Fair Grounds cards 60 stakes for upcoming meet

Fair Grounds Racecourse on Tuesday announced its stakes schedule for the New Orleans track’s 2016-2017 racing season, a 60-race program (including overnight stakes) worth a total of $6.79 million.

The 2015–2016 season had 53 stakes worth $6.43 million, but the changes this year are marginal, with the schedule very similar to last year’s.

Louisiana Derby Day, the meet’s most important program, falls on April 1, 2017 and includes the $1 million Louisiana Derby, the $400,000 Fair Grounds Oaks, the $400,000 New Orleans Handicap, the $300,000 Mervin Muniz, and several other five-figure stakes. Louisiana Derby Preview Day, with prep races for all the major April 1 stakes, will be Feb. 25, and Road to the Derby Kickoff Day, highlighted by the Lecomte and the Silverbulletday, is Jan. 21.

The Fair Grounds racing season begins Nov. 19 and ends April 2.