Fair Grounds announces purse increase for upcoming season

On Wednesday, Fair Grounds officials announced purses for its 137th season of

Thoroughbred racing, which begins on November 14.

Daily overnight purses offered at the New Orleans track will average

approximately $300,000, which is a 20-percent increase over the $249,000 per day

average paid in 2007-08. In addition, a stakes schedule worth $6.6 million will

be offered during the meet, which runs through March 29, 2009.

"We're delighted to announce this revised purse structure for Fair Grounds

Race Course, which provides increased opportunity for our horsemen and a solid

foundation upon which to conduct our upcoming meet," said Donald R. Richardson,

senior vice president of racing for Churchill Downs Inc. "This agreement is an

important step in our efforts to elevate Fair Grounds to the top of the nation's

winter racing options. We are looking forward to another great season at Fair

Grounds."

Stall applications for 2008-09 must be postmarked by Monday and are available

at racing offices across the country and online at

www.fairgroundsracecourse.com.

The stakes schedule for Fair Grounds' 2008-09 meet will be released shortly.