Race dates amended for Fair Grounds 2018-2019 meet

Fair Grounds in New Orleans will open and close its upcoming Thoroughbred meet earlier than originally scheduled after an amended dates request was approved by the Louisiana Racing Commission on Monday, according to the agency’s executive director, Charles Gardiner. The track will launch its 80-date season Nov. 15 and close March 24, 2019. The prior schedule had been 81 dates from Nov. 17-March 31.

Fair Grounds also asked the commission for a 10-date meet for Quarter Horses from March 27-April 8 in a change from the annual 10 dates in August and September. Gardiner said Fair Grounds officials requested moving the Quarter Horse meet to create live racing continuity and to avoid hurricane season. Gardiner said Quarter Horse officials raised concerns that moving the meet would interrupt a state circuit, leaving a long gap between meets at Delta Downs and Evangeline Downs. The commission deferred action on the request to a special meeting.

In other dates action, the commission approved two meets for Louisiana Downs for 2019: a 46-date Quarter Horse meet from Jan. 5-March 20 and an 84-date Thoroughbred meet from May 4-Sept. 25. The commission, which awards dates at two meetings a year, granted Evangeline an 84-date meet for Thoroughbreds from April 3-Aug. 24, and Delta a 46-date stand for Quarter Horses from April 19-July 6.

Also at the meeting, Gardiner said the commission denied a request by the Louisiana Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association to transfer $3.2 million in purse funds from Delta to Evangeline.

◗ Terra’s Angel, who won the Panthers Stakes in June at Prairie Meadows, is part of a deep allowance Friday at Remington that drew fellow stakes winners Adore, Americium, and Special Rockstar. The mile turf race for fillies and mares figures to produce starters for the $75,000 Ricks Memorial at Remington on Sept. 30. Terra’s Angel is a candidate for the Remington Park Oaks later in the meet.