Report: Fair Grounds barns, tote board suffer damage from Hurricane Ida

Photographs forwarded by Fair Grounds president Doug Shipley to Bloodhorse.com show a mangled tote board, a downed lighting pole and both roof and wall damage to numerous barns.

The facility in New Orleans was among many to suffer damage from Hurricane Ida.

Shipley also made the following statement:

“The team at Fair Grounds continues to assess the extensive damage to the property as a result of the impact of Hurricane Ida. While there will be much necessary repair in preparation for our Thoroughbred racing season in November, we are most grateful that our Quarter Horse meet had been relocated this year and therefore there were no horses were on property.

“In the interest of safety, we were able to close operations and send our team members home. As you can imagine, with the current conditions and in the absence of power in the area, it may take some time to get an accurate understanding of the damage and 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 our region affected by Ida and the ongoing challenges it now presents. I’m certain that the strength and resilience of the people of New Orleans will once again overcome this devastation.”

Benard Chatters, president of the Louisiana Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association, also to Bloodhorse.com that the state’s horsemen by and large escaped the brunt of the category 4 storm.

The Thoroughbred meet at Fair Grounds is scheduled from Nov. 25-March 27.