At least one barn was heavily damaged, the tote board came down and the jockeys’ room is a mess, but the damage to Fair Grounds Race Course from Hurricane Ida was far less than it could have been, given the magnitude of the storm.
“Hopefully they can get the adjusters or whoever they need out there and jump right on it and get it fixed,” Louisiana Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association president Benard Chatters said. “But it’s not too bad, I don’t think. We have a lot to be thankful for.”
Chatters, who is also a trainer, forwarded Horse Racing Nation images from Fair Grounds president and general manager Doug Shipley that showed a collapsed barn, fallen light poles and damage to an interior area.
Tonya Abeln, vice president of communications for Churchill Downs Inc., which owns Fair Grounds, said Tuesday that officials were still unsure of the damages to the facility.
“The team at Fair Grounds continues to assess the extensive damage to the property and take inventory of the necessary repairs in preparation of the Thoroughbred racing season in November,” Abeln said in an email to HRN. “With the current conditions and absence of power, it may take some more time to get an accurate understanding of the damage to estimate a timeline for repair. Our focus at this time remains on the health and safety of our team members as our thoughts remain with all in the region affected by Ida and the ongoing challenges it now presents.”
Abeln said no humans or horses were on the property when the hurricane struck. The regularly scheduled quarter-horse meet at the track already had been moved to Evangeline Downs in order to accommodate the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, was later was postponed to 2022 because of the COVID pandemic.
Chatters told HRN the relocation of the quarter-horse meet was a blessing in disguise for the track.
“As quick as this thing moved in, they wouldn’t have been able to evacuate those horses,” Chatters said.
Chatters also said no other tracks in Louisiana sustained damage from the storm. In 2020, Delta Downs took significant damage from Hurricane Laura.
“Evangeline was threatened, but the storm stayed away,” Chatters said.
Trainer Tom Amoss said his barn was one impacted by the hurricane.
"Fortunately, we don't have any horses down there," Amoss told HRN. "No one does right now, but the Fair Grounds took a lot of damage. Their infield tote board and the things that they have on the infield for the fans to look at during the races took a big hit. And our barn as well as Al Stall's, he's in the barn next to me, both of our barns had the roof torn off it. On the plus side, nobody got hurt. It's Sept. 1. The meet does not start until Thanksgiving, so there should be plenty of time to get things right and get going with an on-time schedule."
The Fair Grounds website notes that the track as well as 15 off-track betting and casino locations are closed for the time being.
