Oaklawn Jockey Club - Horse Racing in Hot Springs, Arkansas: Somebody's Gonna Win!
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Simulcast Calendar
Simulcasting, Instant Racing and Gaming Resume on Tuesday; 50+ Day
GATES OPEN AT 11:00 A.M. ON TUESDAY
INSTANT RACING/GAMING OPEN UNTIL 1:00 A.M.
IT IS 50+ DAY FOR ALL WINNER'S CIRCLE CLUB MEMBERS
Simulcasting, Instant Racing and Gaming resume at Oaklawn on Tuesday. The simulcast schedule for Tuesday includes Finger Lakes, Beulah, Zia Park, Turf Paradise, Portland Meadows, Penn National, Mountaineer, Australian racing, and the evening performance from Daytona Greyhound Park.
Also on Tuesday, it is 50+ Day, which means specials for Winner's Circle members 50 years and older in Instant Racing/Gaming.
The popular Twin Quin game will be offered again on Thursday, Nov.20. Players will be competing for $420 plus all the day's entry fees.
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Our super food specials continue this week. Wednesdays have become Catfish Days and join the popular, delicious Steak Dinner on Friday evenings. If you're a member of the Winner's Circle Club, you can earn dramatically reduced prices for food specials.
The Catfish Wednesdays include yummy catfish filets, steak fries and scrumptious broccoli cole slaw from 4:30-10:00 p.m. You can enjoy the Catfish feast as an electronic games player if you have earned 5 points on your Winners Circle card that day. Simulcast Winners Circle members may earn points towards the Catfish feast on Tuesdays.
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Curlin Retiring At the End of the 2008 Season
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
 Edited Release from brisnet.com
Curlin, the 2007 Horse of the Year whose first stakes wins occurred at Oaklawn, is to be retired at the end of 2008, according to majority owner Jess Jackson, and will begin stud duties in 2009. However, the striking chestnut could have one more start this season if an appropriate race shows up.
"If an appropriate venue and purse are offered, we would consider one more race in 2008 for Curlin," Jackson said.
According to a press release sent out by Jackson's Stonestreet Farm, they are considering "offers from stallion stations as well as possibly standing Curlin," themselves at Stonestreet near Lexington, Kentucky.
Curlin, a seven-time Grade/Group 1 winner, was last seen running fourth in the Breeders' Cup Classicon Santa Anita's synthetic Pro-Ride surface. He won that race as a sophomore last season by 4 1/2 lengths over the sloppy dirt at Monmouth Park. After this year's Classic, the four-year-old was sent to trainer Steve Asmussen's barn at Churchill Downs, where he has been in light training without posting an official workout.
Curlin has racked up 11 total victories, including the Preakness S., Jockey Club Gold Cup, Arkansas Derby and Rebel Stakes as a three-year-old, and the Dubai World Cup, Stephen Foster H., Woodward S. and his second straight Gold Cup this year. He currently owns a career mark of 16-11-2-2 that also includes a third in last year's Kentucky Derby and a near miss head second in the Belmont S. to champion Rags to Riches, who became just the third filly in history and the first since 1905 to take the "Test of the Champion."
Curlin made history himself when capturing his second Gold Cup on September 27. With the $450,000 winner's check, the colt surpassed Cigar's North American earnings record to become the richest North American-based Thoroughbred in history, brandishing a gaudy bankroll of $10,246,800. He increased that total with his Breeders' Cup fourth, now boasting $10,501,800 in lifetime earnings.
"Curlin has proven himself across two continents with 16 starts, the honor of 2007 Horse of the Year and the greatest North American money-earner in racing history," Jackson said in the release. "He always gave it his all and has done everything we have asked of him. I am proud to announce that he will start a new career in 2009 and contribute his soundness, stamina, durability and athleticism to the breed. I am looking forward to seeing his foals compete and possibly exceed his unequaled racing record."
Curlin has been trained by Asmussen for every race but his debut, when he was conditioned by Helen Pitts. Following that race, Curlin was purchased by a partnership that included Jackson, who subsequently bought out most of his partners and currently holds an 80 percent interest in Curlin. He was then sent to Oaklawn to continue his racing career and the rest is history.
He may very well be the best horse to ever set foot on Oaklawn's track.
