Oaklawn Continues Operations Under COVID-19 Pressure

Trainer Will VanMeter normally splits his stable during the second week in March, leaving his Arkansas-owned horses at Oaklawn Park and sending the balance to Keeneland in Lexington, Ky., where he has 15 permanent stalls in its Rice Road barn area.

Of course, these are not normal times for VanMeter and the Thoroughbred industry, rocked in recent weeks by COVID-19, which has forced tracks across the country to cancel or suspend racing or have horses shelter in place. 

Keeneland, VanMeter's next destination, announced in mid-March that it was scrapping its spring meeting scheduled for April 2-24 and not accepting any more horses for stabling.

But VanMeter still has a place to stable, train, and run. 

Oaklawn in Hot Springs, Ark., continues to operate in a scaled-down setting, minus, among other things, spectators, bugler, and a newly expanded casino, a revenue stream that had fueled the highest purse structure in the country this winter and early spring. 

"It's surreal, running horses without the fans," VanMeter, whose primary client is Hot Springs lumberman John Ed Anthony, said March 26. "Kind of unique to Oaklawn because normally there's a big crowd and that's why we love to run here and entertain people."

Oaklawn owner Louis Cella announced March 12 that the track would not allow spectators, initially, through Rebel Stakes (G2) weekend March 13-15 before extending the ban. After two local residents reportedly tested positive for COVID-19, Oaklawn voluntarily closed its casino and sports/race book March 16. Oaklawn's 57-day live racing season is scheduled to conclude May 2.

"Like most everybody else, we're very thankful that we're able to race during this time, given all the outside things that are happening," Oaklawn general manager Wayne Smith said March 27. "We're very fortunate in that realm. It is a bit strange to be racing with no fans, but at least we're able to take care of the racing industry at this time."

Oaklawn has implemented numerous guidelines to combat COVID-19, including:

• Barring any Oaklawn-based jockey who rode during the recently concluded Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots meet (the final six days were canceled) to ride at Oaklawn for a minimum of 12 days and be subjected to increased medical protocols;
• Closing the jockey's room hot box (riders will receive a 3-pound weight allowance, as needed, during this period);
• Allowing jockeys to relax between races in an open area on the first floor;
• Closing all entry booths;
• Conducting the post position draw in an open area on the first floor;
• Banning owners from the paddock;
• Capping the number of people in the winner's circle for a picture or trophy presentation to four, plus the jockey;
• Temperature checks for those entering the stable gate, at two points in the barn area and three entrances to the main building;
• Temperature checks twice daily for riders in the jockey's room—when they enter and during the middle of the racing card;
• Requiring outriders, pony people, and members of the gate crew to wear masks while around jockeys.

The obvious goal, Smith said, is survival and to continue racing through May 2. Oaklawn has approximately 1,500 horses on the grounds.

"We're trying to do everything that we can," Smith said. "Obviously, the things that we're trying to enforce are those items relative to social distancing. We're trying to make sure that everyone that works on the backside, and/or works within the building, are all health screened—temps every day—and just ensuring that we are staying abreast of and following all of the government health guidelines so that everybody's safe and we're able to continue to race."

Prominent Arkansas owner Alex Lieblong applauded Oaklawn's efforts to continue racing. Lieblong and wife JoAnn have campaigned grade 1 winners Telling, The Big Beast , Embellish the Lace, and Wicked Whisper and entered March 27 as Oaklawn's co-second-leading owners this year with seven victories. On March 25, Alex Lieblong said he had only attended Oaklawn once since the COVID-19 crisis began—owners are allowed to watch the races from a small area in the grandstand—and that was a "business" trip. 

Lieblong, who is also chairman of the Arkansas Racing Commission, said Oaklawn has been "very, very upfront" with the ARC and horsemen, adding communication between the parties has been good.

"I've been really impressed about what they've been doing," Lieblong said. "Looks to me like they're hitting it on all eight (cylinders). I don't know what else you could do. Here's the problem: If you shut it down, you're still going to have all those people and those horses back there. That's not going to change."

Although off-track mutuel handle has remained strong under the COVID-19 landscape, Oaklawn slashed purses across the board, and shuffled its late-season stakes schedule, in response to the casino closing. Two tellers and eight stand-alone terminals near the paddock are the only traditional ways to bet a race at Oaklawn for the handful of attendees these days.

Then again, as Robertino Diodoro said March 17, it beats the alternative. 

"What's nice is it shows what Mr. Cella and the Cella family think of horse racing because they could be doing what a lot of these other places are doing," said Diodoro, Oaklawn's leading trainer this year. "For them to do what they're doing, we're all pretty blessed to have a place to train and run. You can definitely tell that they're in for racing. You know what I mean? There's a lot of places that aren't, and it's showing right now."