On Tap for Closing Week at Fair Grounds

By Kevin Kilroy —-

On Tap for Closing Week at Fair Grounds: Louisiana Derby Day, Bayou
Bluegrass 5, New Vocations, Hat Contest, MyRacehorse, and Breast Cancer
Awareness Second Line

● Rosie Napravnik to Spearhead “New Vocations Day at the Races” on Thursday, March 23
at Fair Grounds.
● Saturday’s Louisiana Derby Day Features Eight Stakes, Fifteen Races, the Bayou
Bluegrass 5, A Hat Contest, and a Virtual Reality Race Simulation provided by
MyRacehorse.
● Fair Grounds, Turfway Park to Offer Multi-Track Pick 5 – the Bayou Bluegrass 5
● Saturday’s Races to be Broadcasted on CNBC, TVG.
● MyRacehorse at the Louisiana Derby – A Unique On-Site Activation!
● Who Dat with the Best Hat? Runway at the Races Louisiana Derby Day Hat Contest
● Closing Day Features an Early First post, Three Stakes, Fifteen Races, and a Breast Cancer
Awareness Second Line.
● Each Pick 5 Sunday Will Have a Mandatory Payout.

New Orleans, La (March 22, 2023) – Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots will conclude the
2022-2023 racing meet this week with a full slate of horse racing and special events.

Racing resumes on Wednesday, March 22, and Thursday, March 23 is New Vocations Day where
Joe Kristufek will be joined on-air by Rosie Napravnik to raise money for the Thoroughbred
aftercare foundation.

Fifteen races are carded for both Saturday, March 25 and Sunday, March 26, eleven of which are
stakes races, including 8 stakes on Saturday’s Louisiana Derby Day program. Saturday’s betting
menu is jam-packed with four Pick 4s, one Pick 6 (15% takeout), and five Pick 5 opportunities
(15% takeout), including the first-ever Bayou Bluegrass 5. Teaming up with Turfway Park, a new
all-stakes multi-track Pick 5 wager (15% takeout) will be offered, concluding with the Louisiana
Derby.

MyRacehorse will be on-site Saturday, providing an on-site VR activation that allows attendees
to experience what it’s like to be a jockey and ride a horse in a virtual reality horse race.
First post on Sunday is 11:00 a.m. (all times Central), and the 15-race card concludes with three
stakes, followed by The Shantel Lanerie Breast Cancer Survivors Second Line.

Rosie Napravnik to Spearhead “New Vocations Day at the Races” on Thursday, March 23 at
Fair Grounds

On Thursday, March 23, retired jockey and horse advocate Rosie Napravnik will be on-site at Fair
Grounds Race Course & Slots to spearhead the third annual “New Vocations Day at the Races.”

A four-time local riding champion who was instrumental in the opening of the New Vocations
facility in Covington, Louisiana, Napravnik will join host Joe Kristufek on the live feed during the
racing day to help build awareness, promote success stories and inspire donations for
Thoroughbred aftercare.

For the first time this year, owners, jockeys, and trainers can contribute a financial donation to
the Louisiana chapter of New Vocations directly through the horsemen’s bookkeeper. Contact
Emily Miller or Diana Bosco at 504-948-1254. In addition, contributions are welcome through
the New Vocations website — visit https://horseadoption.org/donate and click the button with
Rosie’s picture on it in the top row to complete the process.

Saturday’s Louisiana Derby Day Features Eight Stakes, Fifteen Races, the Bayou Bluegrass 5,
and a Virtual Reality Race Simulation provided by MyRacehorse.

On Saturday, March 25, Louisiana Derby Day will feature the 110th running of the $1 million
Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby (G2) and $400,000 Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) presented by
Fasig-Tipton at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots. 100-40-30-20-10 Kentucky Derby and Oaks
points are on the line for the top five finishers as the Championship Series begins in New
Orleans with the 1 3/16 miles Louisiana Derby (Race 12, 5:42 p.m) and the 1 1/16 miles Fair
Grounds Oaks (5:08 p.m.).

