Great meet; great town. Before I got too old to travel I would spend the entire Oaklawn meet in Hot Springs. I even owned a small condo in Hot Springs Village which I rented out by the week much the rest of the year.

I wonder where all these new stables are going to keep their horses as Oaklawn has been pretty good giving stalls to the old timers who supported their meet before it became fashionable.

If nobody posted it yet, I guess you all heard that Charles J. Cella, the Pres. of Oaklawn, died at 81 yesterday. :(

Cella did amazing things with Oaklawn. He pioneered Instant Racing Machines then got the voters to approve slots and other electronic games. He poured the proceeds of all this into upgrading the facility and higher purses. Oaklawn went from being a blip to being a destination.

another new jockey at OP this year

There were 1,072 horses on the grounds Tuesday morning. … The track was rated fast for workouts Tuesday morning. … Agent Gene Short of Hot Springs said he will again represent Alex Canchari, Oaklawn’s co-third leading rider in 2017, and newcomer Mike Luzzi at the 2018 meet scheduled to begin Jan. 12. The New York-based Luzzi won an Eclipse Award as the country’s outstanding apprentice in 1989 and has 3,482 career victories, according to Equibase, racing’s official data gathering organization. Luzzi has had four mounts at Oaklawn, with his lone victory coming in 2006 aboard Spun Sugar for trainer Todd Pletcher in the $500,000 Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) for older fillies and mares. … Romping Hawthorne maiden special weights winner P R Radio Star is scheduled to arrive Jan. 2, said Richard Robertson, who co-owns the 2-year-old Warrior’s Reward colt with trainer Tom Swearingen. Robertson said P R Radio Star is pointing for a Jan. 13 entry-level allowance race at a mile. P R Radio Star broke his maiden by 12 ½ lengths Dec. 16.

I wish Oaklawn would build a turf course.

if it ain't broke don't fix it

Two weeks to opening day:jump: I will be down there Saturday and Sunday to make my annual contribution:D