Fair Grounds Picks, Results & Big 'Uns

Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans opened on April 13, 1872, and is one of the oldest racetracks in the country still in operation. Its season runs from late November through late March, with Thanksgiving Day a longtime local tradition, making it the winter home of racing in the South.

The meet builds to the Louisiana Derby in late March, a 1 3/16-mile dirt race for three-year-olds and an important stop on the road to the Kentucky Derby. The race dates to 1894, when it was called the Crescent City Derby.

Fair Grounds ran 71 racing days in the past year on dirt and turf. Fields averaged 8.1 starters and races ranged from 5f to 1 3/16m. Claiming races here have averaged a $23,484 tag recently. WinningPonies' picks produced 112 Big 'Un payouts at Fair Grounds in the past year totaling $20,292, the largest a $2,519 Pick 5 on March 9, 2026. The Trifecta has been the most common winning Big 'Un wager.