Louisiana Derby was 9f from 1898 to 1987. Why they changed it to 8.5f I never understood. Used to be, it wasn't unusual for a horse to run in both the Mid-South Derbies before heading north for their final prep.
Since they are restoring race distances, why don't they put the New Orleans Hcp back to 10f? There isn't a major race for classic-type older horses in the eastern part of the country in the winter anymore, since Gulfstream deep-sixed the GP Hcp by reducing it to a mile.
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