Fair Grounds
has released a
stakes schedule for its 2014-15 Thoroughbred meet, which begins on November
21.
A report in the Louisville Courier-Journal on Wednesday reports that
daily average purses would be reduced by 17 percent and that stakes purses would
decline 30 percent.
Fair Grounds told the Courier-Journal that an ongoing dispute with
Quarter Horse horsemen, who have a lawsuit pending against the track claiming
money from video slots has not been used to increase Quarter Horse purses, is
the reason behind the Thoroughbred purse cuts, which total $2.7 million.
Churchill Downs Inc., the parent company of Fair Grounds, reportedly will
restore the purses if the lawsuit is resolved in time.
The Fair Grounds meet will again be highlighted by the Louisiana Derby Day
program on March 28, 2015. The $600,000 Louisiana Derby, the $300,000 Fair
Grounds Oaks, the $300,000 New Orleans Handicap, and the $200,000 Mervin H.
Muniz Jr. Memorial Handicap — all Grade 2 — events will be run that day.
The Louisiana Derby prep series also includes the Grade 2, $300,000 Risen
Star on February 21 and Grade 3, $150,000 Lecomte on January 17.
Other Grade 3 events held at the track are the $100,000 Col. E.R. Bradley
Handicap on January 17, and the $150,000 Rachel Alexandra, $100,000 Mineshaft
Handicap, and $100,000 Fair Grounds Handicap on February 21.
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