Bet on the New Orleans Handicap
This tradition rich race contested at a mile and an eighth at Fairgrounds Race Course in New Orleans has been run since 1924 and annually features the best older horses in the country. The $500,000 purse and late-March timing of the race have made this classic a logical starting point for horsemen looking to campaign their stars in the handicap division. Mineshaft won the New Orleans Handicap during his 2003 Horse of the Year season and 2013 Belmont hero, Palace Malice, impressed in the 2014 renewal while making the second start of his four year-old season.
New Orleans Handicap Racebooks
Betting a great race like the New Orleans Handicap becomes an even better wagering experience when bettors pick the right racebook. We’ve studied the rebates, sign-up bonuses, and wagering platforms offered by each of the major racebooks you can find below.
| # | Site | DEPOSIT BONUS AND CASH BACK | SITE LINK | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 |  | $250 Free Bet on Props + Head-to-Heads | BET! | |
| #2 |  | 50% up to $1,000 + $25 Risk Free Bet + 7% Rebates | BET! | |
| #3 |  | Up to 13% Weekly Loyalty Rewards | BET! |
* REMINDER! - you must be of legal age in your state or province to legally wager on thoroughbred or harness horse racing. Please bet responsibly!
New Orleans Handicap Betting Odds
Win or lose, Bovada sweetens the deal by issuing weekly rebates for all your plays. Straight wagers like win, place, and show receive a 3% rebate, and you’ll earn a whopping 5% rebate on all exotic wagers. Bovada also offers a generous 50% sign-up bonus for all new users up to $250 for use on prop and head to head bets.
2016 New Orleans Handicap Contenders
Always a great race on the Louisiana Derby card at Fair Grounds, the 2016 New Orleans Handicap features a pair of runners whose careers have included racing toward Triple Crown glory over the past two seasons. At one point considered a strong favorite for the 2015 Kentucky Derby, after sweepng all three preps at Fair Grounds, International Star (3-1 ML) had to skip the big race due to injury. He has struggled to regain last season's form, but does have a minor stake score to his name this year. The favorite in the morning line at 2-1 is the lesser known Eagle, first or second in all of his last six starts, but without a win at the graded-stakes level in his career. Also in the field at 20-1 is 2014 Triple Crown contender Ride On Curlin, second in the 2014 Preakness Stakes behind the great California Chrome. More likely to be in the mix at 4-1 is Majestic Harbor, who beat the top two choices here last out in the Mineshaft Handicap.
Entries and ML Odds
1) International Star (3-1)
2) Stormdriver (20-1)
3) Jessica's Star (12-1)
4) Majestic Harbor (4-1)
5) Coup de Grace (15-1)
6) Ride On Curlin (20-1)
7) S'marvelous (20-1)
8) Mobile Bay (8-1)
9) Freestyler (6-1)
10) Eagle (2-1)
Did you know?
Mapping out the right path to the Breeder’s Cup is the ultimate goal for most trainers and owners of major race horses. Along with the Donn Handicap at Gulfstream Park and the Santa Anita Handicap, the New Orleans Handicap is a key early season destination for horsemen eager to knock off the winter layoff rust from their charges and get them back to competing for major, graded stakes purse money. Palace Malice followed up his scintillating 2014 score with an impressive win in the prestigious Metropolitan Mile on the Belmont Stakes undercard.
In addition to stars like Mineshaft and Palace Malice, the New Orleans Handicap has been won by horses like Graydar (2013), Battle Plan (2010), and Macho Again (2009) – each of whom were top rated horses in the handicap division. Graydar and Battle Plan were both trained by Todd Pletcher with each highly touted horse failing to reach the Breeder’s Cup in the aftermath of their New Orleans triumph due to career-ending injuries. Since 2007, Pletcher has won the New Orleans six times – more than any trainer in the history of the race. Five different jockeys won those six races with Garret Gomez repeating in 2008 and 2011.