2020 Media Guide
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2020 FACTBOOK A NEW LEVEL OF RACING January 24–May 2 1 MEDIA GUIDE TABLE OF CONTENTS 4 26 42 ABOUT OAKLAWN LIVE MEET STATISTICS TRAINER BIOGRAPHIES 6 28 48 BOARD OF DIRECTORS HANDLE & ATTENDANCE JOCKEY BIOGRAPHIES 8 30 54 SENIOR MANAGEMENT SEASON PURSE DISTRIBUTION OAKLAWN CHAMPIONS 9 32 58 RACING & CASINO MANAGEMENT SEASON CHAMPIONS 2020 STAKES SCHEDULE 10 34 60 OAKLAWN HISTORY OAKLAWN TRACK RECORDS OAKLAWN STAKES HISTORIES & CANCELLATIONS 22 36 94 COMING SOON TO OAKLAWN OWNER BIOGRAPHIES HORSES OF THE YEAR 3 ABOUT OAKLAWN ocated in the heart of history: Pan Zareta, Old Rosebud, schedules. Horses of the Year Cigar, Hot Springs National Park, and Exterminator – all members of Azeri, Zenyatta, Havre de Grace along L Oaklawn has been one of the the National Museum of Racing and with champions Bayakoa, Temperence premiere Thoroughbred racetracks in Hall of Fame. This began a tradition Hill, Will Take Charge, Accelerate, and the country since 1904, best known as of attracting the best horses in the most recently Mitole and Midnight home of the $1 million Arkansas Derby country to race in Hot Springs. Bisou have left their mark on Oaklawn. (G1). Founded by brothers Louis and And, while Oaklawn has become Today, Oaklawn is not just live Charles Cella along with John Condon synonymous with Triple Crown race racing. It also offers a casino, and Dan Stuart it wasn’t the first track success, especially over the past 15 sports book, year-round simulcast in Hot Springs, but by 1920, it was the years thanks to horses such as Smarty racing, and Oaklawn Anywhere, an only one. Jones, Curlin, American Pharoah, and advanced deposit wagering platform Oaklawn ran meets from 1905-1907 Creator, it has an even longer history for Arkansas residents. The casino before anti-gambling reform swept the of developing champions. features Blackjack, Craps, Roulette, state and closed the track until 1916. President Charles Cella created and slots, as well as the award- By the time it reopened for a reported the Racing Festival of the South in winning Silks Bar and Grill. Coming in 30-day season in 1916, Condon and 1974 as a way of showcasing the top 2020-2021 are an expanded casino, Stuart had died, leaving the Cella horses across all divisions and year luxury hotel, spa, pool, additional brothers in control. after year, the best horsemen in the restaurants, and multi-purpose event A little more than a decade after world put races like the Arkansas center. reopening, Oaklawn hosted three Derby (G1), Apple Blossom (G1), and of the most famous horses in racing Oaklawn Handicap (G2) on their 4 MEDIA GUIDE GENERAL INFORMATION VISITORS MAIN TRACK CONCESSIONS Oaklawn is open from late January through The track is a one-mile sandy loam oval with a There are 26 concession stands early May for live racing and year-round for six-furlong chute. The surface is 88% fine sand, throughout the facility. gaming, sports wagering, and simulcast racing. 7% silt, and 5% clay with a compacted clay base. It is 70 feet wide on the straightaways TOURS and 80 feet wide on the turns. The distance CASINO HOURS Oaklawn offers free barn tours during the from last turn to main finish line is 1,155 feet 8am - 4am Sunday - Thursday live meet as part of Dawn at Oaklawn every and the length of the “short stretch” used for 8am - 6am Friday - Saturday Saturday morning beginning Feb. 15 from one-mile races is 825 feet. *Holiday hours vary 7:30-9:30am. No reservations are required. PARKING TYPES OF GAMES RESTAURANTS Parking is $2 every race day and is available Oaklawn offers table games and slots/video Silks Bar and Grill, Bistro 2705, in the North, South and West lots. poker in various denominations. Carousel Restaurant, Post Parade Restaurant, and the Oaklawn Club. *New dining options coming in 2020 ADMISSION PRICES General Admission: Free Reserved Seats: $2.50 (Thurs & Fri) $4.50 (Sat, Sun, and Presidents' Day Monday) GATES OPEN 2020 RACE DATES Gates open at 11am every race day except opening day and Arkansas Derby Day when they open at 10:30am. PROGRAMS Programs are $2. TRACK KITCHEN Open to the public. Open 5am to 1 pm dark days and 5am until after the last race on race days. EMPLOYMENT Year round (full & part-time) - 694 Seasonal (full & part-time) - 1,033 TOTAL ACREAGE JANUARY 24 – MAY 2 Oaklawn covers approximately 200 acres of land. STABLE AREA CAPACITY Oaklawn has 41 barns and stalls for more than 1,560 horses. POST TIMES: 12:30PM – Jan 24, Feb 2, Feb 17, Mar 14, MECHANICAL EQUIPMENT United Tote Company and International Sound (teletimer, photo-finish and video production) Apr 11, Apr 18, May 1 & May 2 1:00PM – Saturdays TRACK PHOTOGRAPHER Coady Photography www.coadyphotography.com 1:30PM – Thursdays, Fridays, & Sundays FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA 5 LOUIS A. CELLA president 6 MEDIA GUIDE BOARD OF DIRECTORS 1 — 2 John represents the fourth generation of his family at the helm of Oaklawn as a member of the track’s Board of Directors. He also serves as President of Southern Real Estate and Financial Company, Inc. 1 2 Jackson has been with Oaklawn since 1978, first as Director of Operations and then JOHN G. CELLA ERIC JACKSON as General Manager starting in 1987. He was PRESIDENT OF SOUTHERN SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT named to Oaklawn’s Board of Directors in REAL ESTATE & FINANCIAL COMPANY INC. 1994. In March 2017, Jackson became Senior Vice President. Also in 2017, he was appointed to the Arkansas Parks, Recreation and Travel Commission by Governor Asa Hutchinson. 