DRF Pigskins & Ponies Promotion Continues Sunday
The Daily Racing Form Pigskins and Ponies Match Game, one of the most popular promotions ever at Oaklawn Simulcast, continues on Sunday, November 23.
The Pigskins and Ponies Match Game allows patrons to win from $500 to $2,000, by requiring players to correctly solve matchups of horses running in specified races as well as matchups of NFL pro football games against the point spread. Entries must be submitted by 12:30 p.m. on Sunday to be eligible. Players may get an entry by presenting their Winner's Circle Club card to the Information Booth, across from the main elevator on the first floor of the grandstand. They will be distributed (one per person) and completed entries will be returned to the Information Booth as well.
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Those patrons not already in the Winner's Circle Club can do so free of charge by checking in with the Information Booth. However all Pigskins and Ponies entries need to be completed and turned in by 12:30 p.m. There will be eight NFL games and six horse race matchups from Hawthorne on Sunday.
The player with the best card of the day collects a prize of $500. Should a player pick the card perfectly, there is a prize of $2,000 for winning. If there are two scratches in the horse races, necessitating the elimination of those horse race matchups, the bonus provision will not be in effect. There is a tiebreaker, which requires you to estimate the win payoff for the winner of a designated race. No purchase is necessary to participate, however players must be present to win.
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Larry Jones Named "Big Sport of Turfdom"
 Edited Release from NTRA.com.
The Turf Publicists of America (TPA) have announced that Larry Jones, trainer of the brilliant three-year-old fillies Proud Spell and Eight Belles, has been chosen as the 2008 winner of the organization's Big Sport of Turfdom award. The award is presented annually to a person or group of people who enhances coverage of Thoroughbred racing through cooperation with the media and Thoroughbred racing publicists.
"Larry has always been generous and gracious with publicists and reporters, but never was this clearer than in the aftermath of the tragic accident involving Eight Belles at the Kentucky Derby," said TPA president Eric Wing. "Larry met with reporters on Derby Day and numerous times thereafter under the most difficult of circumstances. With his heartfelt words, Larry was an embodiment of the love that horsemen have for their animals. The entire Thoroughbred industry owes Larry a great debt of thanks for his cooperation with the media this year, and the Turf Publicists of America is exceedingly proud to honor him as our 2008 Big Sport of Turfdom."
"This award is wonderful," Jones said. "I think it's my highest achievement in the sport. I've always felt that we, as trainers and horsemen, have an obligation to keep the fans well informed, and hopefully we've done that."
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Jones will receive the 43rd annual Big Sport of Turfdom award on Tuesday, December 9 in Tucson during the keynote luncheon of the University of Arizona Race Track Industry Program Symposium on Racing & Gaming. The Symposium will be held at the Westin La Paloma Resort in Tucson from December 8-11.
Larry's efforts with Eight Belles were especially important to Oaklawn fans. The beautiful gray filly had endeared herself to legions of followers at Oaklawn with her record victory (13 1/2 lengths) in the second division of the Martha Washington Stakes, followed by impressive wins in the Honeybee and Fantasy. Her wins, along with Zenyatta's impressive Apple Blossom Handicap win and the great battle between Tiago and Heatseeker in the Oaklawn Handicap, were considered by most to be the ultimate performances of the 2008 live meet in Hot Springs. He is expected to be back at Oaklawn on a regular basis for the 2009 season.
The Big Sport of Turfdom Award has been presented every year since 1966. Previous winners of the Big Sport of Turfdom include Joe Hirsch, Penny Chenery, Jack Klugman, Jim McKay, Tim Conway, Chris McCarron, Sackatoga Stable, John Servis, Pat Day, Dr. Dean Richardson and Carl Nafzger.
