1751 Gentilly Blvd.,
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Jim Mulvihill, Communications and Pari-Mutuel Marketing Manager, 504.948.1233, james.mulvihill@fgno.com
LARGE FIELDS FOR BOTH OPENING DAY STAKES TUESDAY
Meet’s First Program Attracts 105 Horses for 10 Races
Acoustic Swiftness Added to Friday’s Fiesta Hispana
NEW ORLEANS (Friday, September 10, 2010) – Tuesday’s Opening Day of the 2010 Summer Quarter Horse Racing Season at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots attracted 105 entries for a 10-race program, including double-digit field sizes in a pair of stakes, the Belle of New Orleans and the Big Easy. At least 10 American Quarter Horses were entered in each of Tuesday’s nine straightaway races. The card kicks off with a one-turn contest at 870 yards, a distance where the field size is limited to eight starters.
The 10-day meet continues Tuesdays to Saturdays through September 25. Fair Grounds will offer 10 races per day with a first post of 12:40 p.m. CDT. General admission is free. Food and beverage specials at Grandstand concession areas include $1.50 hamburgers and $1.50 domestic drafts every day during live racing. The Grandstand Buffet is open Fridays to Sundays with a delectable all-you-care-to-eat buffet for only $12.99.
The co-featured Opening Day stakes are gender-restricted heats for Louisiana-bred juveniles at 330 yards – the $82,700 Belle of New Orleans for fillies (slated as Race 7) and the $82,000 Big Easy for colts and geldings (Race 9).
Sorta Shiney, third in July’s Grade I Lee Berwick Memorial Futurity at Delta Downs, is the 7-2 morning line favorite in the Belle of New Orleans. Trained by Kenneth Roberts, the daughter of First to Shine led most of the way in that $375,000 event before ceding in the final strides. Gilbert Ortiz, who tied for leading rider at last year’s Summer Quarter Horse meet, has the mount.
“Gilbert broke her and he qualified her in the trial,” Roberts said. “He kind of liked her but he took off her to ride a really good horse (JLS Mr Bigtime) that ended up second in the All-American. Gilbert had been riding both of them and they ended up in the same race. I guess he made the right choice. He knows what he’s doing. But he called me later and asked if he could have the mount back and I said yes. He’s a very good rider.”
Whsky Flavred Kisses, who crossed the wire fifth in the Berwick but was disqualified to ninth for interference, is the 9-2 second choice amongst a competitive field of 11.
In the Big Easy, morning line favoritism went to another First to Shine offspring, Eyesa Flash, pegged at 3-1 by oddsmaker Mike Diliberto. The gelding, trained by Kevin Broussard, was a fast-closing winner of Delta’s Grade II Louisiana Laddie Futurity in May. On Tuesday the gray will break from the outside post in a field of 10 with regular rider Donald Watson in the irons.
Second choice at 4-1 is Lots of Kas, undefeated in two starts and making his first try against stakes company.
More Full Fields All Week Long
Large fields are expected to be the norm during Fair Grounds’ Summer Quarter Horse Racing Season due to daily purses averaging about $200,000. There are 10 races scheduled every day. Opening Day attracted 105 entrants. Wednesday’s program has 93 runners. Thursday’s card includes 97 horses. Friday’s races garnered 101 competitors.
“Everybody wants to run with all the money they have here,” said trainer Kenneth Roberts, who finished second in the trainer standings at each of the first two Summer Quarter Horse meets. “We’ll try to get as many horses in as we can.”
Chilango’s, Rinconcito, Acoustic Swiftness Added to Friday’s Fiesta Hispana
Fair Grounds has added two additional partners to its post-race Fiesta Hispana on Sept. 17. Popular Mexican restaurant Chilango’s will drive their self-contained taco truck onto the Fair Grounds apron and Mid City favorite El Rinconcito will offer several authentic Mexican and Honduran specialties.
Fiesta Hispana will celebrate Latin heritage on the week of
Admission will be free prior to the day’s last race at 5 p.m. From 5-9 p.m. admission is $10. Parking in the secure, well-lit Fair Grounds lot is always free.
Fiesta Hispana is presented in partnership with the Consulate of Mexico in
2010 Quarter Horse Racing Season At a Glance
September 14-25, Tuesdays to Saturdays (10 days)
First post 12:40 p.m. daily, 10 races every day
Free Grandstand general admission
$1.50 hamburgers and $1.50 domestic drafts every day
Grandstand Buffet open Fridays and Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. ($12.99, all you care to eat)
More info: (504) 944-5515 or FairGroundsRaceCourse.com
About Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots
Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, the nation’s third-oldest racetrack, 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]
2010 Quarter Horse Racing Season Opens Sept. 14
2010 Bank of
2010-2011 Thoroughbred Racing Season Opens Nov. 25
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.
