The Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans, Louisiana hosts the annual Louisiana Derby, a Grade II American Thoroughbred horse race. The race takes place in late March and is open to three-year-old horses willing to run 1 3⁄16 miles on dirt. It offers a purse of $1,000,000.
The Louisiana Derby is one of the important prep races on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. The race's history dates back to 1838 when the first race was held at the "Louisiana Race Course" offering "The Louisiana Plate" as a prize. In 1894, the race was renamed the Crescent City Derby and later in honor of Louisiana, where the Fair Grounds Race Course is located.
Black Gold in 1924 and Grindstone in 1996, both winners of the Louisiana Derby, went on to win the Kentucky Derby. Risen Star, the winner in 1988, also became a "Dual Classic Winner" by winning the Preakness and Belmont Stakes. Mandaloun, sixth in the 2021 Louisiana Derby, was promoted to the official winner of that year's Kentucky Derby after the disqualification of Medina Spirit. The race's distance has varied over the years and since 2020 The Louisiana Derby has been run at 1 3⁄16 miles.