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Zenyatta Remains Undefeated Following Breeders' Cup Score; Horse-of-the-Year Prospect
 Zenyatta, who stormed into the American racing consciousness when she crushed 2007 champion Ginger Punch, in winning the Apple Blossom Handicap at Oaklawn, moved directly into the battle for Horse-of-the-Year honors following her totally dominant performance in winning the $2 Million Breeders' Cup Ladies Classic on Friday at Santa Anita. The win by the daughter of Street Cry, combined with the loss in the Breeders' Cup Classic by defending Horse-of-the-Year Curlin to a pair of European invaders and Zenyatta's stablemate and Oaklawn Handicap winner, Tiago, have suddenly stoked the fires of those who see that the perfection of Zenyatta's 9-for-9 season tops the accomplishments of Curlin and Kentucky Derby winner Big Brown. Certainly a battle will rage on by the various camps in support of their horse, but clearly Zenyatta's Breeders' Cup tally assures her of an Eclipse Award as the top filly or mare for the year. She is expected to race again in 2009.
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For Oaklawn fans the prospect that a 2009 campaign might produce a return for the Apple Blossom Handicap is clearly not out of the question. Two other California-based distaffers are the only runners in the 43-year history of the Apple Blossom Handicap to score repeat victories and they, too, were champions. Paseana logged wins in 1992-93 for jockey Chris McCarron and trainer Ron McAnally. Azeri, 2002 Horse-of-the-Year and a three-time Eclipse Award winner, is the only runners to score in the Apple Blossom in three consecutive years. She won in both 2002 and 2003 for trainer Laura de Seroux, then returned and produced one of the most memorable races in Oaklawn history, catching contender Take Charge Lady in the last jump to win her first start of 2004 out of her new barn of trainer D. Wayne Lukas.
While the owners (Mr. & Mrs. Jerome Moss) and trainer (John Sherriffs) did indicated that Zenyatta is like to race in 2009, they have yet to make a commitment about the racing career of her stablemate Tiago, whose 2008 Oaklawn Handicap win ranks among his career high moments. Tiago, a brother to former Kentucky Derby winner Giacomo, finished a strong third on Saturday in the Breeders' Cup Classic and might also come back to race in 2009. The wins by the twosome on the Apple Blossom and Oaklawn Handicaps made Oaklawn history. Never before had the same connections won that pair of races on the same day. The thought that they might make another try at it in 2009 is one of the more-anticipated prospects as the 2009 season draws near in Hot Springs.
Much like Curlin, Zenyatta's career got a late start. While Curlin didn't start until February of his three-year-old season, then parlayed his wins in the Rebel and Arkansas Derby into a series of successful races in 2007 and Horse-of-the-Year honors, Zenyatta's career started in November of her three-year-old year and now takes her to her first Eclipse Award and also into the Horse-of-the-Year consideration. The efforts of Oaklawn to step up the the center stage as one of America's premier racetracks have been enhanced by the development of the prestigious Racing Festival of the South and the success of these late-developing stars who burst on to the American racing scene largely off their performances at Oaklawn.
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Big Brown Retired After Training Injury
From bloodhorse.com by Karen Johnson and Steve Haskin:
Dual classic winner Big Brown has been retired after sustaining an injury during a workout at Aqueduct the morning of Oct. 13.
The winner of the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes had worked in company with Kip Deville over the turf course, with the stablemates finishing together in final time of 1:12 4/5 for six furlongs.
Afterward, it was determined that the colt had grabbed a quarter on the inside of the right front foot. The injury and subsequent retirement means the highly anticipated showdown between the 3-year-old colt and reigning Horse of the Year Curlin will not take place in the Breeders' Cup Classic.
"Big Brown has been retired," said Michael Iavarone, co-owner of IEAH Stables. "He not only tore the bulb off his foot, but half the foot was torn off. We did everything we could to get to the Breeders' Cup. It's devastating. And what makes it even worse is that he worked great."
“We are disappointed that Big Brown will not be able to compete in this year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic but are glad to hear that he is expected to make a full recovery from the injury he sustained earlier today," Greg Avioli, president and CEO of the Breeders' Cup, said in a statement.
"My family and I are saddened to learn of Big Brown’s career ending injury during his morning workout," said Jess Jackson, majority owner of Curlin, said in a statement. "I have always said what an incredible horse Big Brown is and that the bay colt brought energy and excitement to our industry, especially during his run at the Triple Crown. I am equally disappointed that Big Brown and Curlin will never compete against each other. It was a dream of mine and thousands of other fans of the sport. Now, we all join together in wishing Big Brown a speedy recovery."
