Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots

Lenny was there, playing some fabulous tunes at Jazz Fest 2025—music and food everywhere! Such a memorable moment. The 2026 date got locked in just the day before. Now I’m curious about the Monterey Jazz Fest in September… but honestly, I really hope to come back here again.

This is a fun place that has some fun events. Thoroughly enjoyed the exotic animal races. So much fun for the family. Going out on Thanksgiving is also a good idea. Wear your best hat! Be aware that "fees" of 5 dollars are added to any admission price. Charging fees like this is annoying for me personally. Also, I would advise against prepaying for drinks to get them cheaper as those drinks are absolutely terrible. Advice: Between races walk across the street to the Seahorse Saloon for affordable and delicious drinks.

I love the fairgrounds, they have some of the best machines and the highest percentage when it comes to customers actually winning. I've been gambling for 20 years and I hit the grand jackpot at Fairgrounds race course and Casino. The staff there is amazing and try their hardest to make sure that you're taking care of and they also have a great rewards program. I would suggest it if you were going to gamble in Louisiana.

The food was actually pretty good! The waiter was so slow. Waiting 20 mins for new drinks and then told us he wanted cash tips! Really? Honestly thought he wasn’t good at all. The food runner outstanding!

Not here for horse racing, here for Jazzfest. This is a great environment for live music, good food and art of all kinds. We have been attending for more than 25 years for me and 33 for my husband. Many genres of music. Come for the music, stay for the people watching....

This venue was an excellent choice to host the 2023 Jazz and Heritage Festival. The space here is huge. This was my first year enjoying the festivities. Amazing 3 days of food fun and fellowship. There were 2 small bumps in the road to work out. Credit card machine and shuttle 2 in from venue? By Saturday, things were running a lot smoother with both issues. The performers, staff, and vendors all brought their A-game. I'm looking forward to 2024. 🤗Attended the Second week of the 2024 Heritage and Jazz Fest. Excellent time performers were over the top. Definitely would love to make this a tradition🎷 Attended the first weekend of the 2025 Heritage and Jazz Fest. If you are in the position to purchase The Big Chief ticket comes with a lot of perks. Had a fantastic time.💯

Went to the jazz festival and had a great time and food was great as always but was very disappointed with the crawfish bread I brought and got 3 of the 1 for me and 1 for my two friends that came with me and got it at the Panorama Food stand and whis I still had a picture of it but all 3 of the had 4 crawfish on them and sorry you going to charge $10 to $14 it should have a good amount of crawfish in them personally I don't think they should be allowed back next year because I think either they are just ripping people off or just don't take pride in the food they put out if I go next year that will be one booth I will never eat at again but we still had a great time and one other thing I think is wrong now with the jazz fest is when a band like The Rolling Stones played they raised the price of the tickets to $200 and back in the day it was a honor and privilege to play at the jazz fest, about 10 or so years ago the Red Hot Chili Peppers the price of the ticket was the same as a ticket for any other day and it was $60 and it's just sad to see them doing this now a days I miss the old jazz festival 🤬😡😞

Giant fairgrounds attended the 2025 Jazz and Heritage Festival Pearl Jam Concert May 3, 2025.♥️💯

Great place for lunch and to experience horse racing! Be sure to call and make a reservation, if you want to sit at a table and order food.

