Visitors to Oaklawn Park during the 2015 live racing season will notice two new things right away — a new main entrance and free admission. “It’s free [general] admission,” said Jennifer Hoyt, media relations
manager at Oaklawn. “It’s just a way to say thank you to all of our customers for all we’ve put them through for the last 18 months during our expansion project.”
While the waiving of the $2 general-admission fee may not sound like much, Hoyt said, based on 57 days of racing, that would be “a little over $100” in savings.
“And for a family of four, it would be a lot more,” she said, adding that there is still a $2 charge for parking. There is also still a charge for reserved seating: $2.50 on weekdays and $4.50 on weekends.
Hoyt said Oaklawn’s recently completed $20 million, 58,000-square-foot expansion project began in April 2013. She said 18,000 square feet of space has been added to the gaming area, and the rest of the addition is “back of the house support facilities.”
The 111th live racing season opened Jan. 15, a week later than planned, as a result of extreme cold weather.
Oaklawn Park opened in 1904, and the first racing meet was held in 1905, all in the same location where the track stands today at 2705 Central Ave.
Hoyt said that in 2000, Oaklawn introduced Instant Racing, a pari-mutuel electronic system that allows players to wager on previously run races. Since then, Oaklawn has added expanded games of skill.
“Last year, we had over 550,000 visitors during 54 race days,” Hoyt said, then noting, “We lost four whole days due to weather.
“It was a very good meet. We were up 27 percent in the overall handle. We expect more this year. We hope the weather will be a little bit kinder.
“As good as the quality of the horses that ran last year was, we expect even better quality this year.”
Hoyt said Oaklawn expects several big-name horses on the track this year, including Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies winner Take Charge Brandi, owned by Willis Horton of Marshall, and Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner Work All Week, owned by Midwest Thoroughbreds of Illinois.
Hoyt said that with the new racing schedule, the track has been able to increase the purses as well. She said the total purse projection for the season is approximately $23 million.
Although Oaklawn attracts a lot of out-of-state horses, trainers and owners, there are those with local connections as well.
Trainer Ron Moquett lives in Hot Springs, “so close to the track that I can feel the horses when they gallop by,” he said with a smile.
Originally from Fort Smith, Moquett, 43, has been a trainer for 22 years. His wife, Laura, helps with the training.
The Moquetts have three adult children. “No one followed in my footsteps,” he said.
“I grew up loving horses,” Moquett said. “I started coming to the track when I was 9 or 10.”
He graduated from high school in Pocola, Oklahoma. “I went straight to working with horses,” he said.
Moquett said there is no “exact school” for horse trainers.
“Many of us grew up around horses and have a love for the animal. Discipline is very important. I think you have to have a very regimented schedule. Horses are just like we are; they have their own personalities, their own quirks. You have to know them. [Trainers] are a lot like coaches,” he said.
“I train a horse every day. I do this one day, this the next day. I don’t do the same thing every day,” Moquett said.
“The horses come first,” he said, when asked about the recently delayed opening of the 2015 season at Oaklawn. “The track gets cold and wet and freezes. It’s dangerous for the horses. You have to take care of their safety. The rest will sort itself out.”
Moquett, who now has 36 horses he is training, has had some big winners over the years, including Seek Gold, Gentlemen’s Bet and Right to Vote.
“I’ve been lucky,” Moquett said. “I’ve been successful. You do it because you love it.
“You have to love horses and hate sleep.” He said he gets up at 3:45 a.m. each day and begins his routine with the horses he is training.
Moquett trains horses for a “variety of clients, mainly Arkansas people,” he said. “I am fortunate now that new clients seek me. I could get a lot bigger, but I don’t want to.
“I’m very happy. I have a great group of people I work for.”
Among his clients is Harry Truman Rosenblum of Hot Springs and Little Rock, who owns eight horses.
“I’ve owned horses for about 30 years,” said Rosenblum, who is in the investment business. “My father was in the cavalry and knew President [Harry S.] Truman. He is my namesake.
“Ron trains for me. I’ve been with him for three years. We’ve had a lot of good luck together.
“I’m hoping to have a good horse this year,” Rosenblum said Jan. 14 as his horses were training at Oaklawn.
It seems Rosenblum may get his wish. His horse, Far Right, which is trained by Moquett, won Oaklawn’s $150,000 Smarty Jones race on Jan. 19.
Information posted on the Oaklawn website, oaklawn.com, states that Far Right may run again in the $300,000 Southwest Stakes on Feb. 16 or the $750,000 Rebel Stakes on March 14.
Live racing at Oaklawn Park continues through April 11.
Racing is held every Thursday through Sunday during the season. The regular post times are 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Sunday, and 1 p.m. Saturday.
Special post times are 1 p.m. today and Feb. 16, and 12:30 p.m. April 11.
Live racing will also be held April 1 and 8. There will be no racing on Easter Sunday, April 5.
For more information, call (800) 625-5296 or visit oaklawn.com.