Record crowd turns out for Fair Grounds opener

"I entered this horse with the intention of winning the first race back at the Fair Grounds. This helps bring New Orleans back to life. Winning here today, and I've raced at tracks around the country, means more to me than all of those wins. Winning here today is the best, it's great."
74-year-old Larry Robideaux, trainer of Clouds on the Walk, winner of the first race.


THOROUGHBRED TIMES
Posted: 11/23/2006 7:38:38 PM
Record crowd turns out for Fair Grounds opener


New Orleans welcomed back racing in a big way on Thursday as a record crowd of 8,732 fans poured into the historic local track which opened its gates for live racing for the first time since the end of the 2004-'05 meeting.

Hurricane Katrina forced the cancellation of last year's meeting at the New Orleans track, although a special shortened "Fair Grounds at Louisiana Downs" meet was held in Northern Louisiana. Thursday's traditional Thanksgiving Day opener ended a 607-day drought for live racing in New Orleans as last year marked the first winter without racing in New Orleans since 1915.

"I know there are people throughout our city who are still trying to get back to their homes or finish rebuilding, and many of them have enjoyed coming to the Fair Grounds," said Fair Grounds President Randy Soth. "Things are far from being back to normal, but I hope by live racing coming back to the Fair Grounds this season, we can help New Orleans take one more small step back toward
normalcy."

READ MORE
http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/todaysnews/newsview.asp?recno=67927&subsec=1