Fair Grounds continues to recover from Hurricane Katrina

Fair Grounds, the nation's third oldest Thoroughbred racetrack, continues to

recover from the destruction caused by Hurricane Katrina. The facility lost half

of its grandstand roof and stucco walls to Katrina's winds, and the breaches of

nearby levees flooded the racing surfaces, infield and backstretch.

Fair Grounds President Randall E. Soth said last week the grandstand

restoration is "about 80 percent complete," while the backstretch is "about 60

percent." The grandstand is scheduled to be completed in time for the start of

the track's 135th season of racing on Thanksgiving Day, while the backstretch

work should be done in time for the opening of the barn area on November 1.

On Tuesday's first anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, crews were installing

new counters in the grandstand box seat area, while above in the clubhouse, work

on new flooring continued.

The grandstand did not flood, but had significant water damage, particularly

in the clubhouse area, because the roof and walls were peeled away.

The exterior walls were restored by February, and replacement of the roof,

which required an upgrade to withstand a Category 4 storm, was completed in late

March. Electrical power was restored a week later, and by late April, the

facility was repaired sufficiently to play host to the New Orleans Jazz and

Heritage Festival.

On the backstretch, water was as high as chest deep. Backstretch repairs

include the replacement of roofs on eight barns and repair of 20 others, the

removal and replacement of plywood that line the individual stalls, and

replacement of nearly 300 doors. Additionally, the dirt in the barn area is

being scraped and replaced because it was likely contaminated with salt water

from the flooding, and the backstretch fire protection system has been upgraded.

The dirt track and turf course, along with the infield, was under water for

several days. To remove any salt from these surfaces, crews put down 90,000

pounds of granulated gypsum, and the drainage pond on the east end of the

infield, which is also used for irrigation, was completely drained and dredged.

Hurricane Katrina forced Fair Grounds to shift its 2005-06 season from New

Orleans to Louisiana Downs in Bossier City, Louisiana, where it conducted an

abbreviated 37-day meet. It marked the first time since 1915, when the Locke Law

was repealed, that winter racing was not conducted in the Crescent City.

Over the years, the track has endured two destructive fires, wars, a ban of

racing for seven years and, most recently, increased gaming competition

regionally.