than $545,000. CRK Stable posted a meet-best 36% strike rate, while Allied Racing Stable and Calumet Farm each recorded double-digit victories. Keith Plaisance led all prominent owners by percentage, winning eight of 15 starts.
Built (Hard Spun), the 2024 Gun Runner titleholder, became the first horse in track history to break 1:08, stopping the clock in 1:07.96 on Mar. 13 for trainer Wayne Catalano. Kavod (Lea) set a one-mile dirt track record in 1:35.46 for Joe Sharp, while Fit to Fly (West Coast), trained by Alexis Claire, established two turf records at five furlongs and about five furlongs. Usually Wrong (Lookin At Lucky), trained by Robertino Diodoro, set a 5 1/2-furlong turf mark in 1:01.63 while winning the Duncan F. Kenner Stakes. In his final meet, Tom Amoss saw Ensemble Racing’s Higgins Boat (Omaha Beach) set a one-mile turf course record in 1:34.58.