Does Arkansas Have Horse Racing?

Horse racing is incredibly popular across the United States, but few states have housed as many iconic moments as Arkansas.

The sport is incredibly popular in the region, with the first racing in the area dating back to the early 1900s. Racing continues to be a hugely popular social event in the region to this day, with many families and friend activities focusing around a day at the track.

Therefore, it is no surprise that Arkansas still plays host to some of the most prestigious racing events on the calendar.

However, the only place to watch and wager on the sport in the area can be found in the form of Oaklawn Park Racing and Casino Resort. But, you can find out about the historic venue and some of the most famous moments to have taken place at the track here.

Early History

Oaklawn Park was opened to the public in February 1904, and the city’s love for the sport was immediately apparent after the opening day at the track was declared a holiday to mark the occasion. Opening day at the track in Hot Springs saw over 3,000 people attend, with the early inspiration at Oaklawn Park taken from British racing, with just six races being staged per race days.

However, the track has also endured its issues, as it was closed in 1907 due to political problems in Arkansas. Due to both original business partners having passed away, the land was sold to Louis Cella, before it was eventually reopened in 1916 by the Businessmen’s League of Hot Springs.

Two years later, Cella passed away, leaving Oaklawn to his brother, Charles. Political issues once again threatened the track over intermittent periods over the next couple of years, before racing was legally allowed following legislative sessions in Arkansas in 1929.

Golden Period

Following the legalisation of racing in the 1920s, Oaklawn Park would enjoy a formidable period of success throughout the 30s. It would quickly become known as the best racing venue in the United States, and increased purchases would ensure that some of the world’s best horses would be in action at the track in Arkansas.

One of the first notable races to be added to the annual schedule came in 1936, as the Arkansas Derby was run for the first time. It was also during this period that the track would begin to host 30-day meetings during the season.

Purse money would continue to increase throughout the 1940s, with the 1043 edition of the Arkansas Derby being worth a staggering $10,000. However, the start of the Second World War saw the closures of many tracks across the United States. Despite this, Arkansas remained open up until the cancellation of the 1945 spring season.

Post-War Success

Following the Second World War, attendance figures and purses once again set records, with the season extended to 43 days in 1961. This marked the longest season Oaklawn put on throughout history.

The success of the track was reflected in 1962 when it ranked as the fifth-highest in terms of profit making tracks in North America. Top Kentucky Derby prospects would soon target races at Oaklawn Park in 1965 when the Arkansas Derby took higher rank on the calendar.

There would also be huge Oaklawn targets for the fillies on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks after the Fantasy Stakes was added to the calendar for the first time in 1973. It was during this period that the Racing Festival of the South was staged for the first time.

Renovation work at Oaklawn was completed during the 1970s, enhancing its rank among the best tracks in North America. The good times just kept coming for the track, as the 1983 season saw Oaklawn set an all-time handle record of $168,740,923.

Slump But Re-emergence

Like all good things, the prosperity at Oaklawn Park finally came to an end in the 1980s, with the fortunes beginning to decline. That was reflected after betting at the track declined by 8.1% in the 1984 season.

A key reason for this was due to the removal of Sunday racing from the Oaklawn calendar. You can check here how betting works: https://www.twinspires.com/edge/racing/wagering/

But, still, historical moments would occur at the Arkansas track. Notably, in 2004 a $5 million bonus was offered to a horse that could sweep their three-year-old stakes races. Smarty Jones would achieve that feat, before later landing the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs.

Another superstar three-year-old also made their first steps to immortality at Oaklawn in 2015 when American Pharoah started his season with wins in the Rebel Stakes and Arkansas Derby. The three-year-old would eventually win the Triple Crown in his Eclipse award-winning season.

American Pharoah’s dominance at the track was celebrated prior to the start of the 2018 season, as Oaklawn unveiled a life-sized sculpture of the dominant superstar along with his usual jockey Victor Espinoza.