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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.
Veteran jockey agent Scott Hare said in late February that for a while he thought he was representing riders at Emerald Downs, a joking reference to the track located near Seattle, noted for being one of the country’s rainiest cities. Hot Springs couldn’t be far behind in 2018. According to the National Weather Service in [...]
The richest purses in the Midwest just got richer. Effective Saturday, Feb. 17, Oaklawn is increasing all allowance and maiden special weight races by $3,000. Allowance races will range from $79,000 to as high as $83,000. Maiden special weight races will increase to $78,000 from $75,000. In addition, all claiming races and maiden claiming [...]
The agenda is set and the excitement is building for the 17th annual Track Superintendents Field Day at historic Oaklawn Park. The event is open to all track superintendents and staff. “We welcome and urge tracks to invest in sending your team,” states event founder Roy Smith, “the information shared and the industry networking [...]
Farrell (Photo by Coady Photography) Farrell, Streamline and Terra Promessa are among the early probables for Saturday’s $150,000 Bayakoa Stakes (G3) for older fillies and mares, Oaklawn co-stakes coordinator Lenny Rera said Sunday morning. The 1 1/16-mile Bayakoa is Oaklawn’s second of three major two-turn preps for the $700,000 Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) [...]
Sports betting and its possible effects on horse racing. Stemming the dearth of backside employees. Horses’ inadvertent exposure to recreational and prescription medications. Needing solutions, not just funding, for Thoroughbred aftercare. Where the trainer absolute-insurer rule stands. Horsemen as citizen marketers. Those are among the discussions taking center stage at the National HBPA Convention, March [...]