Fair Grounds

When Sheikh Mohammed purchased Stonerside back in 2008, trainers previously employed by Bob McNair's massive operation, such as Mike Stidham, were kept on board provisionally as the acquired stable of runners transitioned to carry the famed maroon-and-white silks of Darley. "The deal was that we were able to stay in with the horses that we had at the time," said Stidham, who saddled the Stonerside-bred Tizaqueena (Tiznow) to a pair of graded tallies as well as Grade I placing at Keeneland for Darley. "And once those horses were retired, we...

With only a handful of tracks still racing due to the coronavirus, wagering on the sport took a huge hit in the month of March, falling by 22.58% over 2019 figures. A total of $731 million was bet during the month, a $214 million drop from 2019 figures. The numbers were released Friday by Equibase. "Obviously, it was a tough month," said NTRA President and CEO Alex Waldrop. "As damning as these number appear, the No. 1 priority right now is the health and safety of our employees. We're like...

In accordance with the "stay-home" order issued by New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell, following public health concerns in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic, Fair Grounds Race Course has suspended live racing operations effective immediately. The Fair Grounds Thoroughbred Racing Season was originally scheduled to run through Mar. 29. The announcement was made following the conclusion of Saturday's GII TwinSpires.com Louisiana Derby card. "Fair Grounds Race Course remains focused on the safety of members of the backside community who are vital to ensuring the care of the horses," a statement read....

Given the clamor across social media through the week, one thing was certain heading into Saturday's GII TwinSpires.com Louisiana Derby--there was absolutely no chance that Wells Bayou (Lookin At Lucky) was going to go off at anything approaching his morning line of 8-1. Those that backed him were instead forced to swallow a price in the vicinity of 3-1, but the bay did not let them down, treating his 13 rivals to a front-running, 1 1/2-length beating. Exiting the Feb. 17 GIII Southwest S. in which he laid down swift...

Mystic Guide romped to 'TDN Rising Star'-dom in his second attempt at Fair Grounds Saturday after finishing a troubled third sprinting on debut here Feb. 15. Saving ground in fifth through a :24.07 opening quarter, the flashy chestnut moved off the fence through a :48.59 half-mile. Creeping up two wide on the backstretch, he was four wide turning for home and rolled clear in the lane to win as he pleased. Amani's Eagle (American Pharoah) completed the exacta. Five-time Grade I winner Music Note is also responsible for a juvenile...

The Louisiana State Racing Commission (LSRC) voted Thursday to impose an emergency order on the state's racetracks and training facilities that guarantees horses and horsemen can "shelter in place" for the next 30 days without threat of eviction. The coronavirus-related order, which comes on the eve of the GII Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds, will not affect Saturday's spectator-free running of the most prominent racing card in the state. The order also does not mandate that horses and horsemen have to shelter in place--it just guarantees that those who want...

Ed DeRosa of Brisnet.com takes on TDN's Steve Sherack and Brian DiDonato as they handicap Triple Crown prep races plus the big three races themselves. The three will make $100 Win/Place bets in the preps and $200 Win/Place bets in the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont. Highest bankroll at the end wins. DeRosa - Last Week's Results - Invader (+$170) just got run down in the Jeff Ruby, while No Parole faded to last. Bankroll: $1565. GII TwinSpires.com Louisiana Derby - When it comes to Brisnet Speed Ratings, one horse...

On this program 12 months ago, Allied Racing Stable's By My Standards (Goldencents) belied odds of 22-1 to upset the GII Louisiana Derby. He'll be a fraction of that price and even of his 6-1 morning line when he makes his return to graded-stakes company in the GII New Orleans Classic S. at the Fair Grounds. The bay colt overcame the widest stall in a field of 12 to break his maiden by better than four lengths last February and was prominent in the Derby before rallying late to score...

Despite being taken out of his best game to sit on the pace in 2019, Bricks and Mortar (Giant's Causeway) gave Chad Brown a second victory in the GII Mervin Muniz Memorial S. and the four-time Eclipse Award winner has two chances to go back-to-back in the race named in honor of the beloved former Fair Grounds racing secretary. OXO Equine's Instilled Regard (Arch) makes his third trip to the Big Easy, having won the 2018 GIII Lecomte S. ahead of a fourth in the GII Risen Star S. while...

Both the Winchell Thoroughbreds-owned Summerly (Summer Squall, 2005) and Untapable (Tapit, 2014) used a victory in the GII Fair Grounds Oaks as a springboard to success at Churchill Downs on the first Friday in May. That particular double will be delayed this year, but Finite (Munnings), bred by Winchell and campaigned in partnership, can take the first step as the likely heavy favorite in the Saturday co-feature in New Orleans. The current pole sitter on the TDN Kentucky Oaks Top 10, Finite enters the Oaks on a five-race winning skein,...

With the abrupt cancellation of racing indefinitely at Aqueduct and the announcement earlier this week that Keeneland has canceled its Spring Meeting, Saturday's GII Louisiana Derby offers one of the final few springtime opportunities at amassing points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, now tentatively scheduled to be contested on the first Saturday of September. The centerpiece of the meet in New Orleans, the Louisiana Derby will be run over a mile and three-sixteenths for the first time and is one of four races scheduled to be run over...

Sent out at 70 cents on the dollars to follow up on a 6 1/2-length success over track and distance Feb. 15, Ain't No Elmers (Goldencents) decimated a field of first-level allowance company by nine lengths Wednesday to become the newest 'TDN Rising Star' at the Fair Grounds. Content to drop back off a fast early quarter mile after taking them wire-to-wire first time out, Ain't No Elmers was trapped out four wide, but traveled into it nicely with cover as they approached the top of the lane. Switched out...