Fair Grounds To Open Five Finish Line Off-Track Betting Locations Wednesday.

NEW ORLEANS -- Fair Grounds Race Course will open five of its Finish Line off-track betting locations on Wednesday, Oct. 26, Fair Grounds President and General Manager Randall Soth announced today. Four of the OTBs reopening also offer video poker.

The Finish Line OTB locations in Covington, Elmwood, Houma, LaPlace and Thibodaux will be the first to open since Hurricane Katrina struck southeast Louisiana nearly two months ago.

"We are pleased to be able to return simulcasting and video poker for our fans at these five locations," Soth said, "especially with the Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships coming up next weekend."

The Breeders' Cup, generally considered racing's Super Bowl, is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 29, at Belmont Park in New York. Wagering on Breeders' Cup day will be available at all five locations.

All locations will feature afternoon and evening simulcasting and all except Covington will again feature video poker.

Hours at the Elmwood, Houma and LaPlace locations are 8 a.m. until 1 a.m. Sunday through Thursday and 8 a.m.-3 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. Thibodaux's hours are 8 a.m. to midnight Sunday through Thursday and 8 a.m. to 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday. Covington will open every day except Tuesday from 11 a.m. until the end of simulcasting.

Fair Grounds Race Course, the nation's third-oldest Thoroughbred racing facility, has been in operation since 1872. Located in New Orleans, Fair Grounds is owned by Churchill Downs Incorporated (Nasdaq: CHDN) and also operates off-track betting parlors in southeast Louisiana. In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, Fair Grounds will conduct a 37-day meet at Harrah's Louisiana Downs in Bossier City, La., from Nov. 19, 2005, through Jan. 22, 2006. Information about Fair Grounds can be found on the Internet at www.fairgroundsracecourse.com.