101st Louisiana Derby scheduled for March 29

By: SPORTS NETWORK

New Orleans, LA (Sports Network) - The 101st running of the $1 million Louisiana Derby has been set for Saturday, March 29 at Fair Grounds Race Course. The 1 1/8-mile stakes is one of most important prep races for the Kentucky Derby.

The Louisiana Derby is the culmination of Fair Grounds' three-race stakes series for 3-year-olds including the Lecomte Stakes and Risen Star.

"The Louisiana Derby produced two of the top three finishers in the Kentucky Derby and the winner of the Belmont Stakes," said Eric Halstrom, Vice President and General Manger for Racing. "Our three-race prep series overall featured five of the top six Kentucky Derby finishers plus the Preakness and Belmont winners."

The 100th Derby was won by Revolutionary, third in the Run for the Roses, with Mylute second at Fair Grounds and third in the Preakness. Oxbow won the Lecomte before claiming the Preakness and Golden Soul was second in both the Lecomte and Kentucky Derby.

Palace Malice won the Belmont Stakes after finishing third in the Risen Star.

The Lecomte at a mile, 70 yards will be held Saturday, Jan. 18 followed by the Risen Star on Saturday, Feb. 22. The Risen Star is contested at 1 1/16 miles.

Fair Grounds will begin its 2013/14 racing season under the lights on Friday, Nov. 22 and lasting until March 30. The main part of the season will begin the following Thursday on Thanksgiving Day, a tradition dating back to 1898.