Fair Grounds

Fair Grounds announces 2020-21 stakes schedule

Marcus Hersh|Oct 12, 2020

Swiss Skydiver wins the 2020 Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course

Debra A. Roma The filly Swiss Skydiver (right), benefited from jockey Robby Albarado's inside move and outfinished Kentucky Derby winner Authentic to win the Preakness Stakes on Saturday at Pimlico.

Fair Grounds Race Course on Monday announced a 51-race, $7 million stakes schedule for a 76-day racing season that commences on Thanksgiving, Nov. 26.

The meet highlight, Louisiana Derby Day, comes March 20 next year. Fair Grounds increased the distance of all its important 3-year-old dirt-route stakes this past season – moving the Lecomte out to 1 1/16 miles, the Risen Star to 1 1/8 miles, and the Louisiana Derby to 1 3/16 miles – and will keep intact that format this season.

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Road to the Derby Kickoff Day, featuring the Lecomte Stakes, is scheduled for Jan. 16 with Louisiana Derby Preview Day, featuring the Risen Star Stakes and the Rachel Alexandra Stakes. Preakness Stakes winner Swiss Skydiver finished third in the 2020 Rachel Alexandra. Fair Grounds has long been the prime producer of major players in the 3-year-old filly division. The Fair Grounds Oaks is part of the Louisiana Derby preview card.

The meet’s opening day feature, the Thanksgiving Stakes for older sprinters, gets a purse boost to $125,000 this year.

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