When Oaklawn General Manager Eric Jackson created Instant Racing in 1997, his mission was simple -- save Oaklawn Park.
A decline in interest in horse racing, fueled by the instant gratification of slot machines that were popping up in casinos all over the country, especially in bordering state Mississippi, saw Oaklawn losing business.
In the 17 years since the Arkansas Legislature authorized Instant Racing -- legally defined as historical race wagering, with history being the key word -- Oaklawn hasn't just survived but thrived.
The track was doing well enough that in 2004 Oaklawn owner Charles Cella offered a $5 million bonus to any horse that could win his Cellabration, which consisted of the Rebel Stakes, the Arkansas Derby and the Kentucky Derby.
Smarty Jones pulled it off, and that was the first major step to the Arkansas Derby becoming a major player for the Kentucky Derby.
Oaklawn's reputation has grown even more in the past year.
American Pharoah won the Rebel Stakes and Arkansas Derby last year, and then ended horse racing's 37-year drought without a Triple Crown winner.
Victories in the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes carved his name into the history books.
No track in America offers more qualifying points toward the Kentucky Derby than Oaklawn Park, and three legitimate contenders for Saturday's 142nd Run for the Roses at Churchill Downs participated in the Arkansas Derby.
Creator, who broke his maiden at Oaklawn and was named after God; Suddenbreakingnews, who ran second in the Arkansas Derby and is trained by veteran Donnie K. Von Hemel; and third-place Arkansas Derby finisher Whitmore are set to go.
It is rarely good to draw too close to the rail or too far outside with a field of 20, but for closers -- and all three of the Oaklawn horses are closers -- inside isn't a crushing blow.
So, when Suddenbreakingnews drew post position No. 2 and Creator No. 3, there was not a lot of anguish. Whitmore got the best draw, at least according to public opinion, at No. 10.
Creator opens at 10-1 on the morning line while Suddenbreakingnews and Whitmore are 20-1.
Nyquist, the 3-1 program favorite, drew No. 13, which trainer Doug O'Neill said was fine. No worries.
Unlike American Pharoah, who lost once as a 2-year-old, Nyquist is undefeated.
Unlike American Pharoah, Nyquist didn't prep for the world's most famous race at Oaklawn.
If a horse who raced in the Arkansas Derby wins again, the latest popular theory of having your last race four or more weeks before the Derby -- instead of three like the Arkansas Derby -- might go out the window.
In fact, let one of the three Oaklawn horses be smiled on by the racing gods and the Florida and Santa Anita derbies might start getting really short fields.
As closers, it will be up to the jockeys to keep their mounts out of trouble, and that's where luck begins. When the horses turn for home, and you are behind an equine wall with nowhere to go but outside, it is more difficult because this race is 1¼ miles.
Just because Nyquist has a perfect record doesn't mean he's a perfect horse. All things considered, it wouldn't be surprising if all three Oaklawn horses earn some money Saturday, maybe even the big bucks.
Sports on 05/05/2016