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Razorback Handicap Purse Boosted

Oaklawn Park has increased the purse for the March 12 Razorback Handicap by $25,000 and the 1 1/16-mile race for 4-year-olds and older will now be worth $125,000.

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.

J P's Gusto, Other Southwest Contenders Work

The track at Oaklawn Park was busy Feb. 14, with some of the top contenders for the Feb. 21, $250,000 Southwest Stakes (gr. III) turning in their final workouts.

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.

Oaklawn Cancels Thursday Card

Oaklawn Park has made the decision to cancel live racing for Thursday, Feb. 10 after another snow storm hit Hot Springs on Wednesday.

Oaklawn to Add a Race Per Day; Essex Feb. 13

Oaklawn Park, which has lost six full race cards because of weather since the beginning of the meet, will increase the number of daily races from nine to 10 beginning with its Feb. 10 program.

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 Park Cancels Racing Friday

A winter blast, which has affected most of eastern half of the U.S., has kept temperatures at or below freezing since Tuesday has left Oaklawn Park unsuitable for racing.

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.

For One Race, Oaklawn Announcer Steps Away

Oaklawn Park track announcer Terry Wallace stepped away from the microphone for the fifth race Jan. 28, ending a streak of calling 20,191 consecutive races at the Arkansas track.

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.

Caleb's Posse Rounds Up Smarty Jones Stakes

McNeill Stables' Caleb's Posse scores at a mile in possible prep along Arkansas Derby trail

Grant Jack Headlines Smarty Jones

Martin Luther King Jr. Day feature pits Grant Jack against six 3-year-olds; race is first leg of Oaklawn's trail to the Triple Crown.

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.

Former Trainer Johnnie Johnson Dies

Johnnie Johnson ran his public stable in Kentucky, Arkansas, and Illinois. He later became a race official at Oaklawn Park.

Larry Jones Un-Retires; Heading to Oaklawn

Larry Jones, who had been among America's leading trainers the past decade, announced Nov. 11 that he will officially come out of self-imposed retirement.

Pros, Cons of Instant Racing Aired in KY

A public hearing designed to gauge public opinion about a proposal to permit "Instant Racing" type wagering in Kentucky became a faceoff between representatives of the state's horse industry and the Family Foundation.

Recommendations Made for Prairie Meadows

An executive with Oaklawn Park has recommended that the lines of communication between horsemen and upper management be improved at Prairie Meadows.

CDI to Handle Oaklawn Park's Simulcasting

Churchill Downs Incorporated and the Oaklawn Jockey Club have entered into a simulcast services agreement whereby CDI would purchase and sell simulcast content on behalf of Oaklawn Park.

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.

Zenyatta Makes it 16-for-16 in Apple Blossom

Zenyatta tied Citation and Cigar with her 16th consecutive win April 9 in the $500,000 Apple Blossom Invitational (gr. I), blowing past her four rivals under Mike Smith at Oaklawn Park for another easy victory.

HRTV to Offer Live Coverage From Oaklawn

HRTV will offer onsite coverage April 9 and 10 for the Apple Blossom (gr. I), featuring unbeaten champion Zenyatta, and the $1 million Arkansas Derby, a key Kentucky Derby prep race.

Zenyatta Faces Only Four in Apple Blossom

Compared to what it was supposed to look like, the field for the April 9 Apple Blossom Invitational Handicap (gr. I) is a major disappointment. A field of only five, led by undefeated two-time champion Zenyatta, was drawn.

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.

Keeneland Again Tops HANA Racetrack Rankings

Keeneland in Kentucky has again finished number one in the Horseplayers Association of North America track ratings released April 1.

Win Willy in Top Form Entering Oaklawn 'Cap

Win Willy, a sharp winner in the Razorback Handicap (gr. III) last month, will try for his fifth victory at Oaklawn Park when he faces six in the $500,000 Oaklawn Handicap (gr. II) April 3.

Another Purse Raise at Oaklawn

Just two days after announcing a unique participation incentive designed to increase field size during the final 11 days of the racing season, and less than a month after an initial bump, Oaklawn purses are on the rise again.

Oaklawn Announces Participation Bonus Program

In an effort to maximize field size during the final days of its season, Oaklawn will once again offer a unique participation incentive for all overnight races beginning March 26, and lasting through the end of the season.

Apple Blossom Diary: March 10 - 12

Steve Haskin's personal diary as preparations begin for the Apple Blossom.

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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.

Apple Blossom Receives 45 Nominations

As expected, 2009 Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra and two-time champion Zenyatta were chief among the 45 fillies and mares nominated to the $5 million Apple Blossom Invitational (gr. I) at Oaklawn Park April 9.

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.

Gone Astray Sets Sights on Razorback

Gone Astray will make his season debut March 6 in the $150,000 Razorback Handicap (gr. III) at Oaklawn Park and face a good field that includes 8-year-old Jonesboro, who won the 1 1/16-mile event back in 2008.

Oaklawn Announces Purse Increases

Increases include a $500 increase for claiming races, and $2,000 for maiden special weight and allowance events. No purse at Oaklawn will be less than $15,500 for the remainder of the 2010 meet.

50,000 Trading Cards to Promote Apple Blossom

In one of the first promotions for the Apple Blossom Invitational (gr. I), Oaklawn Park, the Hot Springs (Arkansas) Convention and Visitors Bureau is printing 50,000 trading cards of Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta.

Conveyance Uncatchable in Southwest

Zabeel Racing International's Conveyance remained undefeated in four starts, as he sprinted to an early lead then held off late bids from Dublin and Cardiff Giant to win the $250,000 Southwest Stakes (gr. III) Feb. 20

Southwest Redraws; Dublin Gets Post 3

The $250,000 Southwest Stakes (gr. III), which was rescheduled for Feb. 20 after frigid temperatures in Hot Springs forced its cancelation on President's Day, redrew a field of 10 -- the same horses from its original field.

Beyond the Money

Is Charles Cella 'overpaying' to bring Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta together?

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Oaklawn Park Cancels; Southwest on Feb. 20

The Monday, Feb. 15, Presidents' Day card at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Arkansas was cancelled following the fourth race due to cold temperatures and unsafe track conditions.

Tough Southwest Could Belong to Shipper

He isn't the most expensive horse in the Southwest Stakes, he hasn't raced at the track, and he ships in with a lack of two-turn experience. But he might just win this race.

Rachel Vs. Zenyatta Showdown is Back On

Oaklawn Park owner Charles Cella said the owners of both champions agreed Feb. 11 to run their horses in the Apple Blossom Invitational Handicap (gr. I) on a new date of April 9, for a $5 million purse.

Rachel Alexandra Won't Run in Apple Blossom

Jess Jackson said Rachel Alexandra won't run against undefeated champion Zenyatta in the Apple Blossom (gr. I), but he proposed a three-race series in which the two talented female runners would meet.

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.

$5 Million Lure to Get Rachel, Zenyatta

Oaklawn Park president Charles J. Cella has upped the purse of the April 3 Apple Blossom Handicap (gr. I) to $5 million provided champions Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta both start.

Oaklawn Park to Announce 'Race for the Ages'

Fueling speculation that it is setting the stage for a first-ever matchup between Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra and champion older mare Zenyatta, Oaklawn Park will announce "A Race for the Ages."

Storm Leads Racetracks to Cancel Programs

A broad winter storm and cold temperatures forced the cancellation of live racing in the East and Midwest Jan. 30.