Bob Wisener | Stories

Dettori flies in for Oaklawn rides Friday Beware of the flying dismount if you're at Oaklawn Friday.That's a clue that jockey Frankie Dettori is coming to town.The 52-year-old native Italian is a fixture in European and some North Ame... March 29, 2023

Basketball, racing see big changes What if they held an NCAA Final Four that no one watched because no one knew any of the participating teams?The tournament in progress, down to four teams after starting with 68 in mid-March, evokes s... March 28, 2023

Arkansas Derby favorite has Baffert connection The Rebel Stakes winner is missing, but the Feb. 25 outcome casts a giant shadow over the oldest and richest race at Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort.The place and show horses and fifth-place finisher of ... March 27, 2023

Isn’t she lovely? Key of Life takes Purple Martin It was just another day in paradise at the races for Brad Henry Cox, like so many lately and likely to come for the trainer.Five days from his 43rd birthday, Cox won important races in two jurisdictio... March 26, 2023

Oaklawn envisions 11 Derby starters Last seen locally on New Year's Day, Angel of Empire likely gets a chance to duplicate his sire's 2017 success in the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby.Although none of the three local Kentucky Derby pre... March 26, 2023

Severe weather halts Friday’s Oaklawn card Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort canceled its last two live races Friday because of severe weather in the area.It was the first weather-related races lost at the track since Feb. 4-6, 2022, following a ca... March 25, 2023

Bird watching: Six enter $150,000 Purple Martin Hand it to the filly: Four of a kind for Klassy Bridgette would come after cashing another big pot at Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort today.The meet's first of two three-time winners, Army Mule's... March 25, 2023

Hogs played better team, that’s all Eric Musselman stayed in his shirt Thursday night as his basketball team got exposed.A parting thought from the NCAA West Regional was that the Arkansas Razorbacks, like star-crossed lovers Rick and I... March 25, 2023

NY minute: ‘I think we see Willis (Reed) coming out’ One last time, Donald Trump and Willis Reed graced the back (lead) sports page of a New York City tabloid.The former U.S. president stays in the news, racking up billable hours from a myriad of lawyer... March 23, 2023

Derby Day at Oaklawn could prove wildest ever Don't look ahead any more than you might do a week before the richest and oldest race of the Oaklawn season, but Arkansas Derby Day could be especially chaotic at 2705 Central Ave.That's par f... March 22, 2023

Buildings get taller as UA presses on Fear not, Arkansas vs. Connecticut in the NCAA round of 16 does not require dealing with Kemba Walker, Emeka Okefor or Richard Hamilton, UConn stars in other years.Nor will Jim Calhoun, coach of the s... March 21, 2023

Who’s sorry now about UA season? Whether it's Richard Nixon on prime-time TV or an Arkansas sports writer rapping in print a team loved by his readers, admitting a public mea culpa is no joy.You might think after more than 40 yea... March 20, 2023

‘Twist’ and shout in Whitmore With one horse leading and another closing fast in the stretch, Chris Hartman could feel cozy about winning the Whitmore Stakes Saturday at Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort.Edge to Edge got the jump over ... March 19, 2023

Last Samurai good again for Lukas Darrell Wayne Lukas' golden years are becoming like those of TV star Betty White, who died less than a month before what would have been her 100th birthday. Lukas gets around slower, walking with ... March 19, 2023

Oaklawn veterans spice G3 Essex Last Samurai graced Arkansas horse owner Willis Horton's golden years. At age 5, he is defending champion of two graded stakes at Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort.Malibu Moon's son seeks his secon... March 18, 2023

Whitmore, HOF members in spotlight In its third century of existence, Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort -- what the track on Central Avenue in Hot Springs is now called -- has enough stories to sustain an historian. The track today offers t... March 18, 2023

Favored McPeek colt takes 4-year-old debut Two Triple Crown horses last year returned as 4-year-olds Thursday with Smile Happy first and Creative Minister fourth in the $106,000 allowance feature at Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort.Ken McPeek trai... March 17, 2023

