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Good Weather Aids Business at Oaklawn Park

Oaklawn Park said overnight purses will increase $5,000 per day effective Feb. 9 because of improved business aided by good weather.

Pulpit's Son Ordained to Starfish in Arkansas

Ordained, a winning son of Pulpit, has been retired from racing to stand in 2012 at Dr. Linda A. Robbins' Starfish Stables LLC near Hot Springs, Ark.

On Fire Baby to Tackle Males at Oaklawn

Anita Cauley's 3-year-old filly On Fire Baby, winner of two grade II stakes at the 2011 Churchill Downs fall meet, is poised to challenge males in the $100,000 Smarty Jones Stakes Jan. 16 at Oaklawn Park.

Midwest Trainer Bob Holthus Dies

Bob Holthus, a veteran Midwest trainer, died the morning of Nov. 22 at his Louisville home.

Grade II Winner J Be K to Trophy Club

J Be K, a New York grade II winner, will stand at Richard Hessee's Trophy Club Training Center near Royal, Ark.

Wallace Gets Another Honor in Arkansas

Terry Wallace, who retired as Oaklawn Park's track announcer in June after 37 seasons of racing, will be among the 2012 class of inductees into the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame in February 2012.

Grade II Winner The Daddy to Trophy Club

The Daddy, winner of the Super Derby (gr. II), will relocate to Richard Hessee's Trophy Club Training Center near Royal, Ark.

Larry Sterling, Trained Vigors, Dies

Larry Sterling, who trained the great California closer Vigors, died July 27 in Hot Springs, Ark., after battling cancer.

'Voice of Oaklawn' Wallace Retires From Booth

Terry Wallace, who has called the races at Oaklawn Park in Arkansas for 37 consecutive years, will retire from that position but continue serving in other roles, the track announced June 16.

Richardson New Oaklawn Track Superintendent

Oaklawn Park has announced the appointment of Jamie Richardson as track superintendent for the Hot Springs, Arkansas track.

Kentucky Derby Interview - Jon Court

Lenny Shulman interviews Jon Court, jockey for Archarcharch.

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Purses Up at Oaklawn; Total Handle Declines

Oaklawn Park reported increases in attendance, pari-mutuel handle, and purses for its 2011 meet, which was impacted early on by weather-related cancellations.

Participation Bonus Returns at Oaklawn Park

For the third consecutive year, Oaklawn Park will offer a participation bonus from March 31 through the end of the meet on April 16 for all non-stakes races that draw more than eight wagering interests.

'McKinsey' Drug Report Revisited by Horsemen

As McKinsey & Company prepares for The Jockey Club a broad report on Thoroughbred racing, a horsemen's group has reviewed a medication study the company authored 20 years ago.

Horsemen's Groups Assess NTRA Membership Dues

Funding reductions for operations and benevolence brought on by horse racing's economic woes have led numerous affiliates of the National Horsemen's Benevolent and Protection Association to reconsider NTRA membership.

Wallace Named Arkansas HBPA 'Man of the Year'

Terry Wallace, the voice of Arkansas horse racing since 1975, was honored March 19 with the Arkansas Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association's Man of the Year Award for 2011.

Horsemen Told to Closely Guard Purse Accounts

Horsemen were told March 18 of the importance of keeping close watch of purse accounts, money from which sometimes ends up commingled with racetrack operating accounts or tangled in bankruptcy cases.

Oaklawn Park Raises Purses for Second Time

After getting the meet off to a bumpy start due to inclement weather, Oaklawn Park reported that improved weather led to larger crowds in February, resulting in the second purse increase.

Archarcharch Scores Upset in Southwest Stakes

Robert Yagos' Archarcharch finished first in a scramble in the grade III Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park Feb. 21 to earn his first graded-stakes victory and move forward on the Triple Crown trail.

Oaklawn Loses Eighth Program of Young Meet

Oaklawn Park again canceled live racing for Friday, Feb. 11, because of track conditions. It was the eighth cancellation of the young meet at the Arkansas racetrack.

Instant Racing Bill Passes Virginia Senate

The Virginia Senate has again approved legislation authorizing Instant Racing--wagering on historical races--but the bill's reception in the House remains uncertain.

Oaklawn Cancels Live Racing This Weekend

Efforts by Oaklawn Park to resume live racing were dealt a setback by more snow in Arkansas on the morning of Feb. 4 and the tack has canceled racing for Feb. 5-6.

Oaklawn Cancels Feb. 3 Card; Weather Cited

Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark., announced it has canceled its Thursday, Feb. 3, live racing program because of weather, but will remain open for simulcast racing and gaming.

Tracks Cancel Live Racing Due to Winter Storm

Citing a developing winter storm, Turfway Park in Florence, Ky., and Oaklawn Park in Arkansas have canceled live racing for Thursday, Jan. 20.

Oaklawn Park Forced to Cancel Jan. 14 Opener

Citing "lingering effects" from a six-inch snowfall last weekend and bitterly cold temperatures that have kept the track closed for training all week, Oaklawn Park has cancelled the Jan. 14 opening day of the 2011 meet.

Win Willy Hopes for Better Oaklawn Weather

A winter storm dumped about five inches of snow on Hot Springs, Ark., and forced the cancellation of training at Oaklawn Park Jan. 10, but improving conditions should produce temperatures in the 40s by opening day Jan. 14.

