Fair Grounds opens Quarter Horse meet Friday

Fair Grounds in New Orleans will run 11 stakes during its 10-date meet for Quarter Horses that opens Friday. The track will stack five of those races on its closing-day card Sept. 9. The stakes program is worth a total of $585,000.

The first card of the season comprises 10 trial races for the $285,000 Louisiana Quarter Horse Breeders Association Sale Futurity, a restricted Grade 1. The finale, the richest offering of the meet, anchors the card Sept. 9.

Fair Grounds has scheduled three exhibition camel and ostrich races alongside its live card on Aug. 25, with the program to have a special post of 5 p.m. Central. First post for most cards is 12:30 p.m.