Pending approval from the Arkansas Racing Commission, Oaklawn plans to conduct its regular 57-day meet highlighted by four $1 million stakes races – $1 million Rebel Stakes (G2), $1 million Arkansas Derby (G1), $1 million Oaklawn Handicap (G2) and $1 million Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) – and the richest purse structure in its 117-year history. The 2021 season, which will be accentuated by the opening of a multi-purpose event center and a luxury 200-room hotel overlooking the track, is scheduled to run Friday, Jan. 22 – Saturday, May 1.

HOT SPRINGS, AR (Friday, May 1, 2020) – Peter J. Callahan’s Swiss Skydiver, despite her #1 ranking on the Kentucky Oaks Leaderboard, was overlooked at odds of 16-1, but this will probably be the last time her connections can cash a big ticket after she pulled away late to defeat 4-5 favorite Venetian Harbor by 2 ½ lengths in Friday’s $400,000 Fantasy Stakes (G3).

HOT SPRINGS, AR (Friday, May 1, 2020) – JRita Young Thoroughbred LLC’s Man In The Can proved he’s the best male Arkansas-bred at Oaklawn when he stepped up against older horses and won Friday’s $165,000 Arkansas Breeders’ Championship by a neck over 4-5 favorite KJ’s Nobility.

Trainer Todd Pletcher has won the Arkansas Derby a record five times and he’ll have two chances to increase that total when he sends out Gouverneur Morris and Farmington Road in Saturday’s split $500,000 Grade 1 race at 1 1/8 miles.

HOT SPRINGS, AR (Friday, May 1, 2020) – It’s not far-fetched to think that more than half of the 14-horse field entered in Saturday’s $600,000 Oaklawn Handicap (G2) will be among the starters in the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) Nov. 7 at Keeneland based on the quality of the field. There are 10 Graded stakes winners and 13 total stakes winners among the field.

Wells Bayou is running in a Derby on the first Saturday in May, just not the one at Churchill Downs. But for his local owners, the second division of the $500,000 Arkansas Derby (G1) is the next best thing.

HOT SPRINGS, AR (Thursday, April 30, 2020) – Oaklawn has split three of its four Kentucky Derby prep races once during the last decade, and so far it’s a split decision for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert.

Jockey Martin Garcia had a memorable Sunday at Oaklawn, and it included more than picking up two live mounts in upcoming major stakes races for Southern California-based trainer Bob Baffert.

HOT SPRINGS, AR (Wednesday, April 29, 2020) – Trainer Cecil Borel has a chance to go out a winner – maybe this time for good – when he sends out 5-2 program favorite K J’s Nobility against 10 scheduled rivals in the $165,000 Arkansas Breeders’ Championship Stakes for state-breds Friday at Oaklawn.

HOT SPRINGS, AR (Wednesday, April 29, 2020) – Horses from all parts of the country converging for Friday’s ninth race at Oaklawn isn’t a fantasy. It is the Fantasy, a $400,000 Grade 3 stakes race for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles that drew a full field of 14, including champion British Idiom and four Grade 2 winners.