[Photo:Fair Grounds Group Sales Manager MaryCay Kern, far left, and Racing Secretary Jason Boulet, second from right, present a $10,000 donation to event co-chairs Amanda Lo and Julie Habetz, second and third from left, and Children’s Hospital Vice President of Marketing Brian Landry, far right, at Friday’s Sugarplum Ball.]

Fair Grounds donates $10,000 to Children’s Hospital; End of Season Giving Also Includes $7,000 to Horse Rescue Groups

NEW ORLEANS (Thursday, April 7, 2011) – Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots presented a $10,000 check to Children’s Hospital at the charity’s annual Sugarplum Ball held here Friday night. The amount represented $1 from every general admission sold on Louisiana Derby Day, plus a bit of “lagniappe” from Fair Grounds to push the total to a suitably round number.

“This year’s Sugarplum Ball was one of the most successful and enjoyable and Fair Grounds played a very important part,” said Brian Landry, Children’s Hospital Vice President of Marketing. “We are especially pleased with the $10,000 donation by Fair Grounds from the Louisiana Derby. We want to express our sincere appreciation for this generous gift.”

Fair Grounds played host to Sugarplum Ball – Children’s Hospital’s largest annual fundraiser – for the first time. Proceeds from the ball and the entirety of the Fair Grounds donation have been dedicated to the Hospital’s transport helicopter, the only dedicated pediatric medevac helicopter in the Gulf South.


[Jockey Crawfish-Eating Contest participants Brian Hernandez Jr., Corey Lanerie, Jamie Theriot, Martin Brown, Robby Albarado and winner Marlon St. Julien prior to the start.]

Crawfish Boil Raises $7,000 for Horse Rescue

A crawfish boil in the Fair Grounds paddock on March 16 to benefit horse rescue groups netted $7,000. Those funds have been dispersed evenly between Remember Me Rescue, a nonprofit founded by trainer-assistant trainer duo Dallas and Donna Keen to assist retired racehorses, and the Louisiana Horse Rescue Association, an industry initiative that places retired racehorses at caring farms.

“Every Thoroughbred that races for our pleasure deserves to retire with dignity at a farm where they will be happy and well-cared for,” said Fair Grounds Racing Secretary and Louisiana Horse Rescue Association board member Jason Boulet.

The crawfish boil featured a live auction and a jockey crawfish-eating contest, won by Marlon St. Julien, with friends donating funds to sponsor their riders.

About Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots
Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, the nation’s third-oldest racetrack, has been in operation since 1872. Located in New Orleans, Fair Grounds is owned by Churchill Downs Incorporated (NASDAQ Global Select Market: CHDN); it also operates a slot-machine gaming facility and 10 off-track betting parlors throughout southeast Louisiana. Access information about Fair Grounds online at www.FairGroundsRaceCourse.com .