Featuring Two Stakes and Trio of Turf Affairs, Fair Grounds Opening Day Card Attracts Full Fields

By Kevin Kilroy —-

Featuring Two Stakes and Trio of Turf Affairs, Fair Grounds Opening Day Card Attracts Full Fields

Curtis Ready to Go for Fair Grounds Opening Day; Lopez Named to Six

NEW ORLEANS (Nov. 13, 2025) – Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots’ Opening Day card has been drawn for Thursday, Nov. 20. Racing secretary Scott Jones conducted the draw, which attracted 99 total entries for an average field size of 11 across the nine-race program that includes two stakes and three open-company turf affairs.

First post Thursday is 12:45 p.m. CT.

The first two weeks of the meet will feature live racing Thursday through Saturday. On Dec. 7, Sundays will be added as four-day race weeks become the norm through closing day March 22.

The pair of $100,000 stakes restricted to Louisiana-breds begins in Race 5 with the 1 mile, 70 yards John Valene Memorial for older fillies and mares, followed immediately by the Joseph R. Peluso at six furlongs for juvenile males.

Last year’s meet-leading trainer Joe Sharp will come out firing with three entries, but it is the 2024-25 top conditioner Shane Wilson who leads all barns with eight Opening Day entries.

Entries will continue to be taken one week in advance throughout the season. Thursday’s overnight can be found on Equibase: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/RaceCardIndexFG112025USA-EQB.html

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Curtis ‘Ready to Go’ for Fair Grounds Opening Day; Lopez Named to Six

Agent Ron Faucheux confirmed that jockey Ben Curtis is healing nicely after a spill at Aqueduct on Nov. 8.

Curtis, who has five calls on Fair Grounds’ Opening Day card, will be back working horses early next week.

The sport’s leading rider on the year, with 304 wins as of Nov. 13, Paco Lopez has been named to ride six on Opening Day at Fair Grounds.

Agent Jose Garcia confirmed that Lopez will ride at both Fair Grounds and Delta Downs this winter.

Thanksgiving Classic Tickets Now Available

Thanksgiving Classic tickets are now available at www.fairgroundsracecourse.com. All additional racing tickets (free Grandstand access plus additional paid options) and special events (starting at just $10) are also available for purchase.

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About Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots

Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, one of the nation’s oldest racetracks, has been in operation since 1872. Located in New Orleans, La, Fair Grounds, which is owned by Churchill Downs Incorporated (NASDAQ Global Select Market: CHDN), also operates a slot-machine gaming facility and 13 off-track betting parlors throughout Southeast Louisiana. The 154th Thoroughbred Racing Season–highlighted by the 113th running of the Louisiana Derby–will run from Nov. 20, 2025 through March 22, 2026. More information is available online at www.fgno.com.