Hogs could get Self, Jayhawks In second round Texas has never won an NCAA basketball championship -- the Abe Lemons-coached 1978 Longhorns grabbed an NIT crown when the New York tournament was still big -- but has reached the status of live long ... March 15, 2023

Zebras douse hopes of hoop crown for LH Lake Hamilton's worst fears materialized in the Class 5A boys championship game Thursday night. The real Pine Bluff Zebras got off the bus at Bank OZK Arena.The night before, one saw school buses ... March 14, 2023

Lost season for UA hoops running out Nolan Richardson walked off the court at Frank Erwin Center in a game against Texas that the Razorbacks rallied to win. Eddie Sutton left the Arkansas bench one road game and sat in the stands beside ... March 13, 2023

Secret Oath takes Azeri, and with something left Not much on opening statements, Secret Oath's closing argument Saturday was one that Perry Mason might have been proud to deliver in court.The unofficial horse of the meeting in 2021-22, the reign... March 12, 2023

Oaklawn honors state HOF members Clyde Hart is known for other things, as befits him, but being Michael Johnson's only track coach is a good place to start.The 400-meter dash winner at the 1996 and 2000 Summer Olympics learned un... March 12, 2023

Oscar night still grand after all these years One watches the Super Bowl and the Academy Awards presentation without fail for the same reasons, no matter which teams are playing or which films you might not have seen are nominated.The unscripted ... March 12, 2023

G2 Azeri matches top-level winners If Secret Oath never wins another race, her fans have much to remember with a great deal happening at Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort. Winless since the first Friday of last May, Arrogate's daughter immo... March 11, 2023

Local owner extends meet lead with win Jerry Caroom was asked how it felt to lead Oaklawn owners in races won, whether his run of success would continue and where he might place a championship trophy if he receives one May 6. The Hot Sprin... March 11, 2023

Change in Oaklawn announcer’s stand The new voice Oaklawn racing fans are hearing is familiar to many.Jim Byers, regular announcer for Lone Star Park outside Dallas, is replacing Vic Stauffer, whom Oaklawn said Thursday is no longer wor... March 10, 2023

Florida second boosts Fletcher’s Derby hopes With horses on two fronts and using different trainers, Arkansas horseman Frank Fletcher received good news from Florida one week after a mild setback in Louisiana. Rocket Can, Gulfstream Park's last-... March 9, 2023

Razorbacks far less than elite squad Never expected to say this, but ... Alexa, asking your help for Razorback basketball, while there's still time.A college friend strove for clarity when he described the ongoing efforts of Eric Mus... March 7, 2023

LH worthy of playing for rare title Growing up in northeast Arkansas, Sean Saunders developed a love for basketball unlike most sports writers I know or have worked with.A Jonesboro High graduate, he went from NEA to NWA (i.e, Fayettevi... March 6, 2023

Bailey finds key to once roguish Summer Shoes A one-time MMA fighter, Chel-c Bailey is making steady progress in her new line of work. Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort fans can attest after watching the jockey's first career stakes victory Saturd... March 5, 2023

Defenders favored in state-bred stakes A cooling-off at Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort was in order after Rebel Stakes weekend produced a $21-million all-sources handle. That 12-race card Feb. 25 featured the $1 million Rebel for 3-year-olds... March 4, 2023

Retelling Smarty saga once more Some stories, not all, age nicely in retelling. More actors than one can name have played Hamlet -- self-directed Laurence Olivier winning an Oscar -- and it matters not if the Dane can't make up ... March 2, 2023

Wolves vs. Parkview: One to watch Let's do it again.Wadie Moore Jr., longtime high-school editor of the Arkansas Gazette, led many a story that way when teams that played in the regular season met by chance in the state playoffs.T... March 1, 2023

Rebel winner back in Louisiana after Spa surprise Oaklawn's indoor paddock caused more problems for the Rebel Stakes winner than track conditions Saturday.Not the first horse to feel claustrophobic before saddling therein, Confidence Game lowered... February 28, 2023

