The Pan Zareta Handicap is an American Thoroughbred

Thoroughbred

The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...

 horse race run at the Fair Grounds Race Course

Fair Grounds Race Course

Fair Grounds Race Course, often known as New Orleans Fair Grounds, is a thoroughbred racetrack and racino in New Orleans, Louisiana. It is operated by Churchill Downs Louisiana Horseracing Company, LLC....

 in New Orleans, Louisiana

New Orleans, Louisiana

New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...

, each winter. An ungraded

Graded stakes race

A graded stakes race is a term applied since 1973 by the American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to thoroughbred horse races in the United States and Canada to describe races that derive their name from the stake, or entry fee, owners must pay...

 stakes, the Pan Zareta is a 6 furlong

Furlong

A furlong is a measure of distance in imperial units and U.S. customary units equal to one-eighth of a mile, equivalent to 220 yards, 660 feet, 40 rods, or 10 chains. The exact value of the furlong varies slightly among English-speaking countries....

 sprint

Sprint (race)

Sprints are short running events in athletics and track and field. Races over short distances are among the oldest running competitions. The first 13 editions of the Ancient Olympic Games featured only one event—the stadion race, which was a race from one end of the stadium to the other...

 open to fillies

Filly

A filly is a young female horse too young to be called a mare. There are several specific definitions in use.*In most cases filly is a female horse under the age of four years old....

 and mares

Mare (horse)

A mare is an adult female horse or other equine.In most cases, a mare is a female horse over the age of three, and a filly is a female horse age three and younger. However, in Thoroughbred horse racing, a mare is defined as a female horse more than four years old; in harness racing a mare is a...

 four years old and up. The race offers a $100,000 purse.

This race is named in honor of the Hall of Fame

National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame

The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame was founded in 1950 in Saratoga Springs, New York, to honor the achievements of American thoroughbred race horses, jockeys, and trainers...

 racing mare, Pan Zareta

Pan Zareta

Pan Zareta, was a chestnut Thoroughbred racehorse born in the United States in 1910. She competed from Mexico to Canada, as well as in eight U. S. states. While she never won a significant race, and only once beat a top-level horse , she was still called "Queen of the Turf."Bred by J. F. and H. S...

 who is buried in the infield of the Fair Grounds alongside another horse, Black Gold

Black Gold (horse)

Black Gold was an American Thoroughbred racehorse that won the 50th running of the Kentucky Derby in 1924....

. Both of these horses died at the track, Black Gold while racing, and Pan Zareta in her stall on Christmas Day.

Past winners

Winners since the beginning of the new century are:

• 2011 - Beautician (Julien Leparoux
  Julien Leparoux
  Julien R. Leparoux is a Champion jockey currently racing in the United States.Leparoux, grew up in a racing family, the son of a jockey turned assistant trainer. He worked at the Chantilly Racecourse as a stable hand and in January 2003 emigrated to California to work as an exercise rider for...
  
  )
• 2010 - Double Expresso (James Graham)
• 2009 - Precious Kiss (J. Jacinto)
• 2008 - Graeme Six (Julien Leparoux
  Julien Leparoux
  Julien R. Leparoux is a Champion jockey currently racing in the United States.Leparoux, grew up in a racing family, the son of a jockey turned assistant trainer. He worked at the Chantilly Racecourse as a stable hand and in January 2003 emigrated to California to work as an exercise rider for...
  
  )
• 2007 - Mykindasaint (Gerard Melancon
  Gerard Melancon
  Gerard Melancon is an American jockey in Thoroughbred horse racing. On April 19, 2007 he won the 3,000th race of his career at Evangeline Downs in Lafayette, Louisiana.-Year-end charts:...
  
  )
• 2006 - (Cancelled due to Hurricane Katrina
  Hurricane Katrina
  Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
  
  )
• 2005 - Souris
• 2004 - Handpainted
• 2003 - Fuse It
• 2002 - My Brent's Diamond
• 2001 - Hallowed Dreams
• 2000 - Steal a Heart