Fair Grounds begins meet at Louisiana Downs on Saturday

Because of the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina, the 134th Fair

Grounds meet will be held at Louisiana Downs in Bossier City, Louisiana. The

37-day meet begins Saturday and continues through January 22. Racing will

take place Thursdays through Sundays with first post each day at 12:25

p.m. (CST).

On Tuesday, Fair Grounds announced an increase of more than $500,000 to its

purse schedule due to better than expected business levels at five Fair Grounds

affiliated off-track betting facilities in the New Orleans area that reopened on

October 26.

Overnight purses will be boosted $1,000 per race. Additionally, the four

stakes races on the January 14 "Road to the Derby" Kickoff Day -- the Risen Star

S. (G3), Silverbulletday S. (G3), Bayou Breeders' Cup H. (G3) and Duncan F. Kenner Breeders' Cup S. -- have been increased to $250,000 each.

As a result of the increases, Fair Grounds predicts an average daily purse

distribution of approximately $315,000, the largest ever for a meet in Louisiana. Fair Grounds will offer 34 stakes races in 37 days, worth

a combined $3.5 million.

The $50,000 Gentilly S. for Louisiana-bred two-year-olds at one mile on the

turf is the opening-day feature. Other highlights include Louisiana Champions Day on December 10, the $400,000

New Orleans H. (G2) on January 7, and the $200,000 Fair Grounds Breeders' Cup H.

on January 21.