Every year, in the dreary days of early January, Hot Springs gets a special spring in its step. Horses champ at the bit, ready to shoot out of the gate. Fans fill the spectator stands and cheer on their favorites.
It's the start of live racing season at Oaklawn, and every weekend through the Arkansas Derby in April, people trek to the Spa City for a day of socializing, eating and gambling.
Live Racing at Oaklawn Park
12:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 1 p.m. Sunday
Admission: free for general admission; reserved $2.50 weekdays, $4.50 weekends
Parking: $2
(800) 625-5296
This year, visitors have the chance to save a couple of dollars to use elsewhere. The $2 general admission fee is being waived. There's still a $2 parking fee and reserved seating is still $2.50 on weekdays, $4.50 on weekends, but those who aren't too picky about where they sit can stroll right on in.
Jennifer Hoyt, Oaklawn's media relations manager, explains, "We have put our fans through quite a bit the past 18 months with the expansion work and we just wanted to thank them for continuing to support us."
That expansion work is a $20 million project to revamp and enlarge the gambling area.
"The first thing visitors will notice is the gaming new entrance," Hoyt says.
The gambling area itself is larger and brighter, with new eateries Silks Bar & Grill and Bistro 2705, larger Winners Circle and Cashier Cage areas and about 250 new games. Purses for various races have also gotten bigger, with a record $23 million overall.
The increased stakes have attracted some big-name horses, including Breeders' Cup winners Take Charge Brandi and Work All Week and Grade 1 winners Don't Tell Sophia and Moonshine Mullin.
Opening weekend post times are at 12:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday. Regular start times are 1:30 p.m. on Thursdays (beginning Jan. 15), Fridays and Sundays, 1 p.m. Saturdays, with special races Jan. 19 and Feb. 16.
Those who enjoy getting behind-the-scenes tours of Oaklawn can still plan to do so. The Dawn at Oaklawn program, which includes barn tours, will start up again, 7:30-9:30 a.m. Saturdays Feb. 14 through the end of racing season.
A trip to Hot Springs doesn't have to focus solely on the sport of kings. Some other tourist attractions, such as Garvan Woodland Gardens, are closed for the month of January, but there are still other things to do.
The streets of downtown Hot Springs are lined with shops, restaurants and, of course, the historic bathhouses. It's still possible to get a full, relaxing spa treatment at spots such as the Arlington Resort Hotel & Spa and the Quapaw Baths & Spa.
This weekend is also the weekend for the semi-annual South Hot Springs Lions Club Gun & Knife Show, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday at the Hot Springs Civic Center, 134 Convention Blvd. Admission is $7, free for children under 12. Call (501) 767-2855 or visit hslionsgunshow.com.
For a little culture, the Ozark Bathhouse on downtown's Bathhouse Row will host "Arkansas Champion Trees: An Artist's Journey," with works by Linda Williams Palmer. The artwork was the subject of an AETN documentary and features drawings and photos of more than 125 Arkansas trees. It starts with a special panel discussion and documentary screening, 3-7 p.m. Jan. 17. The exhibit will be on display noon-5 p.m. Thursday-Sunday through August. Call (501) 623-2824.
Hot Springs was a popular hangout for mobsters back in the old days, and parts of the city still celebrate that infamous past. For instance, there's the Gangster Museum of America, 510 Central Ave., which houses a large collection of photos and memorabilia from the gangster heyday of the 1920s and '30s. Hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday-Saturday. Admission is $12, $11 for ages 65 and older, $6 for children 8-12. Call (501) 318-1717 or visit tgmoa.com.
Weekend on 01/08/2015