NEW ORLEANS – Zebras, more ostriches, more beer, more horses and more races will make the sixth Summer Quarter Horse Meet at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots the biggest New Orleans has ever seen. The exotic animal racing nights that have become an August rite of summer will be expanded to two nights, Aug. 17 & 24, while the American Quarter Horse season will be expanded to 14 racing dates, Wednesdays to Saturdays from Aug. 16 to Sept. 7.
First post is 1 p.m. (all times Central Daylight Time) Wednesdays to Fridays. First post on Saturdays is 4 p.m. The Saturday twilight programs will play host to three marquee events – three different ostrich races on Aug 17, Zebra racing and the first ever New Orleans Ostrich Championship on Aug 24, as well as the second annual “Tails & Ales Beer Festival Presented by Abita” on Closing Night, Sept. 7.
Tickets and Pricing General Admission for live racing is free except for exotic animal racing nights, Aug. 17 & 24, when General Admission is $15. Kids 12 and under get in free for General Admission only. General Admission will be available for sale at fgno.com/tickets beginning July 22, 2013. Clubhouse Admission is $25 for adults and $10 for kids, ages 5-12. Kids under age 5 get in for free. All Grandstand and Clubhouse box seats and open seating are first-come, first-served with general admission.
The Clubhouse Dining Room will offer a family-friendly limited menu including mini-pizza, chicken quesadilla, pulled pork poboy, Thai chili or BBQ wings, Nathans® chili cheese hot dogs, chili cheese fries, supreme nachos and drunken shrimp cocktail. Concessions stands will also be open. Beginning July 23, reservations for dining room tables with purchase of Clubhouse Admission are available Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. by calling 504-948-1024. Surcharges may apply for certain Clubhouse Rows. Tickets may be purchased in advance for both exotic animal racing nights by visiting fgno.com/tickets. Private Suites are available and may be reserved by calling Group Sales at 505-948-1285.
General Admission on Closing Night, Sept. 7, will be free allowing access to the first floor of the Grandstand as the “Tails & Ales Beer Festival Presented by Abita” will be taking place on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th floor Clubhouse. Tickets to the Beer Festival are $35 for General Admission and $70 for VIP in advance. All tickets to this event are available for purchase through Ticketmaster.com. Tickets will be $40 at the door for General Admission and $75 for VIP (discounted Designated Driver admission pricing is also available). The General Admission beer tasting begins at 4 p.m. coinciding with the first race of the evening. VIP Admission beer tasting starts at 3:00p.m