3 — 4 Ebel, a Hot Springs native, has been Oaklawn's chief lawyer since 1994. He specializes in corporate and tax law for the 3 4 firm of Friday, Eldredge & Clark inLittle Rock. A longtime executive in Arkansas’ banking SKIP EBEL WILLIAM CRAVENS industry, Cravens has served as Director of GENERAL COUNSEL DIRECTOR OF FINANCE Finance and a member of Oaklawn’s board since 1977. ouis A. Cella, a 1990 graduate the industry. He joined the Board of schedule since World War II. of the University of Arkansas Trustees of the National Museum of Law School, was named Racing and Hall of Fame in 2018. In December 2019, the Cella Family L received the Clay Puett Award for President of the Oaklawn Jockey Club on Dec. 20, 2017 succeeding his late On Nov. 19, 2018, Cella, along with outstanding contributions to the father Charles J. Cella. Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchison, racing industry at the Annual Global announced an Oaklawn expansion Symposium on Racing. Earlier in 2017, Cella became the that includes a hotel, multi-purpose third generation of his family to serve event center, larger casino, additional Cella is Chairman and Director of the on the Board of Directors of the dining options, additional on-site MUNY, America’s oldest and largest Thoroughbred Racing Association parking, and more. The project is one outdoor musical theatre. He is past (TRA). His grandfather, John G. of the largest hospitality investments Chairman of the Arkansas Cancer Cella, served as President of the in the history of Arkansas. Research Center Foundation, Director organization 1959 – 1960 and his of the UAMS Foundation Fund Board, father served as President 1975 – This major expansion represented and Director of the Myeloma Institute. 1976. the second significant announcement at Oaklawn since Cella succeeded He and his wife Rochelle live in He also became a Director of the his father. In April 2018, Oaklawn Ladue, MO. They have two children. Thoroughbred Racing Protective announced it would shift its racing Cella and his brother, John, have Bureau (T.R.P.B.) and was elected to season later in the calendar year, and carried on their father's tradition of The Jockey Club, which establishes continue racing into May. It was the Thoroughbred ownership and race in the recommended standards for biggest change to Oaklawn's racing partnership. 7 SENIOR MANAGEMENT WAYNE SMITH general manager native of Rhode Island and He subsequently moved into charitable organizations. He became a graduate of Northeastern operations, first with Empire City President of Fifty for the Future in University in Boston, Wayne Racing and Gaming in New York and, 2019 and serves on the boards of A more recently, with Penn National in both the Hot Springs and Arkansas Smith began his career in corporate accounting and finance with ITT Illinois. Chambers of Commerce as well Sheraton before taking similar Throughout his career, Smith, who is as the Hot Springs Advertising and positions with MGM Grand and leading Oaklawn through the massive Promotion Commission. Smith lives in Caesars Entertainment. expansion, has been an active Hot Springs with his wife Audrey and volunteer with multiple community and has two sons. 8 MEDIA GUIDE 2020 SENIOR MANAGEMENT TEAM 1 — 2 Botts, who joined Oaklawn in Aug. 2018, has over 26 years of marketing experience, including more than 15 years in the gaming industry. She has worked at several top gaming properties in various markets. She is a member of Leadership Arkansas 1 2 XIV. Doro returned to Oaklawn in Sept. 2018 from JOAN BOTTS JED DORO Delaware Park where he spent the last 10 years, including four as racing secretary. Doro served as VICE PRESIDENT OF MARKETING VICE PRESIDENT OF RACING Assistant Director of Racing during Oaklawn's 2014 race season. 3 — 4 Feldman came to Oaklawn from Scottsdale, AZ bringing a background in both gaming and accounting to Oaklawn. Overall, he has more than 16 years of casino management experience that includes executive level expertise in casino finance and marketing. 3 4 In 2005, Hopkins was instrumental in getting the Operations Department started and was Operations Supervisor.