I spent a few Thanksgiving days at the Fairgrounds decades ago as a college student and the experience back then was phenomenal. We spent $175 a seat for Thanksgiving day this year. We were promised an exceptional dining experience. I was somewhat skeptical. We were a party of eight and we reserved an eight top table. Primary seating arrangement were tables for six and tables for eight (broken out into a six top and a two top). Upon arriving, we were seated in a narrow corner at the end of a row of other tables. We did not have a table for eight but had a table for six and a table for two with a narrow passage between the two tables which required that you turn sideways to pass through. The area was cramped and hot and a good part of our time was spent with our server's rear end between the two tables and inevitably in someone's face. The buffet started ok. The salads were unimpressive. The gumbo wasn't great. The spinach dish (I have forgotten which one it was) was so runny, it was like soup. The mirliton dressing was mushy. The prime rib and turkey started off great with an abundance of moist white turkey meat and perfectly cooked prime rib. The buffet quality declined as time passed. They apparently ran out of white turkey meat and substituted dark meat on the bone. As that dark meat ran out, they began filling the tray with small pieces of dark meat swimming in gravy. It was embarrassing. The prime rib remained fairly good. The service at the table was fairly good. All fairgrounds employees / representatives encountered were cheerful and happy. Being with family and friends was wonderful, which is what saved the experience. Several people seated near us thought the buffet quality was poor. Unless things change, we won't be back. I could have had the same dining experience at a Piccadilly Cafeteria if they still exist. Additionally, we had to work to find out how to make a reservation for Thanksgiving Day. Process wasn't simple. Was poorly advertised. Very disappointed in the experience. A caterer that cares a little more and a management team better regulating / watching the caterer could return this to an incredibly good experience.

This is my first visit to the Fair Grounds Race Course. We surprised my father in law by taking him for an outing here to see his favorite jockey, Shawn Parker, perform in a few races. Needless to say, he was ALL smiles when he realized where we'd taken him....I told him we needed to make a Wal-mart run!!! (I ask for forgiveness!!) Even though the track was sloppy from the heavy rain today, we saw some exciting racing. We sat comfortably in the glass enclosed Grandstand area where general seating was plentiful. My review is not 5-star because the restaurant was closed and the snack stations closed an hour before the last race. I am hopeful that we'll be able to sample the food the next time we visit. If you're seeking a different type outing, check out the Fair Grounds Race Course.

I really like this casino. Pros: - The food is really good. But the price kinda high. - Staff is nice. - The bathrooms are very clean. - Security, there are plenty of security and staff riding or walking indoors and outdoors. For safety issues. Cons: - 12am the casino closes, if you are playing a bonus; staff will tell you to stop. How, if the game is still playing. I have been there a couple of occasions; I suggest you go early or go to Harrah casino since they are open 24hrs. I think if the casino is close, customers who are still playing should be allowed to continue playing until they are finished... - I think new machines are needed. There are a lot of broken machines. - This part is the worst. I hate that customers try to hold two different machines. I hope the casino can fix that problem.. Overall, this casino is a nice outing.

If I could give this place a negative 1000 I would. If you are a gambler, STAY AWAY!!! I have been a Red Card member here for years & I won't be returning this year. There are no perks, it's impossible to win a jackpot, the food is no good, the customer service is none existent. I could go on & on. Save your money and go to Harrahs, boomtown or treasure chest

We are in the horse business and our horses run during the meet. It's a clean nice facility. Many places to get food. Enclosure for bad weather. That may be present in the winter. Nice small paddock. Enjoy our visits to fairgrounds.

JazzFest 2022, public transportation on the 91 bus to and from the Fair Grounds was coordinated and great. Don't take Uber or Lyft because they drop you off 10 blocks away. Stages, sound systems and screens are great from any stage. Blues, Jazz tents are hot but they have misting systems...but still hot! Crowd control was really lacking this year, because the crowds just stopped on the main road to the main Festival stage and there was just Mo crowd control to be found. Other years, they're many staff, security and crowd control personnel to keep the crowds in control. Local vendors from arts, crafts, clothing are here as are local food vendors from crawfish, Po boys, crab cakes, gumbo and other Cajun delicacies...but where is the sweet potato pie lady?

I love the fairgrounds. There seems to be a lot of complaints based on service for the exotic races, the busiest race day at the fairgrounds that brings out lots of families with children as well as the locals. This year was no different. While there were terribly long lines at the main bars, mostly due to the literal bus loads of frat boys and sorority girls being dropped off, there were plenty of other bars to get service from. They include the tent as well as the bars in the club house and grandstands. Folks who complain about the service on the busiest day of the year are folks who A.) never come to the fairgrounds except on busy race days or JazzFest B.) aren't into horse racing.

