Fair Grounds adjusts distances of Kentucky Derby preps

Fair Grounds is hoping adding distance will add appeal to its 3-year-old dirt-route stakes races in 2020.

The New Orleans track disseminated a news release Wednesday announcing its 2019-2020 stakes schedule, which reportedly was published online last week. The program includes 56 stakes worth $7.13 million, or almost the same overall stakes commitment as last season, when the track hosted 56 stakes worth $6.89 million.

Chief among stakes changes are longer distances in all three Kentucky Derby prep races at Fair Grounds, with the Lecomte changed from one mile and 70 yards to 1 1/16 miles, the Risen Star from 1 1/16 miles to 1 1/8 miles, and the Louisiana Derby from 1 1/8 miles to 1 3/16 miles.

The Louisiana Derby will be the longest domestic prep for the Kentucky Derby. The UAE Derby in Dubai is also run at 1 3/16 miles.

“The elongated distances of the Risen Star and Louisiana Derby will help differentiate our races from the other Kentucky Derby preps,” racing secretary Scott Jones said in the release. “We consulted with key participants from recent years, and they were in favor of the slight alterations.”

The Lecomte headlines the Road to the Derby Kickoff card on Jan. 18, the Feb. 15 Risen Star tops Louisiana Derby Preview Day, and the $1 million Louisiana Derby is one of four graded stakes on March 21.

The track raised the purses of undercard stakes not restricted to Louisiana-breds on the three big-race programs by $25,000 to $100,000 for the upcoming season, which starts Nov. 28. Fair Grounds also has changed all handicap races to stakes for the 2019-2020 season.