The Louisiana Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for horses aged four years and older over a distance 1+1⁄16 miles on the dirt track held annually during the third week of January at Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Inaugurated on December 12, 1942, the first running of the Louisiana Handicap was won by Calumet Farm's 1941 U.S.
It would be the last race of Whirlaway's brilliant career and he was voted his second straight American Horse of the Year title.
[1] Since inception, the Louisiana Handicap has been run at two different distances: The event was not held in 1944, 1948, 2005 and 2006.
[3] Speed record: (at current distance of 1+1⁄16 miles) Most wins: List of American and Canadian Graded races