Fair Grounds plans one less stakes, but higher purses

The stakes schedule for the 2018 – 2019 Fair Grounds meeting will include 56 races worth $6.89 million, according to a Tweet published by the Fair Grounds Twitter account linking to a PDF document.

Last season’s stakes schedule included 57 races worth $6.69 million. The race removed from the upcoming schedule was the relatively inconsequential $50,000 Louisiana Champions Day Handicap Stakes.

The additional purse money in the 2018 – 2019 schedule comes from a $25,000 increase to 10 stakes that were worth $50,000 last season.

The Si Cima Stakes during the meet’s opening week was renamed the Tom Benson Memorial Overnight Stakes.

Louisiana Derby Day, featuring the $1 million Louisiana Derby and the $400,000 Fair Grounds Oaks, is scheduled for March 23, 2019.

Louisiana Derby Preview Day, headlined by the Risen Star Stakes and the Rachel Alexandra Stakes, is Feb. 19, and Road to the Derby Kickoff Day is Jan. 19. The race meet begins on Nov. 15 and runs through March 24.