Oaklawn opens on schedule despite cold

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. (AP)--Snuck in the Dance cooled off a bit beyond the finish line, the horse's breath clearly visible to those nearby.

It was a little chilly on opening day at Oaklawn Park, but this 4-year-old gelding had no trouble handling the elements, winning the season's first race.

"It could have been a whole lot worse," said Joseph Martin, the winning trainer. "I thought they may not be running today. I sure am glad they did now."

Snuck in the Dance's victory Jan. 16 started off the track's live racing season, which will last until April. The big draw, as usual, is Oaklawn's trio of Kentucky Derby prep races--the Southwest Stakes on Feb. 16, the Rebel on March 14 and the Arkansas Derby on April 11.

Jan. 16 was more of a chance for fans to welcome the horses back and enjoy the traditional promotions at the concession stand. Corned beef sandwiches were 50 cents each, and soft drinks cost a dime.

The temperature was 26 degrees for the first race, but the wind wasn't too bad and nobody seemed all that uncomfortable. Attendance was 15,863.

"(The horses) seem to like cold weather most of the time," Martin said. "Unless the track just gets too hard, these horses, they like cold weather. They train good in it, they feel good. As long as we don't get a bad surface, I don't mind a little cold weather."

Eric Jackson, Oaklawn's general manager, credited track supervisor Steve Breckling for making sure Oaklawn's dirt surface was ready.

"I think he pulled a rabbit out of a hat," Jackson said. "I can think back over the years that I've been here, three or four times, when it's just been miraculous what we did with the track, and last night's one of those times. It got down to 16 last night."

Silver City won the first day's featured race, the 51/2-furlong Dixieland.

"He looked so comfortable today," trainer Bret Calhoun said. "Usually he doesn't get away from the gate very well, but today he did everything we could ask of him."

For those who preferred to stay inside, Oaklawn offers plenty of gaming machines--and an expansion at the track's south end is expected to open in May.

Earl Asher, 64, of Little Rock, is looking forward to a larger variety of games and anticipates bigger prizes when the new addition opens.

"I go all the time. I went to Southland Park (in West Memphis) just the other day, but you have to drive two or three hours," Asher said.

There weren't many people lining the railings next to the track between races, but when the horses entered the gate, the outdoor area in front of the grandstand became a bit more crowded.

Martin had no complaints after winning the opener--and briefly becoming the season's leading trainer.

"Just for a few minutes," he said. "And my brother Tim's got one in the very next race. So hopefully he'll win one and we'll be tied."

Timothy Martin's horse, Megapunch, finished second in the second race.

Date: 1/26/09