Fair Grounds releases 2014-15 stakes schedule

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.

Bet Horseracing Free Online at TwinSpires.com