My , My and My . Hubby and I came to the 2020 Exotic Animal Race . Camels , Zebra , and Ostrich's racing . What a experience that was Beautiful. My Husband and I sat in the Clubhouse Dining Area with a amazing window view . We had a great time . It was so fun !!!! The Clubhouse Dining Food was good . The Manager Gregory was great . His Server Mariah was kind . Our Server Wendy (Her Assistant) , Food Runner, and a few other Servers was very kind. Thank You Wendy . You wasted

Is sh*tshiw was a business this is it!!!! 1 1/2 hour wait for food, 1 hr wait for drinks on exotic animal racing day. Didn't see a single exotic animal. Where can we get a refund.

Small casino with slots and racing. For now, the two sides are completely separated. I felt safer here COVID-wise than I do any time at Harrah's - they take your temperature at the door, and there are plexiglass dividers between many of the slots (and of course, every other slot is turned off). The staff was extremely friendly and talkative. I was told that the racetrack is only allowing a very small amount of people at a time, so people line up early in order to be able to attend. They have the typical casino deal of giving you slot credits for a return trip if you lose money on your first visit. I would definitely go back.

I was a guest at a bridal shower held in an event space at the fairgrounds. While it wasn't the easiest finding the appropriate entrance and parking area, once inside the staff were attentive and ushered us to the right area. Was I the last to know there is a casino in here? I didn't stop at the slots, so I can't tell you about the luck factor in that area. So, more about the shower... This room held several tables, enough for about 75 people. I had the seafood gumbo, which was flavorful and a taste like New Orleans gumbo. The other items didn't knock my socks off, but they were still enjoyable and light. The bartenders and service staff were all in uniform and super-friendly. The hostess had good sound with the mic system (not sure if this was provided by the fairgrounds), and there was even space in this room for a photo booth.

For so many years I've heard folks in Nola go to the race track for Thanksgiving. Interesting, but I told my son to make our Thanksgiving plans and surprise me. I expected Commanders, LePavillion, Ralphs. He's not nearly as familiar with Nola as Bob and I are, so we were interested with what would strike his fancy. From the time we arrived in town, people were touting the racetrack - friends, taxi drivers, hotel employees. And damn, if Matt hadn't already figured it out and booked it. But not the grandstands - the Club House upstairs. Honestly, I thought it was a little expensive. But fun...oh so fun. We had a deck to watch the races, betting terminals, a full Thanksgiving buffet, and a drink for just a snap of your fingers (drinks were extra). We loved the people watching. My biggest regret...I didn't know where we were headed or I would have a hat. I have many regrets about not having a fancy hat. And I had almost bought one at Trashy Diva the day before. That will forever remain a lost opportunity. Now I've been to the Race Track on Thanksgiving Day. If I ever go back, I'll dress the part. And enjoy the free track downstairs - up close and personal with the horses. And I'll dine elsewhere - somewhere with a Turducken.i But so happy my initial visit here was the full blown experience. And we didn't lose the farm (we all won a little more than we lost. But not as much as we spent at the bar) Lol

Employees and Bartenders are extremely slow and not efficient. It will take 1 hour to get one drink from the bar. Custodians will take 5 minutes to sweep one leaf. They will always have customers so just be prepared for long delays.

My family reserved a table in the clubhouse on Thanksgiving. We were on the 2nd row and had a great view of the track. We moved around between the outdoor area and the clubhouse and everything was easy access. The buffet was available for 3 hours. The food was okay, but I really didn't expect a 5 star meal in the first place. One of our servers was awesome. It was her first day and I never would have known if she didn't tell me. The other guy was not the best. We asked for things multiple times and we never received them. Also, it took him a long time to bring our check. We were ready to go and I had to keep checking to see if he was around so that I could pay. Overall, it was a nice way to spend Thanksgiving and I'd love to return again to try out the regular dining menu.

