The purse for the March 26 Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) has been boosted from
$400,000 to $500,000, making it the richest prep race for three-year-old fillies
pointing to the prestigious May 6 Kentucky Oaks (G1).
Four of the last six winners of the Fair Grounds Oaks have gone on to win the
Kentucky Oaks: Rachel Alexandra (2009), Proud Spell (2008), Summerly (2005) and
Ashado (2004).
Fair Grounds also announced a $50,000 increase to the March 26 Mervin H.
Muniz Memorial H. (G2), bringing its purse to $400,000. Cumulatively, the six
March 26 stakes — led by the $1 million Louisiana Derby (G2) and also including
the $400,000 New Orleans H. (G2), the $150,000 Duncan F. Kenner S. and the
$100,000 Bayou H. — are now worth $2.55 million, further extending its claim as
the richest day of racing in Louisiana history.
In addition, three Louisiana-bred stakes on March 25 have been bumped from
$60,000 to $75,000 apiece: the Costa Rising S. for older horses; the Red Camelia
S. for fillies and mares on turf; and the Bayou St. John S., a turf sprint for
older horses. Along with the Crescent City Oaks and Crescent City Derby, already
worth $75,000 each, the five-stakes Louisiana-bred extravaganza billed as
“Battle On the Bayou” kicks off the final weekend of the season.
To encourage attractive field sizes on the three-day closing weekend, March
25-27, Fair Grounds will add 25 percent to the purse of any overnight race that
has a field of 10 or more at the time horses leave the paddock.
“Due to the strength of our local businesses — live racing, casino gaming
and video poker — we’re able to add some additional funds to the purses during
the last week of our meet,” Fair Grounds Vice President & General Manager Eric
Halstrom said. “Increasing the purses on certain stakes is consistent with our
continued effort to attract the best horses in the country to New Orleans and
the bonuses on the overnight races for full fields will benefit the horsemen who
have stayed with us through the end of our season, not to mention the
value-seeking bettors.”