Zenyatta Bobblehead Giveaway at Oaklawn Park

Oaklawn Park will give a Zenyatta bobblehead doll to each paid admmission to the Hot Springs, Ark., racetrack on the Martin Luther King holiday card of Monday, Jan. 17.

Judge: Instant Racing Rules Under KHRC Valid

A Kentucky circuit court judge has ruled draft regulations for Instant Racing "are a valid and lawful exercise" of the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission's statutory authority.

Telling: A Longshot With a Tale to Tell

In 2009, things didn't look good for Telling from the start of the Emirates Airline Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. IT) at Santa Anita Park, where he finished a distant seventh, beaten 10 1/4 lengths by the winner Conduit.

Erceg Promoted at Oaklawn Park

Milena Erceg, who has more than nine years of experience in the racing industry, has been named the assistant director of mutuels at Oaklawn Park in Arkansas.

Oaklawn Park Announces $4.6 Million in Stakes

Oaklawn Park has announced a 32-stakes program totaling $4.6 million for the 56-day meet that begins Jan. 14, 2011.

Hall of Fame Rider John Sellers Dead at 72

Hall of Fame jockey John Sellers, who rode for more than 20 years, died July 2 at a nursing home in Fayetteville, Ark. He was 72.

Duke of Mischief Timely Winner at Oaklawn

Duke of Mischief made the right move at the right time to get the jump on favored Win Willy and hold him off late to win the $500,000 Oaklawn Handicap (gr. II) at Oaklawn Park April 3.

Blind Luck's Kick Too Much for Fantasy Foes

Blind Luck cemented her status as the one to beat in the Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) with an authoritative come-from-behind victory in the $300,000 Fantasy Stakes (gr. II) for 3-year-old fillies at Oaklawn Park April 2.

Instant Racing Called 'Competitive' Product

An executive with RaceTech, the company that produces Instant Racing machines, said the product has held up well against electronic games of skill at Oaklawn Park in Arkansas.

Lookin At Lucky Works, Headed to Oaklawn

Last year's champion juvenile male, Lookin At Lucky, is on schedule for his first start of the year, the March 13 Rebel Stakes (gr. II) at Oaklawn Park, after a workout at Santa Anita March 8.

Jayaramans Remove 25 Horses From Ice Barn

Summer Bird, last year's champion 3-year-old male, is one of 25 horses being transferred from trainer Tim Ice by Drs. K.K. Jayaraman and Vilasini Jayaraman. Ice currently is based at Oaklawn Park in Arkansas.

Dove Hunt to Trophy Club in Arkansas

Dove Hunt, sire of 21 stakes horses, will stand in 2010 at Richard Hessee's Trophy Club Training Center near Royal, Ark.

KY Lawmaker Pushes for Instant Racing Opinion

A Kentucky lawmaker has again requested an opinion from the state attorney general as to whether Instant Racing machines are legal under pari-mutuel statutes.

Oaklawn Stakes Purses Up for 2010

Purses may be down across the country, but stakes purses at Oaklawn Park will be higher in 2010 than they were in 2009 according to report on Arkansas Sports 360.com.

Hessees to Buy Kilkerry In Arkansas

Richard and Frances Hessee, owners of R & R Farms near Goliad, Texas, have purchased trainer Robert Holthus' Kilkerry Farm and Training Center near Royal, Ark.

Owner to Appeal It's a Bird Decision

An attorney for Edmund Gann said the owner will appeal a July 21 decision by the Arkansas Racing Commission disqualifying It's a Bird from his victory in the April 4 Oaklawn Handicap (gr. II) after the horse tested positive for the prohibited substance naproxen, an anti-inflammatory medication.

Portobello Road at Stud in Arkansas

Freddy Anderson plans to stand Portobello Road at his Anderson Farms near Malvern, Ark., next year.

Buckie Fires, Retired Outrider, Dies

Retired outrider Buckie Fires, who hails from a prominent racing family, died June 20 in Rivervale, Ark., from complications from breaking a hip.

It's a Bird Positive After Oaklawn Handicap

It's a Bird, winner of the Lone Star Handicap (gr. III) on Memorial Day, could lose the purse from his April 4 victory in the Oaklawn Handicap (gr. II) as the result of a positive test for the prohibited substance naproxen, an anti-inflammatory medication.

Proud Spell Will Miss Apple Blossom

Proud Spell will miss the April 4 Apple Blossom Handicap (gr. I) at Oaklawn Park in Arkansas, according to trainer Larry Jones.

Owner Charles Patterson Dead

Racehorse owner Charles Patterson of Little Rock, Ark., died March 8.

Professor Z Leads Smarty Jones Field

A special Monday race card at Oaklawn Jan. 19 features the second running of the Smarty Jones Stakes. The one-mile race will feature a talented field of 3-year olds that could stamp their ticket for a chance at the Arkansas Derby (gr. II), and maybe a shot at the Triple Crown.

Oaklawn Opens With Focus on 3-Year-Olds

Larry Jones might have one of the top Kentucky Derby (gr. I) hopefuls this year, and he plans to bring the horse to Arkansas.

Norman Awaits Formal Sentencing

Trainer Cole Norman is awaiting formal sentencing in Garland County Circuit Court after a jury recommended he serve six years in the Arkansas Department of Corrections and be fined $5,000 for his involvement in a fatal automobile accident in February 2007.