1905-1940

1905

On February 24, Oaklawn presented its first racing card. A crowd of some 3,000 attended, Hot Springs Mayor John Belding having declared a half-holiday for the city. The presiding judge was Joseph Murphy. The first race at the new track was won by Duelist, owned by John W. Schorr, a prominent Memphis sportsman who would become America's champion owner in 1912 and again in 1914.

1906

Content and Minnie Adams were among active thoroughbreds at Oaklawn. The former would capture the Latonia Oaks at Latonia in Covington, Kentucky, later in the season; the latter would take the Cumberland Derby in Nashville, Tennessee. Another 1906 Oaklawn star was Batts, who the previous autumn defeated Early Boy, Brancus and others in the Clark Handicap at Churchill Downs. Among jockeys that Spa meeting was William (Bill) Obert, born in Brooklyn, New York in 1885. Obert's jockey career had begun in 1900 and didn't end until 1945.

1907

In an era when Oaklawn carded only six races per day, Jockey Herman Radtke rode 16 winners during a four day span in February. Radtke rode four of the six winners on February 20, 21, 22 and 23. It was considered America's greatest jockey feat of 1906. Radtke returned to Oaklawn in the 1940s, but as a pari-mutuels clerk.

1916

Racing resumed at Oaklawn. The track had been idle since 1907 because of political problems in the state. Track now owned by Louis Cella. Original owners Dan Strut and John Condon were dead. Meeting began March 11 under auspices of Business Men's League of Hot Springs.

1917

Old Rosebud, winner of the 1914 Kentucky Derby, was active at Oaklawn meeting, as was Pan Zareta, one of the greatest of America's mares with a record smashing 75 triumphs. They met on March 24 with Pan Zareta winning by a head over Colonel Vennie. Old Rosebud finished third. They met a second time, April 6. On the latter occasion, Old Rosebud won and Pan Zareta finished third.

1918

Riding title won by apprentice Earl Sande, who would become one if America's greatest jockeys ever. Louis A. Cella, 51, died in a St. Louis hospital, the victim of a stoke. He, his brother, Charles, and two partners, operated a number of tracks, among them, Oaklawn, Douglas Park and Latonia, in addition to earlier ones in New Orleans and St. Louis.

1919

The great gelding and subsequent Hall of Fame Member, Exterminator, made his first two starts of the campaign at Oaklawn. Then a 4-year-old, "Old Bones" won the Hotel Como Handicap on March 2, then captured the New Era Handicap, March 31. Exterminator, trained by Henry McDaniel, won 50 of 100 starts in a remarkable career.

1934

After several interruptions in which Oaklawn didn't have meetings because of the political climate, modern racing came to the Spa. Meeting opened March 1. A crowd of 5,000, including Mayor Leo P. McLaughlin attended in the rain. Leading rider was Maurice (Moose) Peters, who won the national title that year.

1936

Purse distribution jumped from an average $2,465 the previous year to $3,248. Favorites won at a rate of 35 percent and the horses Lynx Eye and Whiz- zaway became household names with Spa fans. This was the first meeting in which Oaklawn raced under a racing commission. The chairman was H. W. Highfill of Blytheville. The members were J. H. Graves of Judsonia, Tom Compton of Prescott, Ed Gordon of Morrilton, Col. C. F. Armistead of Fayetteville, Douglas Hotchkiss of Hot Springs and Dr. P. H. Phillips of Ashdown.

1937

J. T. Clayman's Sequoia won the first race, March 16, at 108-1. Sequoia combined with the second race winner, Immersal, for $2 Daily Double worth $1,230.30.

1938

The 2-year-old, Oddesa Beulah, owned by the Oddesa Farm of J. B. Jones and trained by C. H. Smith, established an Oaklawn three furlongs mark of :34 2/5 on March 7. The daughter of Wise Counsellor returned on April 1 to win going a half mile and equal Tuleyries Lin's standard of :47 flat. Oddesa Beulah won 10 of her 15 starts that season, including the Lafayette Stakes at Keeneland and the Shaker Heights at Thistledown. On March 17, one daily double ticket was sold that combined the winners Peggy Torch and Miss Firefly. It paid $6,002.00, an Oaklawn record for many years.

1939

Oaklawn meeting developed into a banner 30 days for apprentices. No fewer than 10 youngsters rode their first winners. They were Dave Erb, under con- tract to Cecil Deahl, Patterson Milligan (J. C. Baumbach), Robert McDonald (Yancey Christmas), Roy Jack Flinchum (R. S. Byrum), Raymond J. Jones (J. D. Rodriguez), George Martin (C. J. Martin), William Prehm (Otto Bagley), Arnold Soren J.C. Ellis), Elmer Thomas (C. N. Finch) and Samuel Weisman (W. D. Buck).

1940

The Chicago-owned Stable of Mrs. Emil Denemark enjoyed an outstanding Spa season. In mid-March the stable won the feature race four days in a row, scoring with Finance, Savitar, Court Dance and Melodist. On March 30, the stable's Super Chief and Colorado Ore finished first and second in the $5,000-added Arkansas Derby. So strong was the stable that, aside from Mrs. Denemark being the leading owner of the 30 day season, its trainer, Dave Womeldorff, won the training title and its jockey, Jack Richard, was the leading rider. Charles Cella, president of Oaklawn, died October 29 in St. Louis. He was 65 and had been in racing 48 years. His son, John G., and grandson, Charles J., would later head the track.