Thanksgiving - New Orleans Style

Tuesday, November 28, 2006

Many readers who are not of New Orleans, or do not know about the Cajun/Creole traditions, will need to know that traditionally Thanksgiving in New Orleans is spent at the track - feeding the horses!

The Fair Grounds Race Course, owned by Churchill Downs Inc., has recently spent millions of dollars repairing damage from Huricane Katrina last August 29th, all the while wondering if the residents of New Orleans would have the time, or even the desire to attend the track for Thanksgiving.

They got a resounding answer on Nov. 6, when reservations became available for 1,200 dining spots for the track's traditional Thanksgiving opening day.

"We sold out in 35 minutes," said Fair Grounds president Randall Soth.

The entire 2005-2006 race season was cancelled in the aftermath of Huricane Katrina, but opens an 81 day thoroughbred meet on November 23 with hopes of resuming its place as a major winter racing center - a local tradition dating back to the late 19th century.

Veteran trainer Dallas Stewart, who is brings in a stable of 45 horses, saw his Lakeview home severely damaged by post-Katrina flooding. He said he pressed to get the house repaired in time to move in for the meet.

"It's just a very special thing to be able to get back in action," Stewart said. "That track has been in action for 100 years. I've been working there since I was 15. It's very special."

The Fair Grounds Race Course is the nation's third-oldest horse-racing track -- only Saratoga and Pimlico have been racing longer.