'We're Encouraged': Louisiana Commission Schedules Meeting With Fair Grounds Race Dates On Agenda
Late on Monday, June 16, the Louisiana State Racing Commission issued a notice scheduling a meeting for Tuesday, June 24. The agenda includes a line item for the Churchill Downs, Inc.-owned Fair Grounds entitled: "Racing Calendar for the 2025-2026 Thoroughbred meet."
According to several sources, a "productive" meeting discussing the potential for a 2025-2026 race meet at the New Orleans, La., racetrack took place between horsemen and CDI officials on Monday.
Ed Fenasci, executive director of the Louisiana Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association, said: "Nothing to announce yet, but we're encouraged by our discussions thus far and look forward to the best meet we can have."
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The uncertainty surrounding the 2025-2026 meet began when CDI CEO Bill Carstanjen wrote to the Louisiana State Racing Commission on June 9 stating the company's intention to surrender its racing license to run a live meet at Fair Grounds in 2025-'26. Carstanjen also said the company expected to surrender its slots and video poker license.
The move by CDI came after the state Supreme Court ruled legislatively approved historical horse racing (HHR) at Fair Grounds OTBs was unconstitutional and required approval in local referendums. An attorney for CDI told the racing commission at an emergency meeting in May that the situation was "dire" because of the loss of revenue from HHR wagering, and that a Fair Grounds meet would not be held this year without some form of legislative assistance.
Last Thursday, in the waning hours of the 2025 regular session which ended June 12, state legislators in Louisiana advanced a bill designed to prevent CDI from shuttering the Fair Grounds facility and ending live horse racing. The amendment to Senate Bill 195 designates New Orleans track as an "historic site," and states that "demolition, structural alteration, sale or cessation of racing operations" can only occur with legislative approval.
This story was originally reported by Paulick Report on Jun 16, 2025, where it first appeared.
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