| Class: | Grade III |
| Horse Race: | Louisiana Stakes |
| Location: | Fair Grounds Race Course New Orleans, Louisiana, United States |
| Inaugurated: | 1942 (as Louisiana Handicap) |
| Race Type: | Thoroughbred - Flat racing |
| Distance: | miles (8.5 furlongs) |
| Surface: | Dirt |
| Track: | left-handed |
| Qualification: | Four-years-old & up |
| Weight: | Assigned |
| Purse: | $150,000 (2022) |
The Louisiana Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for horses aged four years and older over a distance miles on the dirt track held annually during the third week of January at Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Inaugurated on December 12, 1942, the first running of the Louisiana Handicap was won by Calumet Farm's 1941 U.S. Triple Crown winner Whirlaway. It would be the last race of Whirlaway's brilliant career and he was voted his second straight American Horse of the Year title.[1]
Since inception, the Louisiana Handicap has been run at two different distances:
The event was not held in 1944, 1948, 2005 and 2006.[2]
The event was renamed to the Louisiana Stakes in 2016.[3]
In 2020 the event was upgraded to Grade III.[3]
Speed record: (at current distance of miles)
Most wins:
| Year | Winner | Age | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Saudi Crown | 4 | Florent Geroux | Brad Cox | FMQ Stables | 1:43.20 |
| 2023 | Happy American | 5 | James Graham | Neil Pessin | Lothenbach Stables | 1:45.33 |
| 2022 | Mandaloun | 4 | Florent Geroux | Brad Cox | 1:42.52 | |
| 2020[4] | Blended Citizen | 5 | Florent Geroux | Brad Cox | Sayjay Racing, G. Hall & B. Hubbard | 1:43.29 |
| 2019[5] | Harlan Punch | 6 | Florent Geroux | Brad Cox | Front Row Racing, Ten Strike Racing, K. McReynolds & B. Miller | 1:45.05 |
| 2018[6] | Cedartown | 4 | Joe Bravo | Michael Stidham | Godolphin | 1:44.18 |
| 2017 | Hawaakom | 7 | Miguel Mena | Wesley E. Hawley | Smoot, Stephan H. and Hawley, Wesley E. | 1:44.01 |
| 2016 | International Star | 4 | Miguel Mena | Michael J. Maker | Sarah & Kenneth Ramsey | 1:44.44 |
| 2015 | Hard Aces | 5 | Jose Riquelme | J. Larry Jones | Dreamchaser Thorobreds | 1:44.61 |
| 2014 | Fordubai | 4 | Robby Albarado | Greg Geier | Jim Tafel | 1:43.37 |
| 2013 | Infrattini | 5 | Miguel Mena | Paul McGee | Z Thoroughbreds | 1:44.62 |
| 2012 | Thiskyhasnolimit | 5 | Shane Sellers | Steven Asmussen | Zollars/Wagner | 1:43.67 |
| 2011 | Recapturetheglory | 6 | Jamie Theriot | Louie Roussel III | Roussel/Lamarque | 1:43.41 |
| 2010 | Friesan Fire | 4 | Shaun Bridgmohan | Steve Asmussen | Vinery Stables & Fox Hill Farm | 1:43.39 |
| 2009 | Good And Lucky | 6 | Pat Valenzuela | Josie Carroll | James & Alice Sapara | 1:43.46 |
| 2008 | Silver Lord | 5 | Corey Lanerie | Steve Asmussen | Bowman Couch Racing | 1:43.61 |
| 2007 | Sandburr | 8 | James Graham | Mike Stidham | Fell The Thunder Stable | 1:45.10 |
| 2004 | Gigawatt | 4 | Brian J. Hernandez | Steve Flint | Steve Ramsey | 1:43.58 |
| 2003 | Spanish Empire | 4 | Eddie Martin, Jr. | Steve Asmussen | Jubilee Stable, et al. | 1:43.58 |
| 2002 | Connected | 5 | Larry Melancon | David M. Carroll | Alexander & Groves Revocable Trust | 1:44.82 |
| 2001 | San Pedro | 4 | Ray Sibille | Joseph E. Broussard | Richard F. Rudolph | 1:44.77 |
| 2000 | Guided Tour | 4 | Larry Melancon | Niall M. O'Callaghan | Morton Fink | 1:44.00 |
| 1999 | Neon Shadow | 5 | Willie Martinez | Ray Tamargo | Ray Tamargo | 1:43.60 |
| 1998 | Take Note of Me | 4 | Ray Sibille | Gene Cilio | B. Shipp & S. Holland | 1:43.60 |
| 1997 | Scott's Scoundrel | 5 | E. J. Perrodin | Paul Pellerin | Virgil Huskey | 1:44.00 |
| 1996 | Buck's Nephew | 6 | Randy Romero | P. Noel Hickey | Irish Acres Farm | 1:45.00 |
