Next Century at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs Begins With Much Anticipation

Next Century at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs Begins With Much Anticipation HOT SPRINGS, Ark., Jan. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- A banner class of three-year- old Triple Crown prospects and the return of a Hall of Fame trainer in a group that features three of America's best headline Oaklawn Park's 101st season of racing, which runs from Jan. 21-April 16. Applications for over 2,800 horses were received at the desk of Racing Secretary Pat Pope. The primary focus, again, will be on three-year-olds, thanks in large part to the success of Smarty Jones at both Oaklawn and on the Triple Crown circuit in 2004. Afleet Alex, a finalist for the 2004 Eclipse Award as champion two- year-old, will head the class for trainer Tim Richey. John Servis, trainer of Smarty Jones, will target the Oaklawn trio of Kentucky Derby preps -- the Southwest, the Rebel (Gr. III) and the Arkansas Derby (Gr. II) -- with his undefeated colt Rockport Harbor. Returning to Oaklawn on a full-time basis for the first time in nearly 20 years will be Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas. Lukas leads in Racing Festival of the South feature wins, having saddled 12 winners during Oaklawn's celebrated week of racing, including an unprecedented third straight win in the Apple Blossom Handicap (Gr. I) for champion mare Azeri last spring. Also of note, trainer Robert Frankel is pointing champion older mare Ghostzapper to the Gr. II Oaklawn Handicap on April 9 for his first start of the year. Trainer Tim Hooper is also scheduled to have a large stable at Oaklawn for the nation's leading owner in 2004, Michael Gill. Also back is Steve Asmussen and Cole Norman. Asmussen established a national record for wins in a year as a result of his 2004 efforts that included 33 wins from only 79 starters at Oaklawn. Norman, also among the top five in wins last year, captured the training crown at Oaklawn for the fourth consecutive season in 2004. Instant Racing, the track's unique electronic pari-mutuel game system, will also be in full swing, thanks in part to an expansion that introduced 50 new machines to the luxurious room at the south end of the grandstand. Track officials anticipate that Instant Racing will provide over $1.25 million for purses at this year's live meet and believe total handle on the system will eclipse $100 million for the first time in 2005. Source: Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs CONTACT: Terry Wallace of Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, +1-800-OAKLAWN, ext. 121 ------- Profile: International Entertainment