Oaklawn Park Kicks Off Its 2019 Meet With A "Stay Until May" Promotion

The 2019 Oaklawn Park race meet is off and running!

Photo by: Tom Ferry

Oaklawn Racing & Gaming kicks off its 2019 meet today in Hot Springs, Arkansas. This year's meet will last until May 4, 2019, an unprecedented schedule in the track's history. The extended race meet is being promoted as "Stay Until May".

The meet will be highlighted by several listed and graded stakes, including many races on the "Road to the Kentucky Derby", including the Smarty Jones, which is the opening day feature race.

American Pharaoh trains at Churchill Downs in preparation for the 2015 Kentucky Derby. He captured the Arkansas Derby and Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park on his way to Louisville, KY.

Photo by: Steve Heuertz

In this decade alone, two horses who ran in Kentucky Derby (G1) prep races at Oaklawn Park went on to win the Kentucky Derby: American Pharoah (2015) & Super Saver (2010). American Pharoah would go on to become the first Triple Crown winner in 37 years.

Other perennially notable races on the schedule include: the Razorback Handicap (G3), the Southwest Stakes (G3), the Rebel Stakes (G2), the Honeybee Stakes (G3), the Azeri (G3), the Fantasy Stakes (G3), the Oaklawn Handicap (G2), the Arkansas Derby (G1), and the Apple Blossom (G1).

Will you be making plans to attend this year?