Oaklawn Park Cancels Feb. 16 Holiday Program
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A winter storm has led Oaklawn Park to cancel its Feb. 16 Presidents' Day card that included the $300,000 Southwest Stakes (gr. III). The Southwest, part of Oaklawn's series of prep races for the Arkansas Derby (gr. I), will be rescheduled for the Feb. 21-22 weekend.
Oaklawn officials said if the weather clears enough to allow for training the morning of Feb. 17, the Southwest will be run Saturday, Feb. 21. If the track doesn't open for training until Feb. 18-19, the Southwest will be run Sunday, Feb. 22.
The cancellation is the fifth this year for the track that had to cancel its opening weekend cards due to inclement weather. It marks the third time since 2006 Oaklawn has had to cancel the Presidents' Day program.
At 6 a.m. CST, AccuWeather reported freezing rain and a temperature of 28 degrees, with a forecast high Monday of 36 degrees.
Oaklawn planned to remain open for simulcasting and gaming. The next live racing card is scheduled for Feb. 19.
The storm also led to cancellation of simulcasting at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., where eight to 12 inches of snow was forecast. Churchill's offices were also closed Monday, and simulcasting is scheduled to resume Feb. 19.
Simulcasting was also canceled at Lexington's Keeneland due to weather conditions.