The 153rd racing season at the Fair Grounds will begin on Friday at the historic race course in Gentilly. A look at some top trainers to watch at the 2024-2025 meet:

Brad Cox

The two-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer of the year won four consecutive leading trainer titles at the Fair Grounds from 2016 to 2020. Cox won the 2024 Louisiana Derby with Catching Freedom and swept the Road to the Kentucky Oaks series last season with Alpine Princess in the Untapable Stakes, West Omaha in the Silverbulletday and Tarifa in the Rachel Alexandra and Fair Grounds Oaks.

Cherie Devaux

One of the up-and-coming trainers in the sport, DeVaux’s stable continues to gain notoriety and add elite connections. She won her first Breeders Cup title this year with More Than Looks in the Mile and will also have one of the top older turf colts at the meet in Brilliant Berti, who won the Grade III Bryan Station at Keeneland earlier this year. 

Steve Asmussen

The sport’s winningest all-time trainer, Asmussen has been a mainstay on the Fair Grounds back side for decades. He has won 10 leading trainer titles since 2000, most of any trainer. The Texas native once again has been a mainstay n the Fair Grounds backside for decades and will again be a factor in both the Fair Grounds Oaks and Louisiana Derby trails.

Ken McPeek

The Kentucky native has become a regular at the Fair Grounds after moving his stable from Florida to New Orleans a few years ago. McPeek won the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks last year with Mystik Dan and Thorpedo Anna, who came back to win the Breeders Cup Distaff last month. McPeek is always a factor on the Kentucky Derby trail.

Shane Wilson

The Louisiana native won the meet’s training title for the first time last year with 50 victories and more than $2 million in earnings. Wilson was a former assistant for trainer Sam David and became the primary conditioner for leading owner Evelyn Benoit’s stable last year.

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Nov. 19: 2024-2025 Fair Grounds meet preview

Nov. 20: 5 Horses to Watch