Fasig-Tipton has been named the title sponsor of Fair Grounds’ 2023 series for 3-year-old fillies.
The Fasig-Tipton Tremé Triple consists of the Silverbulletday Stakes (ran on Jan. 21), the Rachel
Alexandra (G2) (ran on Feb. 18), and the Fair Grounds Oaks (G2). The name of the race series is
a tribute to the historic Tremé neighborhood of New Orleans that borders Fair Grounds Race
Course.

At noon the racing day kicks off with the $100,000 Crescent City Derby for Louisiana-bred
3-year-olds. The $100,000 Crescent City Oaks (La) is slated as Race 3, immediately followed by
the $100,000 Costa Rising.

Stakes action picks back up in Race 8 with the $100,000 Tom Benson Stakes, followed in order
by the $500,000 New Orleans Classic (G2) presented by Relyne GI by Hagyard, and the $300,000
Muniz Memorial (G2) presented by Horse Racing Nation. The portable rail has been moved to
28 feet for all this weekend’s turf races, and with that field sizes are expanded to 10 entries.

The betting menu for Louisiana Derby Day is as follows: 15% takeout, 50-cent Pick 5s beginning
in Race 1, Race 4, Race 8 (all-stakes, guaranteed pool of $500,000), Race 11, and the “Bayou
Bluegrass 5” will begin Race 9, covering the New Orleans Classic, The Bourbonette at Turfway
Park, the Fair Grounds Oaks, the Jeff Ruby Steaks at Turfway, and the Louisiana Derby. 50-cent
Pick 4s begin in Race 2, Race 5, Race 9, and Race 12. The 15% takeout $1 Pick 6 begins in Race 7.
Win, Place, Show, Exacta, Trifecta, and Superfecta will be offered in every race. Rolling Pick 3s
will be offered beginning with Race 1 through Race 13; rolling Daily Doubles, Race 1 through
Race 14.

MyRacehorse will be at Fair Grounds on Louisiana Derby Day providing attendees an on-site VR
activation. This unique opportunity will allow attendees to experience what it’s like to be a
jockey and ride a horse in a virtual reality horse race. MyRacehorse will be set up near the food
truck area, offering fans an immersive and exciting experience.

Fair Grounds, Turfway Park to Offer Special New Wager, the Bayou Bluegrass 5

Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots and Turfway Park will team together next Saturday, March 25,
to offer bettors a special 50-cent Pick 5 that features an all-stakes sequence led by the $1
million TwinSpires.com Louisiana Derby (Grade 2) and $700,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3).

Dubbed as the “Bayou Bluegrass 5,” the special Pick 5 wager will have a 50-cent minimum
denomination and industry-friendly 15% takeout. The wager will have a mandatory payout at
the end of the sequence.

The sequence will begin at Fair Grounds in Race 9 for the $500,000 New Orleans Classic
presented by Relyne GI by Hagyard (G2) at 4:04 p.m. (all times Central). The second leg will
switch to Turfway Park for the $300,000 Bourbonette Oaks with a scheduled post time of 4:43
p.m. Then, the third leg will go back to Fair Grounds and feature the $400,000 Fair Grounds
Oaks presented by Fasig-Tipton (G2) at 5:12 p.m. The Jeff Ruby Steaks will be the penultimate
leg of the bet at 5:25 p.m. and it will close at Fair Grounds for the TwinSpires.com Louisiana
Derby at 5:46 p.m.

Fans can wager on the Bayou Bluegrass 5 at wagering outlets throughout the country including
www.TwinSpires.com, the official wagering provider of Churchill Downs Incorporated.

Saturday’s Races to be Broadcasted on CNBC, TVG

CNBC’s “Road to the Kentucky Derby” broadcast will air from 6-7 p.m. ET. The program will
feature the live runnings of the Jeff Ruby Stakes from Turfway Park and the Fair Grounds Oaks
and Louisiana Derby from Fair Grounds.

Fanduel TV will cover this weekend’s races at Fair Grounds like a blanket, with Mike Joyce, Scott
Hazelton, Gabby Gaudet, Matt Bernier and Ashley Mailloux all on site providing coverage and
expert commentary.

MyRacehorse at the Louisiana Derby – A Unique On-Site Activation!

