track was still able to conduct a race meeting. In 1921, an auto race was held at the track, the only car race at the fairgrounds. In 1940, legislative sanction was given to racing in Louisiana. The track was then sold to developers Morris and Jake Hyman for the construction of a subdivision. In 1941, a group of investors saved Fair Grounds from destruction. The track resumed racing after World War II. The Fair Grounds Racing Hall of Fame was established in 1971. In 1981 a turf no course was installed. In 1990 the track was sold to the Krantz family. In 1993, the grandstand was completely destroyed by a seven-alarm fire and racing continued with temporary facilities in place for a couple of years. A new $27 million construction project began in 1994 and the completed grandstand/clubhouse was opened to the public on Thanksgiving Day 1997. The track was purchased by Churchill Downs Incorporated in 2004. Fair Grounds was heavily damaged in Hurricane Katrina, and was closed for over a year, until re-opening on Thanksgiving Day 2006. The track conducted a 37-day meet at Louisiana Downs in replacement of the scheduled 2005-2006 meet. Both the great race mare Pan Zareta and the winner of the 1924 Kentucky Derby, Black Gold are buried in the infield. It's also here that Tippity Witchet, the beloved son of Broomstick, ran many of his 266 races. Physical attributes The track consists of a one-mile (1.6 km) dirt track and a seven-furlong turf oval. Unlike most dirt courses in North America, the track has no chutes. In addition to the grandstand and clubhouse, an adjacent building, formerly used for simulcasting, opened on September 21, 2007 as a temporary slot-machine gaming facility. On November 14, 2008, the new slot-machine facility opened for operation. TV Personalities Donna Barton Brothers (1999–2002) Vince Marinello (1990–2005) Mike Diliberto (1990–2005) Jessica Pacheco (2006–2010) John G. Dooley (2004–present) Rick Mocklin (2009 fill-in) Katie Mikolay (2010-2013) Brian W. Spencer (2013–2017) Joe Kristufek (2017–present) Racing In a normal year, the following graded stakes are run at Fair Grounds, the most prestigious of which is the Louisiana Derby, a Grade II stakes. The race is a major preparatory race for the Kentucky Derby as part of the Second leg of series for points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. The following Graded events were held at Fair Grounds in 2019. Grade II: Fair