Formally established in 1872, Fair Grounds Race Course is the 3rd-oldest racetrack in North America.

Live racing at the historic New Orleans venue was conducted as early as 1852 when pre-Civil War Louisiana was considered the Southern center of competitive Thoroughbred Racing.

The Fair Grounds was destroyed by fire on December 17th, 1993.  The blaze leveled the old grandstand, and all its surroundings.  Over a four-year period, the track’s management rebuilt the facility and on November 22nd 1997, reopened with a new 217,000-square foot grandstand/clubhouse facility. 

In August 2005, the track was temporarily closed by Hurricane Katrina and the storm’s aftermath.  It reopened for live racing in November 2006, following months of repairs.

Located only minutes from the famed French Quarter, the track is situated on 145 acres and features a one-mile dirt course and seven-furlong turf course.

The Fair Grounds conducts a Fall-Winter Meet that traditionally runs from Thanksgiving Day through late March.

This year marks the 149th annual Thanksgiving Day of Racing at the Fairgrounds in New Orleans.  It is a sight to see and The Place to be seen in NOLA on Thanksgiving Day.  

Some track goers make a day of it, (having a traditional meal in the Clubhouse) while others may simply pass through for a couple of races on the way to gramma’s house, but all told, ten thousand people pass through the turnstiles on Turkey Day, which officially begins the Fairgrounds 14 week, Fall-Winter meet.

The Daily Racing Blog hopes all our readers enjoy a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday.  We appreciate those of you who follow us on a regular basis, and wish you the best of luck on Thursday- be it betting on the horses or your family gatherings.