Oaklawn Park race track is a one-mile thoroughbred track in Hot Springs, Arkansas. Oaklawn Park race track’s racing season is typically held from January to April. As Arkansas’ premier horse racing track, Oaklawn Park race track is host to the state’s biggest horse racing event - the Arkansas Derby.

Aside from the Arkansas Derby, other major stakes held at the track are the Essex Handicap, the Razorback Handicap, the Hot Springs, the Carousel and the Fantasy.

Oaklawn Park Race Track Info

Selected Oaklawn Park Race Track Records

Major Milestones in the history of Oaklawn Park Race Track

1905 - On February 24, Oaklawn Park Race Track opened its doors to horse racing enthusiasts. A crowd of some 3,000 attended as the day was declared a half-day holiday by Hot Springs Mayor John Belding. Duelest won the first race at the new track.

1907 - Due to political problems in the state, racing was suspended.

1916 - Racing resumed at Oaklawn. The track is now owned by Louis Cella.

1936 - The Arkansas Derby was born with a purse $5,000. First winner was Holl Image.

1945 - Racing throughout the United States ended for an indefinite period at the request of War Mobilization Director James F. Byrnes. However, the ban was lifted May 9 of the same year. A 30-day season was held on November 5 through December 8 for the lost Spring season. On opening day, an estimated crowd of 4,200 attended, and $189,289 was wagered.

1952 - Oaklawn gained national attention when its handle rose from a daily average of $336,341 to $434,667. Attendance climbs from 7,057 a day to 7,739.

Oaklawn Park Race Track
Hot Springs, Arkansas

1959 - The Meeting reached two milestones when its averages reached 10,000 in attendance and $500,000 pari-mutuel handle.

1965 - Arkansas Derby purse increased to $50,000.

1970 - Records continue to be broken. During the 50-day meeting, a total crowd of 556,000 attended and bet $43,366,921. The averages were 11,120 and $867,338.

1973 - The first running of the Fantasy Stakes, for 3-year-old fillies, took place.

1974 - The Racing Festival of the South was born. The pari-mutuel handle for the meeting amounted to $80,199,719.

1980 - More than 250,000 fans attended the Racing Festival of the South. Temperence Hill won the Arkansas Derby.

1984 - The purse for the Arkansas Derby was increased to $500,000.

1986 - A record single day attendance of 71,203 saw Nancy and John Reed's Rampage win the Golden Anniversary running of the $500,000 guaranteed Arkansas Derby.

1991 - The Oaklawn Club was completely renovated.

1996 - Oaklawn Park race track achieved a record handle of $10,653,518 on Arkansas Derby Day.

2000 - Instant Racing, a pari-mutuel electronic system which allows players to wager on previously-run races, was introduced and field-tested at Oaklawn Park race track.

2002 - Oaklawn Park race track saw across-the-board increases in attendance and mutuel handle.