Fried shrimp, catfish and jambalaya will be given out to those in attendance, while supply lasts, for the Claiming Crown Saturday at the Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots. (Fair Grounds photo/Past The Wire collage)
Jennie Rees/National HBPA
NEW ORLEANS, La. — If it’s NOLA, it’s a party!
The Louisiana HBPA, in conjunction with the Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, is celebrating Saturday’s $1 million Claiming Crown in New Orleans fashion.
It all starts off with free seafood: 250 pounds of fried shrimp, 250 pounds of fried catfish and jambalaya available to those in attendance while supplies last starting at noon CT in the big tent on the racetrack apron in front of the Black Gold building.
Louisiana Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser, who also serves as commissioner of the Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation & Tourism, worked with the Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board to donate the shrimp. The Louisiana HBPA and Alabama HBPA are sponsoring the catfish and jambalaya, with Mr. Mudbug and 12 Seasons Catering out of Elmwood, La., cooking the seafood.
Weather permitting, Clear Creek Stud’s Val Murrell will have a pony in the grassy area nearby for kids to pet.
For Louisiana HBPA President Benard Chatters, it’s not a celebration without music, and he has lined up winning performers. Deejay Donald Fondel will be serving up foot-stopping tunes in the tent throughout the afternoon. Jonathon Bloom’s jazz band will play from 1-5 p.m. on the fourth floor of the clubhouse, with the Zulu Tramps’ Second Line wending their way through the clubhouse and grandstand starting about 4:45 p.m.
Laissez les bons temps rouler!