Fair Grounds is excited to announce a collaboration with MyRacehorse to offer an on-site VR
activation at the Louisiana Derby on March 25. This unique opportunity will allow attendees to
experience what it’s like to be a jockey and ride a horse in a virtual reality horse race in
partnership with JockeyCam. MyRacehorse will be set up near the food truck area, offering fans
an immersive and exciting experience while celebrating one of the biggest days of the year at
Fair Grounds Race Course.

“We are thrilled to offer this interactive experience at the Louisiana Derby as a first touchpoint
with the MyRacehorse brand,” said the Head of Marketing for MyRacehorse, Shona Rotondo.
“This is a great opportunity for people to step into the shoes of one of the bravest athletes in
sports and to dive a little deeper into the world of horse racing.”

MyRacehorse is an ownership platform that provides fans with an easy way to get involved in
Thoroughbred racehorse ownership without having to pay large sums of money or manage a
stable full-time. The platform offers fractional shares in horses at affordable prices so everyone
can join in on the fun and excitement of being part owner of a racehorse. A one-time payment
unlocks access to exclusive digital content featuring insider information about their horses,
access to race day and on-the-farm events, as well as potential profits from any winnings.
Globally, MyRacehorse has over 50,000 active owners and over 100 horses who have earned a
total of over $20,0000.

At the activation site, visitors can sign up for MyRacehorse and be entered for a chance to win a
$100 MyRacehorse gift card and a MyRacehorse hat signed by a handful of MyRacehorse’s
jockeys and trainers! We encourage fans to stop by and learn more about MyRacehorse and
enjoy this unique VR experience with friends and family.

Who Dat with the Best Hat? Runway at the Races Louisiana Derby Day Hat Contest

Runway at the Races will showcase a highly anticipated feature of the Louisiana Derby. Most
attend the races to witness the horses, some to bet, and others to see the hats! Winners and
finalists will receive gifts donated by, Angelique Boutique, Chapeaux, Meyer The Hatter, Aidan
Gill, Perlis, and Wits Inn.

The Runway at the Races hat contest sponsored by Chapeaux, will be judged, by Kenn Barnes, of
the Law Offices of Kenn Barnes; Brian S. Thrasher, Vice-President, United Cajun Navy; and
Yolanda Doucette, Purveyor of High Fashion.

Contest participants will be selected between 12 Noon and 2 pm. Once entrants have been
selected, the Contest will take place in the Paddock. All participants must arrive at the staging
area no later than 2 pm.

Closing Day Features Early First Post, Three Stakes, Fifteen Races, Mandatory Payout Pick 5s,
and a Breast Cancer Awareness Second Line

Closing Day for Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots’ 2022-2023 meet is on Sunday, March 26.
There will be an early post time of 11 a.m. CT. The 15-race program concludes with three
Louisiana-bred stakes beginning in Race 13: the $75,000 Star Guitar Stakes presented by Brittlyn
Stable, the $75,000 Shantel Lanerie Memorial, and the $75,000 Page Cortez.

Each Pick 5 Sunday will have a mandatory payout.

After the last race on Sunday, Fair Grounds is hosting our inaugural Breast Cancer Second Line,
honoring fighters and survivors as the race to end cancer continues. In traditional second-line
fashion, participants will be joined by a New Orleans brass band and parade across the infield.

The Breast Cancer Survivor and Memorial Second Line will benefit the Shantel Lanerie Breast
Cancer Foundation (https://shantellaneriefoundation.com). Founded in September 2018, the
foundation was created in loving memory of Shantel Lanerie with the goal to help spread the
message of education and early detection as well as to assist with the needs of those
undergoing treatment. The wife of jockey Corey Lanerie, Shantel Lanerie died from
complications from chemotherapy from Stage 1 breast cancer.

Breast Cancer Second Line info:

Breast Cancer Survivor and Memorial Second Line benefitting the Shantel Lanerie Foundation

• Sunday, March 26th after the Shantel Lanerie race (5:46 pm)
o On-site registration this week in the Valet lobby during racing hours.
o Registration will close on Sunday at 3 pm
• Participants will be hosted in the tent. A wristband will be required to enter the tent.
• Rick Mocklin and The Southern Voice Band will perform in the tent from 12:30 pm – 4:30
pm.
• Shantel and Corey’s daughter Brittlyn will serve as the Grand Marshall.
• Breast Cancer shirts and hats will be on sale in Retail.
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