Great fun! Fantastic place for people watching. Definitely a great time to be had watching the horses run!

A great way to spend a sunny day. Good food in the Grandstand and friendly crowd. Recommend.

Did you say weiner dog racing?! My daughter and I came for weiner dog racing and had a blast. There were also horse races. This was her first time coming to the race track since she is underage but she really had fun. There was so much to do and see for only $5. They brought the horses out before each race to let betters take a close up look. We checked them out and then made a bet between ourselves. The horses we picked always started out in the lead but pretty much lost every time. The weiner dogs were so funny. We didn't have much luck predicting the winner with them either. Mine started off running and made a quick u-turn right back to the starting gate. But that was okay, I wouldn't want to run on a ward day either. We browsed the premises and discovered and ate everything from nachos, funnel cake sticks, lemonade to grilled cheese sandwiches and quesadillas. There were so many more choices and for the adults there were just as many places to have a cocktail or a beer. We hung out outside then went inside the air conditioned grandstand where we sat and watched the races through the large glass windows. This was a great opportunity to get out with the family and have fun. There were inflatable bouncers for the little ones and the older ones could just enjoy being out at the race track. There is ample parking in the lot and also on the street and even valet is available. There is a casino with slot machines for those of legal gambling age. I will be checking the calendar for another day when families are welcome. Meanwhile I will meet friends here for some off track betting, slots, and drinks.

Review of a wedding reception held on 7/18/2015: When my brother proposed to his fiancé in 2014, she immediately began planning her wedding and reception. My sister in-law stated that she wanted a venue that was different than the common reception halls around the city. The reception took place on the fourth floor with a beautiful view of the city of New Orleans. There was an elevator & escalator available for guests easy access to and from the reception area. The venue was spacious enough for 100 guests that entailed a full serviced bar, buffet-style menu, 20 round tables that seated 5-7 to a table, a disc jockey, & a large wooden dance floor. There were television monitors and an outdoor big screen that repeated a slideshow of the bride and groom that guests enjoyed throughout the reception. The food was excellent that included sweet assorted fruit, boiled shrimp, shrimp cocktail, crab claws, chicken pasta, carved roast beef, & chicken rolls. Alcohol & non-alcohol beverages were available at the bar. There were no paper plates, cups, or utensils. The bride's cake was a traditional white wedding cake & icing & the groom chose his favorite King Cake. The wedding party & guests danced to the DJ until the Brass Band arrived at 7:30 pm. New Orleans is synonymous with Brass Bands; especially at weddings, so it was only appropriate to conclude this four hour reception with a Second Line. The band played the most popular songs as we second lined through the reception area, down the escalator, then out to the parking lot. A special thank you to Shannon, the event coordinator & staff, security, clean up staff, & the entire Fairgrounds crew for making this a memorable event for my brother, sister in-law, & family. We had a great time with lasting memories.

Went for a work related event, in the" Black and Gold Room". Great view of the race. You can place bets in the room. Food local cuisine, delicious. The pastries were so tasty and on "race track" theme. Wait staff very attentive. Thanks to Ms. Deborah for giving her helping out with bets and picks on the race.

