Racing: The Fair Grounds
Thanksgiving means far more than turkey dinners in New Orleans, it’s also the opening day of the city’s race track, the Fair Grounds. The 2000-2001 season begins with a series of big races, the Thanksgiving Handicap on opening day (November 23), the Old Hickory Stakes (November 25) and the Pontalba Stakes (November 26). While the Fair Grounds is not one of the première US tracks, it’s a lively, well-run operation that showcases Southern-bred horses and occasionally hosts quarterhorse racing.
