Fair Grounds promotes Zavala to track superintendent

Pedro Zavala has been named as the new track superintendent at Fair

Grounds, it was announced Monday. The 26-year-old served as assistant

track superintendent at Fair Grounds for the past five years following

three years on the track crew at Arlington Park.

"As we interviewed candidates from around the world, it became

increasingly clear that the man for the job was the one who already knew

our surfaces the best," Fair Grounds Vice President and General Manager

Eric Halstrom said.

"Pedro has proven to be a knowledgeable, passionate and committed

member of our team. His expertise has already been demonstrated this

year in the way he has managed the dirt and turf courses since the New

Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival."

Zavala has overseen the Fair Grounds' one-mile dirt oval and seven-furlong

Stall-Wilson Turf Course since shortly after the conclusion of the 2009-2010

Thoroughbred racing season in March.

He will continue supervising the installation of a new state-of-the-art

sprinkler system for the turf course that will be in place in time for the

2010-2011 Thoroughbred racing season, which will revert to its traditional

opening day on Thanksgiving, November 25.