Fantasy winner spins Carousel; ‘Birdie’ second It took a Fantasy Stakes winner to beat another fast filly here Saturday.Yuugiri won for the second time at the meet and third time in two years at Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort in the $150,000 Carouse... February 26, 2023

Wet Paint cuts it close in Honeybee Stakes Let not forget that before he became the last word in training Kentucky Derby contenders, Brad Cox won the Kentucky Oaks twice.In Louisville, the trainer's hometown, only one race is bigger than t... February 26, 2023

Confidence Game beats favorites in Rebel Stakes Keith Desormeaux has three less Kentucky Derby victories than brother Kent, a Hall of Fame jockey, but the trainer qualifies for frequent-miles on the road to the Triple Crown.In his 50s, the Louisian... February 25, 2023

Pletcher sends Repole filly in for Honeybee Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher, though more often seen in other racing-friendly locations, has a section devoted to Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort.The Texas native, whose father, J.J. Pletcher, trai... February 25, 2023

A-listers everywhere make Rebel a ‘must-see’ A horse with an ownership list lengthy as that of a law firm hopes to hang up a shingle worthy of the 149th Kentucky Derby.In the case of trainer Brad Cox, the line forms to the right. Entering Giant ... February 25, 2023

Track undercard brims with quality Race 3 today at Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort risks getting overlooked on the Rebel Stakes undercard. An upper-level allowance at a mile and one-sixteenth for older horses valued at $106,000, the eight... February 25, 2023

Asmussen reaches 10K mark at Oaklawn Steve Asmussen reached the Mount Everest of horse racing Monday with his North American record 10,000th victory as a professional trainer.Bet He's Ready, taking Race 5 on Presidents Day at Oaklawn... February 21, 2023

Homecoming: Cox fills hand for Derby 149 That Brad Cox alone might fill the Churchill Downs gate with horses for Kentucky Derby 149 remains a longshot on the order of the sun rising in the west or a Republican rebuking Donald Trump.With the ... February 21, 2023

Oaklawn winner honors an absent friend At entrytime, Wayne Lukas was represented in the Razorback Handicap by two older horses with Arkansas owners, men both good to the game and Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort.Circumstances prevented Caddo R... February 19, 2023

Young, old horses test skills at Oaklawn this weekend This is the kind of Oaklawn Saturday that fans come talking about seasoned veterans and leave enraptured with new discoveriesOlder horses get top billing, which they have earned, in the Grade 3 $600,0... February 18, 2023

Unwatchable at times, UA hoops goes on Perhaps seeking other viewing options, a family member points out that another Razorback baseball season is upon us.This was said during the second half of the latest Arkansas basketball game, making ... February 17, 2023

Calumet hero won and lost with true class If there are racing gods and a horseman's heaven exists, somewhere in the shade two Hall of Fame trainers are penciling in races for the sport's Ali and Frazier.Laz Barrera, the man who traine... February 16, 2023

Another big weekend for trainer Cox Arkansas automobile dealer Frank Fletcher is riding in style to Kentucky Derby 149.Graded winner Rocket Can and undefeated Oaklawn performer Victory Formation rank fifth and sixth in the National Thor... February 15, 2023

Razorbacks a hard team to get read on After peaks, valleys.Any better explanation from a week that Arkansas beat Kentucky and lost to Mississippi State in basketball, the road team winning both games?Possibly that Kentucky, which Arkansas... February 14, 2023

‘Klassy’ as they come: One Spa winner beats another Two local gals, meet winners at that, showed up two stakes-winning shippers Saturday at Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort.Klassy Bridgette became the first three-time winner in 26 days by a neck over Pate ... February 12, 2023

Burt Bacharach: a musical stayer A line from one of his 1980s songs, long after we knew the way to San Jose, may have best summed up Burt Bacharach's place in popular music."When you get caught between the moon and New York ... February 12, 2023

Stories by Bob Wisener

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