Maybe it’s because a National Parkand 50 natural hot springsarelocatednearthe trackinscenic seclusion.Orperhapsbecause it has been owned by four generations of the same family since it opened 114years ago.More likely, it is the southern charm of its people and the tradition of incredible horsesand competition.Regardless the reason, in the world of horse racing,it is a special placeand one of a kind.
If Saratoga Springs isthe sport’s“Summer Placeto Be,”thenspring belongs to Oaklawn.During the first four months of each year, thisracetrack surrounded by a mix ofbusyresidential neighborhoods andsmall-town commercial districts,captures the hearts and imaginationsofracingfans across North America.
Located in Hot Springs, Arkansas, Oaklawn Racing&Gaminghas been a racing traditionsince 1904.And while it is a racetrack that has never forgotten its glorious past, the one constant throughthemany years has been change—and consistent growth.What has not changed, however, is thetrack’s unparalleledhabitat in western Arkansas.So much of the appeal of Oaklawn isrooted in this townlocated in the Ouachita Mountains of western Arkansas.Native Americans called the area “The Valley of the Vapors.” Naturallythermalspring waters flow out of the ground at an average temperature of 143 degrees and produce almost one million gallons of water each day.More than two million annual visitors come to Hot Springsfor the lakes, hiking, bike trails, museums, restaurants andshopping.Andyou can also findAmerica’s oldest and smallest national park.Visitors come to soak in thewarm watersatup to eightVictorian-style bathhousesfromthe 19thand 20thcenturiesonBathhouse Rowand the hot springs are also present in several downtown hotels, spas andpublic fountains.
The Cella family.Five men, four generations,and a life-long love affairwith horse racing and Oaklawn.They have been described as innovators and pioneers.By 1911, Louis A. Cella, his brother Charlesand partners ownedracetracksin majorcities across the U.S.WhileOaklawnopenedin 1904, it didn’t really operate as a major racetrack until 1934.After Louis died in 1918,Charles assumed management of Oaklawn. He soon transformed the track into a desirable alternative to Florida for winter training and racing. It was the only track for hundreds of miles and fans would come from across theMidwest.When Charlesdied in 1940, the baton was passed to his son Johnwhoestablished a management style thatnotonly empowered the track and racing officials he engaged with for the overall track operations, buthealso mixed with horsem*n, track employees and fans in order to seek out andhear their ideasand suggestions for how to enhance Oaklawn.The family has continued that styleto this day.
In 1968, John Cella died suddenlyand his sonCharles took over as president.Across the next 50 years, Cellahelped turnthe Arkansas trackinto a major racing destination,bringingan increased level of innovation. In 1990, Oaklawn pioneered full-card interstate simulcasting.Sixteen years prior in 1974, Cella andteam launched something new that would change racing at Oaklawn and American horse racing forever. It wasnamedthe Racing Festival of the South. The Festival showcases anywhere from three tofive days oftop qualityracingandits centerpiece is the $1,000,000 Arkansas Derby (G1). In 2004, fan-favorite Smarty Jones used triumphs in Oaklawn’s Southwest Stakes (G3), RebelStakes (G2)and Arkansas Derby en route to classic wins in the Kentucky Derby (G1) and Preakness Stakes (G1). Three years later, Curlin won the Rebel and Arkansas Derby at the beginning of a Hall of Fame-road that led to two Horse of the Year honors and four Eclipse Awards.
In March of 2015,trainer BobBaffert shipped American Pharoah from California to Oaklawn for the beginning of his three-year-old campaign.After a6-1/4-length triumph in the Rebel,American Pharoahchallenged a field of seven others in the Arkansas Derby and established himself as the early favorite for the Kentucky Derby after an easyeight-length victory. A Triple Crown trail had begunona one-mile dirt oval track in Arkansas, a 37-year drought would soon end,and the rest is history.
In addition to the Arkansas Derby, the Apple BlossomHandicap (G1)is one of the marquee races in the Racing Festival of theSouth andannually drawsthe finest fillies and mares in America.In 2008 and 2010, the great Zenyattacontinued the growth of her legend with Apple Blossom triumphs.
Much like Saratoga Springs, New York and Lexington, Kentucky, the entire townof Hot Springsembraces racing.Oaklawn is Arkansas’ number one tourist destination and everyone benefits.Theexperience includes watching Thoroughbreds from the Oaklawn infield, a beautiful park-like setting, which opens during springtime Saturdaysin mid-March. Infield patrons will discover a petting zoo, live music, a craft beer garden and a Kids Zone.
When Charles J. Cella died in December of 2017, after nearly 50 years as president of Oaklawn, a fourth generation of the Cella family took over the leadership role when son Louis was named successor. A century-long tradition of innovation and evolution continued when in November of 2018, Oaklawn Racing & Gaming announced plans to build an expansion project in excess of $100 million, which included the construction of a high-rise hotel on the premises, a multi-purpose event center, and a larger gaming area.
Spend any length of time at Oaklawn or in Hot Springs and you will notice it right away. The people - they are different. Perhaps it is just southern hospitality, but it feels like something more. It feels like…family.And a family atmosphere is very real at the track. As one of the state’s top employers, it is only natural to find husbands and wives, brothers and sisters and mothers and children working together within the same company.
To understand Oaklawnandits appeal,thewordsofthe late Charles J. Cellamayexplain it best. “I’m a racetrack guy. I truly love racing. It’s my life. I’ve devoted my adult years to it. I am proud of the way Oaklawn has workedto present the right atmosphere of horse racing—the tradition,the basic values, the pageantry of the sport.”