If you don't compare them to the three competing casinos, then these guys are pretty damn awesome! Contrary to what other reviewer's may have said, the coin out percentage is fair and slightly better than Harrah's, but nowhere as good as Boomtown. THE GOOD: * SLOT VARIETY. They carry the hits like Buffalo, Wicked Winnings, Lightning, Tarzan and Willy Wonka as well as classics like Sun and moon, Cashman and much more. * POINT PLAY. The rate depends on your tier level, but I get five dollars in free play for every $100 I spend * THEY'RE IN MID-CITY. Which is in proximity to everyone who lives in New Orleans. * PLEXIGLASS: They have clear dividers between each machine to keep you safe from germs. * IT FEELS LIKE YOU'RE IN THE 80S. They have this old-school retro throwback feel and decor. (There's even a Michael Jackson slot machine!) THE BAD: * IT FEELS LIKE YOU'RE IN THE 80S. Technology is not their strong point as there's no Wi-Fi, players cards don't work after a few hours, and half the clientele looks like they're The Walking Dead. * NO OUTSIDE FOOD. Understandably, the kitchen is closed, but they still won't let you bring outside outside food. People need to eat, and if you're not going to serve them food for whatever reason, let them bring in their own damn food. * MORE SLOTS OUTSIDE: They can fix this overnight, but for whatever reason, they choose to have benches on 50% of the wall space. NOT OK! People came here to gamble, not sit down. * PARKING. For whatever reason, fairgrounds caters to the elderly, handicapped and homeless. 50% of all parking spaces here are handicapped and these are the same cheap customers that stay here from open till close playing the penny slots for a free drinks, waiting to die. This place is pretty cool, if you don't compare it to Boomtown or Harris

I spent very little time here and not for any race. Instead we came her for registration for the Red Dress Run. For our visit, everything was easy and set up great. There was plenty of parking and it was easy to get in and out of the lot with all the traffic. The area where registration pickup was, was suited well for the task at hand.

I have to say that the food has definitely improved in the clubhouse. We had an amazing table by the finish line. What a view!! For dinner, I had the Nathan's dog and fries. Wow! The bread was toasted perfectly! The chili on my hot dog was delicious. The French fries were also pretty good. The gumbo is amazing. It's always consistently good. I got to try the chicken quesadilla. Delicious! The flavors were on point. Of course I had to get the ice cream sundae for dessert! It's the perfect ending to an awesome day at the track. FYI... you can't bet on the ostriches or camels.

I go to this slots/casino at least once every few weeks. The race facility is world class, this review is mostly for the casino. It's only a slot casino offering no other gaming except for horse racing in the main grand stands area. What compelled me to finally review Fairgrounds Slots is my disappointment of this "casino" for not having a sports-book. Between the casino and the race track (offsite gaming facility where you can electronically bet on races in other tracks) there is major opportunity here for this casino to create a great sports-book that would bring in business and could align with the casino and horse betting. The only other casino in Orleans Parish with a sport-book (Harrahs) is packed and have massive lines to the automated machines. There is a MASSIVE opportunity here for them to create a lounge, sports-book. My other gripe is the lack of casino etiquette that they allow. Specifically allowing an unwritten rule that people can reserve (hold machines) by turning their chair. Because not all the chairs stay "turned" you have no idea that people are reserving. Pay attention to the credits of a machine to know otherwise you will get verbally assaulted and lectured by other patrons if you even go to look to see if credits are in a slot to see if it's open. This casino needs to adopt an electronic reserve system, and have a limit on the time. I have seen over dozen machines being held (using chairs and friends) to reserve machines while obviously playing other games. Hey Fairgrounds....you ARE LOSING MONEY by allowing this. Also creating a potential for disputes between patrons who are always competing for the most popular machines. Specifically the Aztec machines are ALWAYS being held while they play others and these people switch between machines. Lastly, this casino has TV's but REFUSES to show local sports. They DO NOT show Pelicans games. I was told they don't have that sports package. What? How much more money does this cost to upgrade your cable to show Pelicans and LSU games. Again.....you're losing money. I skip coming here anytime there is a local sporting event because I know it won't be on. Overall I give 3 stars. This casino can be so much better with simple upgrades and sports book or at least showing your local NBA team!

Went here the last two weekends. It was HOT...and I don't mean the machines. There's also a distinct pissy smell. I don't know if it's the carpets or the seats but it's disgusting either way. Also they allow people to reserve machines indefinitely by simply turning the chair around. I have seen machines stay unoccupied for hours because the seat is turned around....the disgruntled loser probably left the premises. Very stupid policy which causes arguments and ill feelings. Two stars because the food is very good.....

