Oaklawn Park Race Track
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| Location | 2705 Central Avenue Hot Springs, AR 71901, United States |
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| Coordinates | Coordinates: 34°29′06″N 93°03′26″W / 34.484999°N 93.057096°W |
| Owned by | Oaklawn Jockey Club, Inc. |
| Date opened | 1904 |
| Race type | Thoroughbred |
| Course type | Dirt |
| Notable races |
Apple Blossom Handicap (G I) Arkansas Derby (G I) Oaklawn Handicap (G II) Fantasy Stakes (G II) Rebel Stakes (G II) Southwest Stakes (G III) |
| Official website | |
Oaklawn Racing & Gaming, formerly Oaklawn Park Race Track is an American thoroughbred racetrack in Hot Springs, Arkansas. It is the home to The Racing Festival of the South.
In 2013, the Horseplayers Association of North America introduced a rating system for 65 thoroughbred racetracks in North America. Of the top ten, Oaklawn was ranked #7.
Oaklawn Park officially opened on February 24, 1905. More than 3,000 people attended as a holiday had been declared in Hot Springs. During these early years the track only ran six races a day, similar to British cards. Political problems in the state forced the closure of Oaklawn in 1907. During this time of closure, the track was sold to Louis Cella as the original business partners had both died. The track reopened in 1916 under the auspices of Business Men's League of Hot Springs.
In 1918, Louis Cella died and the ownership of the track was transferred to his brother, Charles. Following this transfer the track was open and closed periodically because of vagaries in the state's political climate.
In the 1929 Arkansas legislative session, a bill to allow horse racing and parimutuel betting tied in the state House of Representatives. The only Republican member of the state House at the time, Osro Cobb of Montgomery County, had been out of the chamber when his name was called. Therefore, upon his return Cobb cast the tie-breaking vote to allow racing and betting at the track.
In the 1930s, the track and "Spa" combined attracted many horse racing fans. In 1935, Oaklawn increased purses to become competitive with the best tracks across the country. The first Arkansas Derby was run in 1936 for a purse of $5,000. By this time the track ran a thirty-day race meeting. On October 29, 1940, Charles G. Cella died and the presidency of Oaklawn transferred to his son, John G. Cella (1909-1968). In 1941, purses again hit a record for the largest purses in Oaklawn history. By 1943, the Arkansas Derby had a purse of $10,000. Unlike most American tracks Oaklawn stayed open in 1944, but World War II caught up with Oaklawn Park, and the track was closed in 1945.
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