| 1995 | Buck's Nephew | 5 | Robby Albarado | P. Noel Hickey | Irish Acres Farm | 1:43.80 |
| 1994 | Fappiano's Star | 6 | Willie Martinez | Joseph O. Duhon | Melissa Meche | 1:44.00 |
| 1993 | Far Out Wadleigh | 5 | E. J. Perrodin | Ray Frederick | Wadleigh/Latino Racing Stable | 1:44.60 |
| 1992 | Erica's Dream | 4 | Kenny Bourque | Bobby C. Barnett | John A. Franks | 1:44.20 |
| 1991 | Majesty's Imp | 5 | Bobby Walker, Jr. | Sturgis Ducoing | Batarasan Stable | 1:47.60 |
| 1990 | Festive | 5 | Shane Romero | Thomas M. Amoss | John A. Franks | 1:45.80 |
| 1989 | The Flips Comin | 4 | Joe Judice | Sam Parise | B. Allen | 1:44.40 |
| 1988 | Under Orders | 6 | Shane Romero | Louie Roussel III | Louie Roussel III | 1:45.40 |
| 1987 | Royal Strength | 4 | Charles Woods, Jr. | Donald Winfrey | James Devaney | 1:48.60 |
| 1986 | Hopeful Word | 5 | Pat Day | Carl Bowman | Barrett M. Morris | 1:45.20 |
| 1985 | Silent King | 4 | Ronnie Franklin | Bud Delp | Hawksworth Farm | 1:43.20 |
| 1984 | Explosive Bid | 6 | Charles Woods, Jr. | Bud Delp | Hawksworth Farm | 1:44.80 |
| 1983 | Listcapade | 4 | E. J. Perrodin | Dewey Smith | Dorothy Dorsett Brown | 1:44.00 |
| 1982 | Aspro | 4 | Bobby Walker, Jr. | Bud Delp | James A. Bayard | 1:44.40 |
| 1981 | Sun Catcher | 4 | Alonzo Guajardo | Dianne Carpenter | Sundance Stable | 1:43.20 |
| 1980 | A Letter To Harry | 6 | Randy Romero | John T. Oxley | Estate R. F. Salmen | 1:45.20 |
| 1979 | Dr. Riddick | 5 | L. J. Durousseau | Frank L. Brothers | A. Stall | 1:45.40 |
| 1978 | Prince Majestic | 4 | Eddie Delahoussaye | Dewey Smith | Dorothy Dorsett Brown | 1:44.80 |
| 1977 | Soy Numero Uno | 4 | Ray Broussard | Homer C. Pardue | Joseph R. Straus & Izzy Proler | 1:42.40 |
| 1976 | Master Derby | 4 | Craig Perret | Smiley Adams | Golden Chance Farm | 1:43.20 |
| 1975 | Hearts of Lettuce | 5 | Allen LeBlanc | Louie Roussel III | Robert Azar | 1:43.40 |
| 1974 | Tom Tulle | 4 | Craig Perret | Jere R. Smith | W. Arthur Lofton | 1:43.40 |
| 1973 | Guitar Player (DH) | 5 | Phil Rubbicco | Jack Van Berg | M.H. Van Berg Stable Inc. | 1:45.20 |
| 1973 | List (DH) | 5 | Jimmy Nichols | Alcee Richard | Dorothy Dorsett Brown | 1:45.20 |
| 1972 | List | 4 | Jimmy Nichols | Alcee Richard | Dorothy Dorsett Brown | 1:44.40 |
| 1971 | Bon Bon | 4 | Nelson Menard | W. R. Harp | Clover S Farm | 1:43.60 |
| 1970 | Etony | 5 | Phil Rubbicco | George Geier | Gray & Schmieds | 1:44.40 |
| 1969 | Irish Dude | 5 | Sandino Hernandez | Jack M. Bradley | Richard W. Taylor | 1:45.00 |
| 1968 | Diplomat Way | 4 | Leroy Moyers | John O. Meaux | Harvey Peltier | 1:43.80 |
| 1967 | Florida Value | 4 | Richard Winant | John Dupuy | H. S. Cohoon | 1:43.80 |
| 1966 | Blue Murder | 6 | Robert Lee Baird | Sam Parise | R. V. Stockton | 1:44.80 |
| 1965 | Charolero | 6 | Glynn Bernis | John O. Meaux | T. Allie Grissom | 1:48.20 |
| 1964 | Shoot Luke | 4 | Dennis Ward | Odie Clelland | Mrs. J. M. Branham | 1:46.60 |
| 1963 | Hoop Bound | 6 | William Skuse | Clifford Scott | Mrs. Clifford Scott | 1:45.40 |
| 1962 | Orleans Doge | 4 | William Skuse | William J. Resseguet | W. J. Resseguet & Ben Weiner | 1:45.80 |
| 1961 | Road House | 4 | Sandino Hernandez | Joseph H. Pierce, Jr | Wilson & Allen | 1:46.40 |
| 1960 | Tenacious | 6 | Ray Broussard | John B. Theall | Dorothy Dorsett Brown | 1:44.80 |
| 1959 | Tenacious | 5 | Ray Broussard | John B. Theall | Dorothy Dorsett Brown | 1:45.20 |
| 1958 | Tenacious | 4 | Ray Broussard | John B. Theall | Dorothy Dorsett Brown | 1:44.00 |
| 1957 | Speed Rouser | 5 | Johnny Heckmann | Harold C. Hoffman | Dr. Sidney H. Babbitz | 1:46.20 |
| 1956 | Ja Ja | 4 | Ralph Borgemenke | Larry H. Thompson | Alamode Stable | 1:48.60 |
List of American and Canadian Graded races