Dear Readers:

The Times has been hinting about its most recent contribution on the topic of antebellum turfman Duncan Kenner, and its piece titled “Diligent Restoration: The renovation and remarkable history of Ashland-Belle Helene plantation” is included in the Fall 2017 issue of Louisiana  Cultural Vistas magazine. The article details the history of Ashland, Kenner’s former plantation home located in Ascension Parish, Louisiana, and its 2015 renovation by Shell Chemical Company.

The piece is not available for reading online, but the magazine can be found in Louisiana bookstores and through the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities at KnowLouisiana.org.

Fair Grounds Racing Club Update: Club filly Efforting, who spent most of the summer in Northern Louisiana resting on the farm, is now back in training at Fair Grounds to prepare for the upcoming meet that opens on November 18th.

Since the Times‘ last post, Excitations has raced twice. His return to the track after his second place finish at Saratoga in the Amsterdam was far less successful, however, for he fought the Parx track on Pennsylvania Derby Day in the Gallant Bob Stakes and finished ninth of 10 runners.

Trainer Al Stall, Jr., entered Excitations to race on October 18th in a 6 1/2 furlong allowance race at Keeneland. We are pleased to report the colt finished second, beat by a length by Petrov, the third-place finisher in the Gallant Bob. Excitations is currently training with Stall at Churchill Downs and is pointed toward the Thanksgiving Handicap at Fair Grounds on November 23rd.

Today the Times learned that Al’s father, Al Stall Sr., former chairman of the Louisiana Racing Commission and Thoroughbred owner, passed away this morning in New Orleans at age 85. According to the Daily Racing Form, Stall was responsible for introducing turf racing, racing on Sundays and exotics betting to the local race tracks.

As an owner he found success with his filly Lady Vi-E, who in 1970 won the Kentucky Oaks, placed second in the Fair Grounds Oaks and finished third in the La Troienne Stakes for three-year-olds (now the Eight Belles Stakes) at Churchill, and his four-year-old gelding Combat Ready won the New Orleans Handicap in 1973.

We wish our sincerest condolences to the Stall family. The Times will also provide an update in advance of the next Fair Grounds races for both Efforting and Excitations.

Thanks for reading!
Editor
Antebellum Turf Times