Dates for the 2025-2026 horse racing season have officially been set following uncertainty with licensing with Churchill Downs.
The Louisiana State Racing Commission held an emergency meeting in New Orleans on Tuesday, where the commission approved official horse racing dates.
Horses will run from Nov. 20 through March 22.
This comes after Churchill Downs reached an agreement to continue horse racing at the historic Fair Grounds in New Orleans.
The future of racing had been in question since Churchill Downs threatened not to renew its racing license unless it received a subsidy from Louisiana due to losses it claimed it suffered at the New Orleans facility.
Since the initial discussions, the state has stood firm that Churchill Downs would not receive public funding.
The two sides will continue to negotiate future options; however, horse racing will be held as normal in the fall and spring.
The racing season has traditionally started the week of Thanksgiving.
According to elected leaders with knowledge on the situation, Churchill Downs claimed a loss of revenue from historical horse racing machines at the track’s off-track betting facility has hurt its overall revenue.
Sources say revenue from those machines, which were deemed illegal years ago, and the slots at the track help to generate revenue for the Fair Grounds.
The Fair Grounds is one of the nation’s oldest horse racing tracks, having opened in New Orleans in 1837.
It was purchased by Churchill in 2004. According to public records, Churchill Downs is worth $7 billion.
READ MORE:Louisiana State Racing Commission approves dates for horse racing at Fair Grounds