Big Brown, by Boundary will enter stud at Robert Clay's Three Chimneys farm for the 2009 breeding season. Bred in Kentucky by Monticule and out of the Nureyev mare Mien, Big Brown won seven of eight starts and $3,614,500.
The ebullient mood following Big Brown’s solid work quickly turned to concern after trainer Rick Dutrow Jr. noticed the injury as the colt walked off the grass course. Back at the barn, Dutrow quietly spoke with Iavarone as Big Brown was walked in the shedrow.
As Big Brown was being bathed, Iavarone paced around the colt and said: “I don’t like the look of it.”
Paul Pompa Jr., Big Brown’s original owner before selling a majority interest in the son of Boundary to IEAH Stables, was also present. Pompa retained a 25% interest in Big Brown, following the sale of the colt in September 2007.
Alex Leaf, the blacksmith who worked on Big Brown’s problematic feet throughout his 3-year-old campaign, examined the injury and privately spoke with Dutrow.
A chunk of skin about three inches in diameter was torn off the foot. A portion of the hoof in the area was missing, leaving a jagged-looking edge. Although there was little or no blood, the skin was exposed and raw-looking. Big Brown was not lame, and did not appear to be favoring the foot while being bathed and walked.
Before Iavarone announced that Big Brown was retired, Dutrow was matter of fact and reacted calmly when discussing the injury. Whatever emotions he may have been feeling were not evident from his demeanor.
“His foot doesn’t look any good,” Dutrow said as he sat in his office. “I think he is going to miss the race, the way things look right now. It looks like it happened in a bad spot, and it looks like it will need to grow out.”
Dutrow said the affected area would be soaked in hot water and Epsom Salts, and then Animalintex, a poultice pad containing a mild antiseptic, would be applied to the wound.
Following his flop in the Belmont Stakes, where he was eased in the stretch by jockey Kent Desormeaux, Big Brown returned to win Monmouth Park’s Haskell Aug. 3 and the Monmouth Park Stakes in what we would be his last start Sept. 13. In the weeks following the Belmont, Dutrow said he found no physical reason for the surprising performance from Big Brown in the third leg of the Triple Crown.
Curlin Tops Money-Winning List After Jockey Club Gold Cup Win
Curlin, once again displayed the form and style that make him arguably the greatest horse to ever race at Oaklawn, as he stormed from off the pace over the sloppy track to repeat as winner of the $750,000 Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park on Saturday afternoon. In winning the race the handsome son of Smart Strike surpassed Cigar as the money-winningest horse of all-time in American thoroughbred racing. His $450,000 winner's share took his career earnings to $10,246,800, topping Cigar's mark of $9,999,815.
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For Curlin, the Jockey Club Gold Cup win also put him in some heady territory in the history of the major Fall stakes for older horses at Belmont Park. Combined with his memorable win over 2006 Arkansas Derby winner Lawyer Ron in the 2007 Jockey Club Gold Cup, Curlin joined the likes of Mad Hatter, Dark Secret, Nashua, Kelso, Shuvee, Slew O'Gold, Creme Fraiche and Skip Away as the only runners to have won the mile-and-a-quarter event in back-to-back seasons. This was the 90th running of the Jockey Club Gold Cup and the ten furlongs over the sloppy track were accomplished in 2:01 4/5, for win number 11 in 15 career starts.Winning the race made him racing's first $10 million winner, and tops in the list of horses which have competed at Oaklawn, followed by Cigar, Smarty Jones ($7,613,155), Medaglia d'Oro ($5,754,720) and Best Pal ($5,668,245).
Although he did not race in Hot Springs in 2008, local fans take his 2007 Arkansas Derby and Rebel Stakes wins as a validation of his brilliance and of the relevancy of the local racing program. A crowd of just over 8,500 watched his race in person at Belmont Park on Saturday, under unsettling weather conditions, compared to the well over 50,000 which saw him set a record in winning the 2007 Arkansas Derby.
Leading Oaklawn trainer, Steve Asmussen, will now conference with owner Jess Jackson and jockey Robby Albarado to plan the remainder of the season for the defending Horse-of-the-Year. The much anticipated match against three-year-old sensation Big Brown did not materialize, because of Big Brown's training injury in October.
