Horse Betting World

Oaklawn Park Kicks Off Meet a Day Late

By Mike Dempsey

Bitter temperatures and six inches of snow kept Oaklawn Park from racing on Friday, but the meeting with get off to a rousing start on Saturday.

The Oaklawn Park meeting will offer a record average $325,000 in purses, and many of the top jockeys and trainers in the nation have landed in Little Rock, Ark. for what is becoming a more important meeting on the national scale each year.

It may be hard top last year’s meeting, where Zenyatta showed up for the Apple Blossom (G1) despite Rachel Alexandra not coming for their much anticipated showdown.

The mare did not disappoint a big crowd, winning the Apple Blossom for her 16th win in a row as the heavy favorite.

Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver came through Oaklawn Park, albeit in a losing effort.

The Todd Pletcher trainee prepped for the Kentucky Derby (G1) in the Arkansas Derby (G1), which received Grade 1 status for the first time last year.

Despite getting the lead in the stretch, pacesetter Line of David fought back and prevailed by a neck over Super Saver, returning $36.60 for the upset.

Preakness winner Lookin At Lucky and top three-year-old filly Blind Luck also made starts at Oaklawn Park last year.

In 2009, Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra and top three-year-old Summer Bird raced at Oaklawn Park.

Oaklawn Park will offer a stakes program worth $4.6 million that includes 32 stakes races.

The marquee event, the $1 million Arkansas Derby (G1) will be run on April 16, closing day of the meeting.

There are several key preps for the Arkansas Derby, and three-year-olds will start down the Triple Crown Trail on Monday in the $100,000 Smarty Jones.

Other key preps for three-year-olds include the $250,000 Southwest (G3) on Feb. 21, and the $300,000 Rebel (G2) on March 19.

The Racing Festival of the South gets underway on April 9, with the $350,000 Oaklawn Handicap (G2) for older horses.

There are seven stakes during that last week of the meeting, including the Arkansas Derby and the track’s lone other Grade 1 race, the $500,000 Apple Blossom Handicap on April 15.

Players Boycott: The Horseplayers Association of North America is behind a players boycott at Santa Anita, sending out a press release on Jan. 12.

In the press release HANA president Jeff Platt stated, “Horseplayers have been kicked around long enough. The California Horse Racing Board approved the takeout increase figuring that players would just complain and go along like sheep. But, partly thanks to word of mouth and partly to players who are willing to stand up for what they believe in, handle has dropped precipitously at Santa Anita so far this meet, while handle at several other tracks has been up.”

Takeout at California tracks increased from 20.60% to 22.68% on exactas and daily doubles, and to 23.68% on wagers involving three or more runners, like trifectas and superfectas.

Whether or not you support the boycott, keep in mind there are plenty of other options for your wagering bankroll.

For myself, I have Aqueduct, Gulfstream Park, Tampa Bay Downs, and now Oaklawn Park on my plate.

I have no use for racing at Santa Anita, and with handle reportedly down around 17% so far at the track, it looks as if I am not alone in thinking that there are better ways to spending my money than on racing in Southern California.

What do you think of the player’s boycott?

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