Oaklawn on track to produce exciting live meet

The Sentinel-Record/Richard Rasmussen TIME TO SHINE: Oaklawn Park maintenance employee Dequan Haywood cleans a box in the grandstand at the facility Monday. Fifty new box seats were added after the 2017 meet wrapped up.
The Sentinel-Record/Richard Rasmussen TIME TO SHINE: Oaklawn Park maintenance employee Dequan Haywood cleans a box in the grandstand at the facility Monday. Fifty new box seats were added after the 2017 meet wrapped up.

The 114th live race meet at Oaklawn kicks off Friday with a special 12:30 p.m. first post.

The 57-day season is highlighted by $30 million in total purses and 31 stakes races.

According to Wayne Smith, general manager of Oaklawn Racing and Gaming, the increased purses from $28 million in 2017 have caught the attention of new horsemen from across the country.

"At $30 million in purses, that puts us at roughly $500,000 a day," Smith told The Sentinel-Record. "With that comes new trainers to Oaklawn, new jockeys to Oaklawn and new owners."

One hundred and eighteen trainers have been awarded stalls for 2018, with 18 of those trainers new to Oaklawn. Additionally, 36 jockeys have applied for licenses, 11 of which are new.

"This is an exciting time of year for Hot Springs," Visit Hot Springs CEO Steve Arrison said. "This could be the best racing season we've seen in a long time having some of the best horses and horsemen coming here."

According to a news release, Oaklawn's 2018 promotions begin right out of the gate with the traditional 50-cent corned beef sandwiches and 10-cent soft drinks Jan. 13, the first Saturday of the season and continue through the holiday weekend with an Oaklawn Cap Giveaway on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

This is also the day Oaklawn launches its rich 3-year-old stakes program that culminates with the $1 million Arkansas Derby with the $150,000 Smarty Jones Stakes.

"It's interesting, when Oaklawn begins, it's a whole different level of energy in Hot Springs," said Benny Baker, president of the Downtown Association of Hot Springs. "The economic impact when it begins is amazing. Every corner of the city and county feels the impact of Oaklawn, and it's always interesting reviewing the license plates."

Baker, director of sales for the Arlington Resort Hotel & Spa, said rooms are already filling up for the coming weekend.

"We could potentially reach 100 percent capacity for the weekend," he said. "I believe we are approaching that magic number, and I would have to assume that other lodging throughout town is reaching that, as well.

"We're all excited about Oaklawn and what it offers our visitors and our local community."

According to the release, on Presidents Day the 3-year-olds will take aim at the $500,000 Southwest Stakes and the older horses go head to head in the $500,000 Razorback Handicap (G3), a race that produced likely 2017 Horse of the Year Gun Runner last season. Oaklawn will be giving away money after each race Feb. 18 in the Progressive Cash Giveaway starting with $2,000 after the first race on through the 9th race when $10,000 is given away.

One of Oaklawn's most popular promotions of the live racing season, the Boat and Truck Giveaway, returns April 7. Guests can begin registering for the contest March 17, $900,000 Rebel Stakes Day, and must be present April 7 to win.

For the second straight year, Oaklawn will be offering the Show Bet Bonus, which makes the easiest wager in racing more profitable and fun for on-track guests only. With this bet, the payoff on show wagers made at Oaklawn will be higher than the payoff on the same show wager made off-track or through ADW services.

Gates open every promotion day at 11 a.m. with first post at 1 p.m.

Oaklawn's 2018 live meet runs Jan. 12 through April 14 on a Thursday to Sunday basis. Gates open every race day at 11 a.m., except Arkansas Derby Day when gates open at 10:30 a.m.

Local on 01/09/2018

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