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Jonesboro, Euphony Both Score Stakes Wins on Saturday
 Mike Langford's Jonesboro is a good example ow why there is so much good for racing when a horse can be raced beyond its three-year-old season and go on to have a great career on the racetrack. Now a six-year-old, Jonesboro continues to log stakes win in style and added to his building record with a length-and-a-quarter score on Saturday afternoon in the $150,000 Tiznow Handicap on the Super Derby undercard at Louisiana Downs.more>>
The Randy Morse trainee has had to overcome a couple of surgeries during his racing career, but has responded to the clever handling of his trainer with a consistency that has honored him with a loyal following wherever he races. The win on Saturday required the fast runner to repel numerous challenges and still have plenty left to daylight his opponents. First he was challenged by Smokeyjonessutton and the aggressive riding Kent Desormeaux, managed to put that one away leaving the final turn, then it appeared that Autobeacat would be able to run down the pacesetters, but Jonesboro was up to the challenge under Robby Albarado. The win for Jonesboro marked his 11th score in 33 career outings. He has now earned $836,575. But more importantly, perhaps, the Tiznow was the only race on the Louisiana Downs card which contained a "Win And You're In" designation from Breeders' Cup. What that means is that Jonesboro is guaranteed a starting spot in the Breeders' Cup, depending on the choices made by owner Langford and trainer Morse on where to start their stable star. His successes at Oaklawn include wins in the 2005 Northern Spur, the 2007 Essex Handicap and the 2008 Razorback Handicap, along with a good third in the 2007 Razorback, just behind Magna Graduate and Student Council, as well as a solid fourth in the 2007 Oaklawn Handicap, trailing champion Lawyer Ron, along with Brother Bobby and Boboman. While Jonesboro starred during the afternoon, it was the filly Euphony, wearing the silks of Pin Oak Stable and trained by Donnie K. Von Hemel, who gained starring honors winning the $75,000 Prairie Meadows Oaks on the evening card at the Iowa track, the final program of live thoroughbred racing at the Altoona, Iowa, track for 2008. Euphony salvaged a long day for trainer Von Hemel, who saddled three horses at Louisiana Downs, including stable star Brownie Points, at Louisiana Downs without a win. Euphony, never off the board in seven career starts, however, could clearly be the star of the stable in 2009 and looks like a genuine Apple Blossom Handicap contender off her three-year-old campaign. The dark bay daughter of Forest Wildcat won all three of her starts at Oaklawn, including the Instant Racing Stakes. Third at seven furlongs in the Cinemine at Lone Star, she tried turf for the first time in that track's Little Treasure Stakes and finished a competitive second. Von Hemel wheeled her right back in the DeBartolo Oaks at Louisiana Downs and she responded with a three-quarters of a length victory. Saturday's mile-and-a-sixteenth outing at Prairie Meadows would be the longest of her seven starts, but she appeared to encounter no problems at all, storming form off the pace under jockey Quincy Hamilton, to win by two-and-a-quarter lengths. The win now takes her record to five wins in seven starts and earnings to $182,200. With Brownie Points expected to be retired at the end of the 2008 racing season, Euphony should now be the top color-bearer for the powerful Pin Oak Stable at Oaklawn in 2009 and could be seen in such races at the Pippin and Azeri, leading up to the Apple Blossom Handicap. While his son, Donnie, was getting some attention with Euphony and the others from his barn, young Von Hemel's dad, Don, also turned loose an exciting winner on Saturday. The elder Von Hemel, who elected to stay home in Hot Springs to attend to some health problems, was disappointed in an even fourth-place finish by stable star Sebastian County as the favorite in the Prairie Meadows Derby. However he may have turned loose a headline-maker in a first-time starting two-year-old filly at Arlington Park. That filly, Bootprints, is a daughter of top sprinter Richter Scale, but out of a Dynaformer mare, Lalka, suggesting that there appear to be no pedigree impediments to be her being any kind. Bootprints went postward as a 12-1 longshots in a race loaded with highly-regarded prospects from well-respected barns, but stalked the pace until taking the lead while wide into the stretch, then was unthreatened while holding on to a length-and-quarter win. She raced the six furlongs in her debut in 1:12 over the synthetic track at Arlington. Racing for the partnership of Hot Springs owners, Thunderhead Farms (Bill and Nancy Peters) and trainer Von Hemel, she becomes one of the fillies likely to gain plenty of attraction with the upcoming 2009 Oaklawn live season. less<<
Whiting Saddles Off Duty to Marfa Win
 Veteran trainer Lynn Whiting, who made a winning reputation at Oaklawn Park long before he saddled Lil E. Tee to win the 1992 Kentucky Derby, signalled that he may be ready to claim some important stakes wins early in the 2009 live meet at Oaklawn as he saddled the hard-hitting Off Duty to take the $62,250 Marfa Stakes at Turfway Park on Saturday.