Visited the Fair Grounds for Jazz Fest 2017 and had a wonderful experience. Lots of space for vendors to setup, plenty of space for stages needed for the artists performing, and although there were no restrooms found...there were port-a-potties everywhere. This is a wonderful place to have an event such as the Jazz Fest. I would recommend taking uber or if you're lucky, you'll find parking on a residential street. Great first time experience!

If you have not already clued in to it UBER is the way to go in NOLA. Especially to the Fairgrounds. A ride from the track to Brennans cost around $14 in a cab it would have been close to $20 Pick up is a snap to as the track is with it enough to create and UBER area. Nice job!!! The track was packed -- it was busy in LA Derby day. They added more food stations than last year another nice move. The food could still be better -- but downstairs adjacent to the paddock area it is way better than upstairs. I am sure that was just for the Louisiana Derby. All in all a great day at the track

It's a good time. Been here for Exotic Races, and now Weiner Dog Races, (Also Jazz Fest). It's old, and has a great history. Food isn't much.

I have to say I am not a gambler except when it comes to horse racing. Although I hardly think my $20 I put in the machine for the day pushing it back in forth is gonna make them or myself much money I do ok. But what I love is I ride my bike over, enter for free, have a beer and enjoy the sunshine and the horses. Love being up close in the paddock area pickin which one I think is Purty and makin a bet. And they offer Groupons which give you entrance to the club house a program and a cheat sheet and then what you pay for the Groupon u get back in beer and food vouchers. Yes people it's more than just where they hold jazz fest. Come on out to the races and enjoy yourself.

My alumni chapter had a day at the races fundraising event on a Sunday. I was pleasantly surprised at this place. I had never gone to the races on a Sunday and ate at the buffet. It's a really nice getaway for a family to have a nice brunch or a cool day date. The horses are on the first floor but you can overlook the grounds from above. The food was great and so were the mimosas. Service was pretty good. I plan on going back soon. It is definitely something different to do on a Sunday.

This is a unique way to spend a relatively cheap day in New Orleans. Depending on you budget, you can eat, drink, and gamble as much as you want. Some of the food vendors here are actually pretty good. Drinks are not cheap and the lines are not short. Betting on the horses can be a fun way to pass the time whether you are a serious gambler with an addiction or just a novice looking at the cool horse names. Tips: Try to figure out the different ways of betting besides just picking a winner.

I'm not a gambler, so while I have been to the Fair Grounds race track dozens of times it has never been to try and make money. I love to watch the horses and to watch the people watching the horses. It is free to get into the stands, so you can go and have a reasonably good time without dropping so much as a dime. In addition to being a great place to people watch, the Fair Grounds is the site of the Jazz & Heritage festival each spring, which in itself is a great people watching endeavor. But, really, the best people watching at the Fair Grounds occurs on Thanksgiving day. Locals of all generations don their finest apparel and head-wear to participate in the tradition that goes back for decades. Since we live within walking distance, it is our family tradition to put the turkey in the oven and spend a few hours at the race track...just another reason I LOVE my city.

It's one of those places where you at least said you tried. If you're not a hard core horse racing fan it's a can be a long day at the track. We went to see the ostrich and camel race. Let's just say it's also a one and done event. I though camels would run faster. Food was pricey for pretty average food. The $9 burger was bland. The beans and rice was okay for $6. At least parking is free...

We went for the ostrich racing. I've been here multiple times for the horse races. My real only complaint was they weren't fully prepared for the rain, which was on the forecast. It was a nice little getaway but parking was ROUGH. Do not wear cute shoes, wear something comfortable!

