The New Orleans Classic Stakes is a Grade 2 American Thoroughbred horse race for horses aged four and older, contested over 1 1/8 miles on the dirt at Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans, Louisiana. It is one of the premier older-horse events of the Fair Grounds meet and serves as a major highlight on Louisiana Derby Day.
The 2026 New Orleans Classic Stakes is scheduled for March 21 at Fair Grounds Race Course, carrying a purse of $500,000 and run over 1 1/8 miles on the main track.
In the 2025 New Orleans Classic Stakes, Touchuponastar delivered a powerful performance to win the Grade 2 event over 1 1/8 miles on dirt. The race regularly attracts top older runners and has produced horses that go on to compete in major Grade 1 contests later in the season.
| Year | Winner | Jockey | Trainer | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Touchuponastar | Timothy Thornton | Jeff Delhomme | 1:48.10 |
| 2024 | Red Route One | Joel Rosario | Steven M. Asmussen | 1:49.14 |
| 2023 | West Will Power | Flavien Prat | Brad H. Cox | 1:47.95 |
| 2022 | Olympiad | Junior Alvarado | William I. Mott | 1:47.74 |
| 2021 | Chess Chief | Luis Saez | Dallas Stewart | 1:49.24 |
| 2020 | By My Standards | Gabriel Saez | W. Bret Calhoun | 1:50.27 |