The Marfa win was a title defense for the five-year old son of Yes It's True and he managed the win over such stars as Semaphore Man, Junior College and Native Ruler in scoring by a neck, getting the six-and-a-half furlongs in 1:16 1/5 over the Polytrack surface at Turfway.
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Off Duty also won Keeneland's Phoenix last year and will attempt to defend that title in his next outing. In 2007 he suffered a setback in the Ack Ack Handicap at Churchill Downs and was unable to start at the 2008 Oaklawn meet. He finally returned to the races at Mountaineer Park in July and appears like a star in the making for 2009 at Oaklawn. So far in his career Off Duty has amassed $402,038 in earnings from nine wins in 20 starts.
While Off Duty was scoring the big win, Miss Macy Sue had to settle for second in the $400,000 Presque Isle Downs Masters Stakes at the Erie, Pa., track on Saturday. Miss Macy Sue won the race one year ago, topping Wild Gams for the win. This time the order of finish was reversed, but both finished in front of Dream Rush, generally considered the favorite for the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint at Santa Anita on October 24. All three of those runners can be expected to renew their rivalry over the synthetic track at Santa Anita on that occasion.
Miss Macy Sue, trained by Kelly Von Hemel, finished third in the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint last year. She has prepped well for that race, losing by only a half-length to Wild Gams, with the winner setting a track record time of 1:07 4/5 for the six furlongs on Saturday.
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Oaklawn Employee Entrants Score Big at Garland County Fair
Spurred on by Security Director Vera Davis, over a dozen Oaklawn employees got into the "county fair spirit" and submitted entries for ribbons and prizes this week. The result was a resounding success as the Oaklawn entrants scored for 30 blue ribbons and one "Best of Show" award at the annual Garland County Fair. Arts and crafts were entered on Monday with such entries as gourds, flower baskets, paintings, needlepoint, quilts, jewelry, mosaics, fancy needlework, knitting, crochet, Christmas Decorations and wreaths were among the dozens of items up for judging. A long list of baked goods, foods and flowers were on tap for entry on Tuesday. Oaklawn's team of participants included Martha Breckling, Anna Clopton, Vera Davis, Milena Erceg, Dee Goodwin, Ellen Howe, Rosa McMichael, Rodney McWilliams, Alta Mullenix, Pat Nolff, Evelyn Robinson, Donna Slade and Mary Jo Zullo.
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It was Phyllis White from the Mutuel Department and her mother who combined to produce the Best of Show winner with their craft presentation of knitted white baby clothes. Two others, Anna Clopton and Donna Slade, were finalists in their divisions, Anna for her Christmas wreath and Donna for her banana bread. Blue ribbons were awarded to Dee Goodwin, Alta Mullenix, Mary Jo Zullo, Anna Clopton, Evelyn Robinson, Milena Erceg, Rosa McMichael, Emily Giliana, Donna Slade, Pat Nolff, Phyllis White, Dee Donovan and Vera Davis, while red ribbons were presented to Pat Nolff, Martha Breckling, Ellen Howe, Belinda Castleberry, Dee Donovan and Vera Davis. All of the Oaklawn employees were first-time entrants and can be expected to be major contributors to County Fair competition in the future.
For the remainder of the Oaklawn employees, samples of the baked goods were available for taste tests in the employee break room. "We've had a lot of fun with our County Fair entries and it got the blood pumping for quite a few employees at a time of the year when things tend to be dull and quiet," noted Vera Davis. "What a pleasant surprise this turned out to be," she continued. "We had to make up in enthusiasm what we lacked in experience and it turned out to be way better than we expected."
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