1751 Gentilly Blvd.,
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Jim Mulvihill, Communications & Pari-Mutuel Marketing Manager, 504.948.1233, james.mulvihill@fgno.com
THREE STAKES REDUCED BY $100,000 EACH
NEW ORLEANS (Monday, March 8, 2010) – Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots will reduce the purses of three stakes races still to be run this season—the Grade II Fair Grounds Oaks, the Grade II Mervin H. Muniz Jr. Memorial Handicap and the Grade II New Orleans Handicap—by $100,000 each, to $300,000.
“This move, painful as it is, ensures that we will not have to cut overnight purses for our final month of racing,” said Fair Grounds Vice President and General Manager Eric Halstrom. “Looking at this from a long-term perspective we have to get closer to a balanced purse account if we are to offer the highest possible purses for our horsemen next season.”
Fair Grounds has offered some of the highest quality racing in the track’s 138-year history this season while battling the worst winter weather ever in
“We’re hoping that the world-class racing we have lined up for our big days during the final three weeks of the meet will allow us to end on a high note and then head into next year ready to go with an attractive purse structure and stakes program,” Halstrom said.
Highlights of Fair Grounds’ final weeks include the seasonal debut of Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra on Saturday; the last Starlight Racing program March 19; a Fair Grounds Oaks Day with four stakes for females March 26; and the most important day of racing in the Gulf South region, Louisiana Derby Day, with six stakes, including three Grade II events, on the season’s final Saturday, March 27.
About Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots
Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, the nation’s third-oldest Thoroughbred racing facility, has been in operation since 1872. Located in
-FG-
___
James J. Mulvihill
Communications & Pari-Mutuel Marketing Manager
Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots
A Churchill Downs Incorporated Company
1751 Gentilly Boulevard,
504.948.1233 [office]
504.481.8770 [cell]
504.944.7853 [fax]
Rachel Alexandra in the
Starlight Racing Returns March 19
This Churchill Downs Incorporated communication (including any attachments) is intended for the use of the intended recipient(s) only and may contain information that is confidential, privileged or legally protected. Any unauthorized use or dissemination of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please immediately notify the sender by return e-mail message and delete all copies of the original communication. Thank you for your cooperation.
