Louisiana Derby to get major upgrade

Horseracing Betting Lines

08/11/2009 - New Orleans, LA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Louisiana Derby is being given a purse increase and an extended distance for next year's running. Fair Grounds Race Course announced Tuesday that its major Kentucky Derby prep race will also be conducted just five weeks before the Run for the Roses.

The Louisiana Derby will have its value boosted from $600,000 to $750,000 and the distance will now be 1 1/8 miles, instead of 1 1/16 miles. The stakes for three-year-old Kentucky Derby hopefuls in the past was held seven weeks prior to the Kentucky Derby. It will be run in 2010 on March 27.

"We're excited about being the premier racing venue for our nation's best three-year olds when preparing for the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks." said Fair Grounds vice president and general manager Eric Halstrom in a release.

The Louisiana Derby is part of a three race series for three-year-olds at the Fair Grounds who are being pointed to the Run for the Roses. The other stakes events are the Lecomte and Risen Star Stakes.

For 2010 the Lecomte will be held on January 23 and the Risen Star will be run on February 20. The Lecomte will have a distance of a mile and 40-yards and the Risen Star will be contested over 1 1/16 miles. The $400,000 Fair Grounds Oaks for three-year-old fillies will Friday, March 26.

The Fair Grounds 2009-10 meet will be held from November 6 to March 28.

"Our racing staff is embarking on a new historic direction for the entire stakes schedule," Halstrom said in the release.

In an effort to bring the two leading thoroughbreds together, Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta, the Fair Grounds has created a stakes race for fillies and mares to be run six weeks after the Breeders' Cup. The new race will be on the track's main dirt track at 1 1/8 miles.

"Horse racing fans desire to see Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta race against one another, and we're no different," Halstrom said. "By positioning this new race six weeks after the Breeders' Cup World Championships and three weeks after Churchill Downs' Clark and Falls City Handicaps, it gives all parties involved something to consider and opens the door for further discussions. Anything further at this point would be premature and circumstances could be different in four months, but this new race gives us an option to dream."

The yet unnamed race is slated for December 19 of this year with a tentative purse of $100,000. The purse would be increased if the race attracts Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta.

Onlimesportsbook Horseracing Betting News

<< Wizards sign Oberto
Washington, DC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Washington Wizards on Tuesday signed free-agent forward/center Fabricio Oberto. The 6-foot-10 Oberto averaged 2.6 points and 2.6 rebounds in 54 games for San Antonio last season. He was dealt to

<< Around FCS: Scholarships overwhelm talk in PL
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Patriot League commissioner Carolyn Schlie Femovich was quick to emphasize the 2009 football season when she spoke during the conference's media day last week, which is typical of these events. But even th

<< Tymoshchuk to get chance at Bayern
Munich, Germany (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - New Bayern Munich signing Anatoliy Tymoshchuk could be set for an extended spell in the first team after captain Mark van Bommel's injury. The Dutch international picked up a toe problem in t

<< Stewart is now NASCAR's king of the road
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Tony Stewart's primary residence is in his hometown of Columbus, IN, but after winning at Watkins Glen International for a record fifth time, Stewart declared, "This is my house," referring to the 2.45-mile r

<< Murray reaches third round in Montreal
Montreal, QC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - U.S. Open runner-up Andy Murray was an easy second-round winner Tuesday at the $3 million Rogers Cup, an ATP World Tour Masters 1000 event. The third-seeded Murray handled rising Frenchman Jeremy Chardy 6-4,

Blackburn set to complete Kalinic deal >>
Blackburn, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Blackburn has been given the green light to complete the signing of Nikola Kalinic after the Croatia striker was granted a work permit. The 21-year-old has accepted a four-year contract with

Safina barely wins second-rounder in Cincy >>
Mason, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Top-ranked Russian Dinara Safina went the distance on Tuesday to win her second-round match at the $2 million Western & Southern Financial Group Women's Open. The French Open and Aussie Open runner-up Safina

Immelman withdraws from PGA Championship >>
Chaska, MN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Trevor Immelman has withdrawn from the PGA Championship because of a nagging wrist injury. The 29-year-old South African will miss his third consecutive major because of the injured left wrist, which he

Real's Pellegrini eyes trophy treble >>
Madrid, Spain (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Real Madrid coach Manuel Pellegrini believes his team can win a treble of Champions League, La Liga and Copa del Rey this season. Real have spent an astonishing 250million euros on the likes of Cristi

Braves activate Infante, demote Hernandez >>
Atlanta, GA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Atlanta Braves on Tuesday activated infielder Omar Infante from the 15-day disabled list and optioned rookie infielder Diory Hernandez to Triple-A Gwinnett. Infante has not played since May 20

Pro Football Odds : NFC SOUTH BETTING ODDS

NFL Sports Betting

NFL betting action is back! At MySportsbook, all of the pro football odds are posted for the NFC North. Check out how we see the four teams in this cloudy division stacking up this year in the chase for the playoffs! Green Bay Packers (+125) - With QB Aaron Rodgers leading the offense and DC Dom Capers working his magic on defense, the Packers are a real force to be reckoned with.

Virtually nothing changed on this offense for Green Bay from last year to this year, save for the addition of rookie OT Brian Bulaga to the bunch. Expect more huge numbers from the Pack, and a relatively favorable schedule should get them over the hump and into the playoffs once again this season. My NFL Betting Predictions: 11-5, 1st place in NFC North Minnesota Vikings (+130) - There are still too many unknowns about the Vikes this year. There is a huge difference between QB Brett Favre and either Tarvaris Jackson or Sage Rosenfels under center. Plus, is Favre comes back, is he really going to be able to keep his pick total under double digits again? Depth at running back looked like it might have been an issue with RB Chester Taylor fleeing in free agency, but drafting RB Toby Gerhart should pick up the difference. This defense is still suitable, but with a first place schedule, making the playoffs is going to be very tough regardless of whether #4 comes back or not.

There is a huge difference between QB Brett Favre and either Tarvaris Jackson or Sage Rosenfels under center. Plus, is Favre comes back, is he really going to be able to keep his pick total under double digits again? Depth at running back looked like it might have been an issue with RB Chester Taylor fleeing in free agency, but drafting RB Toby Gerhart should pick up the difference. This defense is still suitable, but with a first place schedule, making the playoffs is going to be very tough regardless of whether #4 comes back or not. Play this weekly NFL Football Contestto see if you can win.

Chicago Bears (+350) - The Bears are probably a bit of an overhyped team once again this year.No, we don't think it is plausible for QB Jay Cutler to have as bad of a season as he did last year, and we do think the additions of RB Chester Taylor and DE Julius Peppers are going to help immensely, but there's still something in the water in the Windy City that we aren't so sure about. Maybe Chicago finds its way to .500... but then again, maybe it doesn't. If Favre comes back, Cutler might be the worst quarterback in this division this year.

Detroit Lions (+1500) - The Lions are probably once again going to be the whipping boys for the rest of the teams in the NFC North, but they aren't just going to roll over and die once again. There is some real talent amassing on this team offensively, as the combination of QB Matt Stafford, RB Jahvid Best, WR Calvin Johnson, and TE Brandon Pettigrew should put a bunch of points on the board if the offensive line can even remotely hold up. The questions really lie on defense, where it feels like DT Ndamukong Suh is going to be trying to stop opposing teams all by himself. This year should show some marked improvement in the Motor City.

The Patriots will make NFL betting fans a lot of money this season, get in early and enjoy the cash.

NFL Betting

To visit this sportsbook go to MySportsbook.com for all your NFL football betting needs.