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Oaklawn Racing and Gaming today announced plans to build an expansion project in excess of $100 million that includes the construction of a high-rise hotel, multi-purpose event center, a larger gaming area, and additional on-site parking. The project is one of the largest hospitality investments in the history of Arkansas. “This historic announcement represents a [...]
In an effort to continue supporting and promoting Thoroughbred racing and the encompassing industry, the keynote address at the National HBPA’s annual convention in March of 2019 will be a panel of representatives from the recently established Thoroughbred Idea Foundation. The non-profit Thoroughbred Idea Foundation (TIF) was formed earlier this year to create an active [...]
Oaklawn President Louis Cella and Larry Snyder Jr., son of Larry Snyder along with family members. (Photo courtesy Oaklawn) It’s going to be a season of firsts at Oaklawn in 2019 and among the new additions set to debut when the track opens Jan. 25 is the Larry Snyder Winner’s Circle. For the [...]
Oaklawn, the track with the highest purses in the Midwest, has released the first issue of its condition books for the first live season that extends beyond its signature Arkansas Derby Day. The cover of the condition book carries the most important message to horsemen throughout the nation—“STAY UNTIL MAY”—while the interior pages give [...]
One of the richest Thoroughbred race meets in North America will now offer two $1,000,000 Kentucky Derby prep races and two additional signature races. Oaklawn, which earlier this year announced a significant change to its race dates, turned it up another notch today when it announced that both the Arkansas Derby (G1) and the Rebel [...]
Photo by Coady Photography Record-setting Arkansas Derby (G1) and Rebel Stakes (G2) days contributed to an 11% increase in total handle during Oaklawn’s recently concluded 2018 live season. An estimated crowd of 64,500 turned out April 14 to watch Robert and Lawana Low’s Magnum Moon remain a perfect four-for-four with his impressive victory [...]
The track with the highest purses of any winter-spring race meet in the country is making the most significant change to its racing schedule since World War II. In 2019, Oaklawn will open Friday, Jan. 25 and run through Saturday, May 4, three weeks after the $1 million Arkansas Derby (G1). Other than 1945 when [...]
Photo by Coady Photography Total pari-mutuel handle on the March 17 10-race Rebel Day card at Oaklawn was a record for March and a non-Arkansas Derby Day, eclipsing marks set from last year’s corresponding program, despite one fewer race. According to figures released Saturday night by the track, total handle was $10,771,984.46, with [...]
Purse records keep tumbling at the track with the richest purses in America between January and April. Starting with the March 17 Rebel Stakes card, Oaklawn will implement the second increase of the season, the 18th straight year the Hot Springs track has bumped purses at least once during a meet. Overnight purses will be [...]
The 2019 Arkansas HBPA Board of Directors election is coming up and nominations close April 7, 2018. If interested, please contact the Arkansas HBPA office before that date Ballots will go out in October.