Was just at the track to celebrate thanksgiving. We paid $125 per person to sit at a table in a space that was too small in the club house. The food was very sub par from our experience from previous years. The service was also sub par. You at least expect to has sliced turkey and ham which we did not have. We had something that was called turkey buried in gravy or at least that is what they called it. Instead of ham they had corn beef brisket. I think next year we will stay at home and eat some good food.

It's pretty cool that this is one of the oldest racing locations in the country, in use since 1852. New Orleans was a big horse racing town, with several tracks operating across the area. Vestiges of these tracks which were converted to other can be seen on a map, with the most famous being the Metairie Jockey Club. Once the epicenter of horse racing in the U.S., the Metairie track closed after the Civil War and became Metairie Cemetery. It's oval configuration reflects the old track. Jefferson Park was another track, now a residential subdivision with it's oval layout of streets belying its origin. Lafreniere Park in Metaire and the Gabriel Development in Kenner are both former sites of Jefferson Downs, which offered night racing until 1992. Does the Fair Grounds live up to the burden of carrying this enormous weight of equine history? Yes. Now owned by Churchill Downs, "da track" hosts three major Kentucky Derby qualifying stakes races, culminating in the $1 million purse Louisiana Derby. Special events like Starlight Racing make for fun outings, and a clubhouse table is a good choice for a Sunday or holiday dinner. The food, however, is kinda meh, they're known for their corned beef po-boys but the burgers and fried shrimp are pretty good but nothing to scream about. Service is great and they have wandering betting clerks who'll take your wagers right at the table which is very convenient.

Food choices are ok here. We had a pretty good Bloody Mary I enjoyed at the downstairs bar

Its the home of Jazz Fest, horse racing, a casino and lots of fun times. They have a grandstand with a clubhouse that often books bands along with multilevels of numerous little food booths, bars, and all manner of nooks and crannies to explore. This is also the epicenter of the popular NOLA Thanksgiving day tradition to eat, drink, and bet on the ponys. Some of the most fun times to be had here, other than Jazz Fest, are during the Starlight racing series.

I have been going to the track for most of my life living in the neighborhood. I loved the old wooden track and was saddened when it burned down. The new track has kind of grown on me but is nowhere near the culture of the old one. The facility is host to the Jazz and Heritage Festival in the spring that is always a world class event. As far as the races go since Churchill Downs took over the quality of the food has gone down including the famous corned beef poboy which is still a must have if your at the track. The best race days are Saturday and its still the cheapest way to entertain the family as on most days admission is free.

About a year ago, I went to the Fairgrounds for an actual race. It was part of a fundraiser so we had a buffet lunch and were up in the top part of the grandstand (can't remember the name for the level...maybe clubhouse). The food was really good but my group overwhelmed the bartenders and we ended up heading down to the next level to beat the crush. I needed a cocktail to help decide on which color horse or silk to bet on; I am so scientific. I was surprised at how into the racing I got. Learning who the jockeys and the horses were and where they were from was really fun. Prior to that trip, I've been to the Fairgrounds every spring since I was about 5 or 6 to attend Jazz Fest. The grounds are an excellent setting. I do miss the old grandstand though...stupid fires.

Track was just ok. Staff sucks major. Bathroom was clean so that's good. Bartender at the paddock was great, professional, energetic and nice. The screen on the track wasn't working. Who wants to see half a race not me.WASTE of time.

Thankfully, our friends have a suite, so we had a bird's eye view of the action, which was EXCELLENT for me as a 1st time guest to the Fair Grounds Starlight Races. Unfortunately, the suite manager for 5G was FAR less than welcoming to me & my friends. Her attitude was downright unprofessional and she treated the people of color (only) quite rudely. Aside from that one person, all else was really great. The venue is large; ample parking; well-appointed areas/seating for all levels of attendees; spacious preview area; lots of food/drink offerings at a reasonable price; and, dozens of staff members to help get you to your correct section. Great fun! I recommend valet parking at $20. Well worth it...especially when you've won at the races!!

