Hey Blake,
How about a little history on the Fair Grounds. How long has it been there? And is it true that there's a famous horse buried on the finish line?
Joe
Dear Joe,
The Fair Grounds has a colorful history that includes many owners, disasters and eccentric characters. And, while not buried on the finish line, there are two remarkable horses buried in the infield: Pan Zareta and Black Gold. Pan Zareta, "Queen of the Turf," won 76 races before she died of pneumonia in 1918. Black Gold, winner of four derbies including the Louisiana and Kentucky in 1924, broke down in his last race in 1928 and finished on a broken leg.
Saratoga (1864) and Pimlico (1870) were established before this track was officially known as the Fair Grounds. However, beginning in 1852 when the Union Race Course was laid out on Gentilly Road, the site holds the distinction as being the oldest racing site in America still in operation. New owners renamed it the Creole Race Course in 1859. By 1863, it evolved into the Mechanical & Agricultural Fair Grounds, sometimes called the Louisiana Fair Grounds Course. The Louisiana Jockey Club took over its management, and its inaugural day of April 13, 1872, is now considered the official founding date of the Fair Grounds.
Since then, the Fair Grounds has had many owners and managers. In 1941, it was almost sold to real estate developers who wanted to convert it to a subdivision until a group of local horsemen and businessmen saved it. In 1990, the Fair Grounds was purchased by the current owners, the Krantz family.
One major disaster occurred in 1908, when the Locke Law passed by the Louisiana Legislature abolished the sport and brought an end to racing in New Orleans for seven long years.
The next disaster came in the form of a fire on the morning of Dec. 28, 1918, and the grandstand burned to the ground. A temporary facility built in just three days was replaced later in the year by a permanent grandstand, reassembled from the one at the defunct City Park race track. Ironically, this grandstand was also destroyed by fire on Dec. 17, 1993. Once again, a temporary facility was constructed and the season continued. Today, we all tell stories about the "rough" years as we enjoy the magnificent new grandstand and clubhouse that opened on Thanksgiving Day in 1997.
The Fair Grounds has had its share of important visitors and characters. Grand Duke Alexis of Russia -- who also went to Rex's first parade -- attended in 1872, and former President Ulysses S. Grant visited in 1880. Pat Garrett, the man who shot Billy the Kid, raced horses here in 1893, and "Diamond Jim" Brady attended in 1906. We also saw boxing greats Jack Dempsey and Gene Tunney.
One resident character was Georges Allen "Black Cat" Lacombe. Born in Cajun country in 1919, he moved with his family to the Irish Channel, and at age 13 made his first bet. His horse lost, but Lacombe was not discouraged. In fact, he had embarked on a career of losing bets that would earn him his nickname.
While still a teenager, he was staging beauty pageants, promoting boxing matches and semi-professional football, and gaining a reputation. Drafted in 1942, Lacombe was sent to Iran where he got the Army to build a race track and an arena where he successfully promoted fights and staged camel races.
After the war, Lacombe worked as press agent at the Fair Grounds and went into politics, running for governor in 1959. Failing at that, he ran for mayor of New Orleans, claiming among his qualifications that he "nearly went to high school." He got 129 votes.
Lacombe was a lifelong railbird and never stopped trying. He wanted to be buried in the infield with Black Gold and Pan Zareta, but the law forbade it. However, when he died in July 1989, his hearse made a detour on the way to the cemetery and took him on one last lap around the track. At the finish line, the bugler played "Call to the Post," and then "Taps."-->
