FAIR GROUNDS 146TH LIVE THOROUGHBRED MEET OPENS WITH STARLIGHT RACING NOV. 18

By Mark Conner —-

THE CHEE WEEZ, THE JUKEBOX HEROES OF NEW ORLEANS HEADLINE NEW AND IMPROVED STARLIGHT OPENING DAY NOV. 18

NEW ORLEANS (November 10, 2017) – The 146th Thoroughbred racing season begins November 18 at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots with Starlight Racing and a special 3 p.m. first post. Presented by Miller Lite, Blue Moon, Absolut, Jameson, Event Producers and B97, the popular “see and be seen” series at Fair Grounds features live racing, entertainment and popular local food pop-ups.

“We are excited to kick-off our 146th live thoroughbred racing season with an evening of racing and entertainment Saturday, the eighteenth, followed by what has become a time-honored tradition for locals to enjoy here on Thanksgiving Day. Starlight Racing, now a premiere “see-and-be-seen” event in New Orleans, is evolving into a more traditional beer garden experience and we look forward to entertaining both new and old fans of racing in this enhanced environment,” said Fair Grounds Track President Doug Shipley.

The Chee Weez are slated to perform in the clubhouse starting at 7 p.m. and The Jukebox Heroes of New Orleans will play in the Miller Lite Beer Garden on the track apron beginning at 4 p.m. Local food pop-ups Frencheeze and Bratz Y’all will be on-site for the first Starlight event of the season near the Starlight tent on the track apron.

This year’s Starlight Racing events will feature an improved experience in the Miller Lite Beer Garden with a Cheers replica bar replete with eight special brews on tap as well as wines on tap. A mixture of woods and metals will bring a true beer garden to life with a comfortable, yet modern feel for a night of racing. Guests will enjoy creative and expanded seating options while enjoying musical acts from the new Starlight stage in the tent at each event.

In addition, this is the first night of the Fair Grounds Second Harvest Food Drive (runs through Nov. 30) with collection boxes located at Fair Grounds and all Fair Grounds-affiliated OTB locations. Also, the Starlight-Starbright charitable program will again be offered on all Starlight and Twilight Racing dates throughout the season, allowing non-profit and for-profit organizations to raise much needed funds for their own charitable organization or for one that their company supports in its efforts to touch the community.

Following approval and registration with the Fair Grounds, organizations may pre-sell or direct their membership and supporters to purchase tickets to the designated Starlight racing event through the Fair Grounds online ticketing system www.fgno.com/tickets. Based on surpassing the minimum of 25 pre-sold tickets per date, the organization then receives 50% of the admission cost ($5.00 per person) back in a rebate.

Companies may register as an official Starlight-Starbright beneficiary by downloading the official information and registration form from www.fairgroundsracecourse.com and emailing it to mail to Denece Laborde at Denece.Laborde@fgno.com. Additional information, including clubhouse reservations during fund raising is available by calling the property reservations line at (504) 943-2200.

About Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots
Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, the nation’s third-oldest racetrack, has been in operation since 1872. Located in New Orleans, LA, Fair Grounds is owned by Churchill Downs Incorporated (NASDAQ Global Select Market: CHDN); it also operates a slot-machine gaming facility and 11 off-track betting parlors throughout southeast Louisiana. The 146th Thoroughbred Racing Season – highlighted by the 105th running of the Louisiana Derby – will run from November 18, 2017 through March 31, 2018. More information can be found online at www.FairGroundsRaceCourse.com.