Considering my current city doesn't have horse racing I have no room to be very picky. Overall the Fair Grounds was nice. I went for horse racing specifically. I didn't visit any other part of the facility, so this review is solely based on the horse racing. I went on Thanksgiving, which the fact that it's open on Thanksgiving makes this place awesome! Really enjoyed seeing the horses and watching the races on this special day. There were lots of options and places to bid either with a teller or self service machine. The area where they show the horses before the race is also well constructed and actually quite pretty. When you visit you can go in for free to the general admit area of pay $10 for the club level. I did the general admission and didn't love it. It was packed and I felt like people were too close for my comfort. I also just in general felt very anxious about germs there. While things didn't seem dirty, the place also didn't seem as clean as other tracks I've visited. The food and beverage areas were also poorly placed and the food options were things that lead to love handles and heartburn. I will visit again, but I will try the club level next time! Oh and they don't check your purse, so if you're a health nut like me and are coming just for the races - pack yourself some snacks!!

After hearing about the Thanksgiving tradition for years, my boyfriend and I finally went out this last year to see the races. It was so much fun! We definitely have a new Thanksgiving tradition. They have a few different dining options, and if you want to do the full Thanksgiving spread, buffet style, it's available. All your typical fairground foods are there as well: popcorn, giant pretzels, hot dogs, red beans & rice, you name it. People watching was so much fun, since everyone gets into the spirit of things and dresses up. Betting and watching the races was fun too! This is a great alternative to spending the day inside with your family on Thanksgiving!

The Fairgrounds are easily accessible and offer something for the family, partiers and the degenerate gambler. Thats quite the accomplishment. The races happen nearly every 45 minutes or so and if your the uninitiated, can be entertaining. If you're coming for the zebra / camel races, arrive LATE, because no matter what they publish they aren't racing until after 8:30 p.m. Great way to spend an afternoon/evening on a Saturday.

This place is great! I had never been here outside of Jazz Fest and was pleasantly pleased. They had lots of food and drink options and a bar in the back dedicated solely to Tito's Vodka. The facilities are large and can handle big crowds. The sound system is very loud and clear so you can hear all the announcements that are being made. After the races, they had a make shift night club to the side that was very entertaining. Drinks are decently priced and the music was very top 40. The crowd was definitely older but that was to be expected.

Much improved since they were purchased by the people who own the Kentucy Derby track. The best time to go here is opening day on Thanksgiving.

Yat Bettors All Cheer (Infield Small w/out Jazz Fest) Ostrich & Zebras #Haiku #NOLA_Haiku #FairGrounds #NOLA

Nice venue, very intimate. The racing fans were very friendly. Staff was ok, bartenders were very nice and welcoming, but the food concession people were lazy and didn't seem thrilled to be serving us. We went during the week, and no big races being run, so there was only 1 food concession stand open. It's small but feels like you are really part of the experience of racing. We had our 3 and 4 year old with us so we didn't make it to the casino. Will definitely go back, hopefully on a big race day.

Yet another place in NOLA that I had never been, until just recently. Today was the Zebra & Ostrich race. I knew my daughter would love it, so we decided to attend. Besides, what better place to spend a Saturday night than taking a 3 year old to a race track/casino?? Anyway, apparently the entire city had the same idea, because parking was a nightmare. When I first arrived, I found quite a bit of street parking, but decided not to park in a not-so-wonderful area with a small child. We waited for 30 minutes in the line to enter the parking lot, only to be informed that it was full. Boo! After driving around for another 10 minutes, and almost deciding to give up, I found myself a good spot reasonably close. The Fair Grounds was, of course, packed full of people for this event. However, it was easy to get around, well maintained, and lots of fun! It would be nice to have some sort of "betting for dummies" book on hand. We just pressed some buttons and made a bet. Luckily, you can just put your ticket back into the machine after the race to see if you won (we didn't). This is actually a good family activitiy, and a good value at $10 (kids free!).