At Oaklawn, the basics stay the same -- horses still run around the track while people cheer them on and bet on their performance -- but the trappings have gotten a makeover.
Visitors to Oaklawn's 113th racing season, which begins Friday, will notice some shiny new bells and whistles, according to media relations manager Jennifer Hoyt.
Oaklawn Live Racing
Oaklawn Park, 2705 Central Ave., Hot Springs
Opening day post time 12:30 p.m. Friday
Regular post times, 1:30 p.m. Thursday-Friday and Sunday, 1 p.m. Saturday, holiday Mondays and Feb. 5
Seating: regular seats free, reserved seats $2.50 weekdays and $4.50 weekends
Parking: $2
(800) 625-5296, (501) 623-4411
The park now sports new tote boards, a new infield screen and new display boards throughout the park.
"The new tote boards are way more dynamic than the old boards -- a lot brighter, easier to read," Hoyt says.
The bright, colorful boards should make it easier for guests to keep up with all the action and to follow the odds, even from a distance. And the first-floor pavilion now has new high-definition TV monitors with very clear pictures to replace the old large screens.
It's not only the technology that has gotten an upgrade. This year, many people who had been waiting a long time for special seating got welcome news: the addition of 40 new viewing boxes.
"That allowed us to get a lot of people [who] had been on a waiting list off the waiting list," Hoyt says.
It's the first time in years Oaklawn has bumped up its boxes but Hoyt says regular seating will not be significantly affected. "We converted regular reserved seating into the boxes, but it was in an area that was not maximized on a regular race day."
On the betting side, the track also made the payday a little sweeter for those who prefer to place show bets.
"We're now offering a show bet bonus," Hoyt says. "Now, people can make more money making a show bet."
The show bet -- in which bettors win if their horses come in first, second or third -- is one of the simplest bets to make and providing a bonus is just one way Oaklawn is hoping to encourage first-time guests.
"We want people to come, have fun and come back," she says. "We don't want them to be lost in trying to do exotic wagering. Here's a simple bet you can make and we want you to win."
For those intimidated by racing terms, there is plenty of help around, from the various staff members to the wager guides found at the information desk.
Hoyt encourages neophytes to "find somebody in a red coat. We've got lots of staff here [who] are more than happy to show people how to read a program or how to place a bet."
And if a guest's interests are more in the horses themselves than in the wagering process, there's Oaklawn's indoor paddock area where people can meet the Thoroughbred horses up close and in person. There's no extra charge to visit the paddock and the best time to go is 15-20 minutes before each race.
In the winter, the weather can be fickle. Hoyt says Oaklawn's policy is "to race as long as we can safely race." The track attempts to give advance notice of closings as early as possible via social media. So, if the weather forecast looks dicey, keep an eye on Facebook and Twitter before heading out.
There are also special promotions throughout the season, including 50-cent corned beef sandwiches on Saturday, a baseball cap giveaway Monday and a progressive cash giveaway ($1,000-$10,000) on Feb. 20, all leading up to the Arkansas Derby on April 15.
Weekend on 01/12/2017