The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) announced that Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots in New Orleans has been fully accredited by the NTRA Safety and Integrity Alliance following a complete review of all racing operations at the facility. Fair Grounds is the 13th racing facility to be so designated by the Alliance.

Other accredited tracks include:

• Churchill Downs;

• Keeneland;

• Belmont Park;

• Delaware Park;

• Hollywood Park;

• Monmouth Park;

• Arlington Park;

• Saratoga Race Course;

• Calder Race Course;

• Turfway Park ;

• Del Mar Thoroughbred Club;

• Oak Tree and Santa Anita.

Pimlico Race Course was granted provisional accreditation in May.

The accreditation of Fair Grounds was the culmination of a lengthy certification process that began with the track's completion of a 48-page written application and continued as Fair Grounds hosted several meetings with Alliance officials. The on-site review included inspections of all facets of the racing facility, and interviews with track executives, racetrack personnel, jockeys, owners, trainers, stewards, regulators and fans. The inspection team was comprised of Celeste Kunz, DVM; racing official Richard Lewis; and Mike Ziegler, executive director of the NTRA Safety and Integrity Alliance