Horses returned to the Oaklawn Park racing surface Wednesday while the Spa City received snow for the second time in three days.
"They got on track from about 9 to 11 in the morning," said David Longinotti, Oaklawn's director of racing. "And to be honest, I don't think it ever snowed enough to blanket the track."
The racing surface was closed for two days following Sunday's nine-race card, highlighted by the Grade 3 $300,000 Southwest for 3-year-olds. In advance of Monday's snowfall, more than 300 horses had timed workouts Sunday.
Live racing resumes today with a nine-race card starting at 1:30 p.m. Partly-cloudy skies with a high near 40 are forecast.
Fearing a freeze, track officials were more concerned with the expected overnight low of 22. Oaklawn has lost four racing cards to weather since Jan. 9 in a scheduled 57-day season, extending to April 11.
"If it stays around 30 degrees like last night, we should be ready to go," said Longinotti. "If it doesn't get too low in the 20s we should be set to run."
Entries were drawn Wednesday for two $75,000 stakes for Arkansas-breds on Saturday. The Downthedustyroad Breeders' drew 12 females and the Nodouble Breeders' attracted 14 males. Both races are six furlongs.
Hoop tryouts slated
Saturday at local club
Arkansas Red Storm basketball tryouts are scheduled at 3 p.m. Saturday at the Boys & Girls Club of Hot Springs, 109 W. Belding St.
Boys in grades 4 and 5 are eligible for the team forming.
MVSA shooting clinic
for women set March 7
Mountain Valley Shooters Association continues its beginners' program for women at noon March 7.
Entry fee is $20, and all guns and ammunitions are provided. For more information, email Bart Messina at [email protected].
OBU host tonight
to Battle of Ravine;
men's 200th meeting
With both women's basketball teams battling for a postseason berth, Henderson State and Ouachita Baptist meet at 5:30 today in the Battle of the Ravine at OBU's Vining Arena.
Henderson looks to sweep the season series after beating OBU 75-46 Jan. 22 at Wells Center. The Reddies (9-15 overall, 7-11 conference) lock up a spot in next week's Great American Conference tournament in Bartlesville, Okla., with a victory.
OBU is 10-15 overall and 6-12 in the conference. The series is tied 37-37.
The two Arkadelphia men's teams meet for the 200th time, OBU with a 102-97 advantage and winning eight of the last 11 meetings. The Tigers (19-4, 15-3) have secured the top seed in the GAC tournament but seek to avenge last month's 71-67 road loss to the Reddies.
Henderson (10-14, 7-11) must win its final two games to make the tournament.
Sports on 02/26/2015