Solid Opener Set for Oaklawn Park Jan. 9

The nine-race Jan. 9 opening-day card at Oaklawn Park drew 92 entries, three more than the corresponding date last year and seven more than in 2013 at the Hot Springs, Ark., Thoroughbred track.

The 57-day meet is highlighted by the $1 million Arkansas Derby (gr. I) on the April 11 closing-day card.

Racing secretary Pat Pope said Pope said his goal is to always use races in the condition book, a sort of road map trainers use to point their horses for specific races, and it's "nice" that the first nine races in the filled. "Very happy with how the first day of entries went," Pope said.

Pope said he's just as proud of several undercard events on the Jan. 9 program, including an entry-level allowance sprint for 3-year-olds and a maiden-allowance sprint for 3-year-olds.

"That's why we're here," Pope said. "We're here for the 3-year-old program."

First post for the card highlighted by the $100,000 Dixie Belle Stakes for 3-year-old fillies is 12:30 p.m. CST. The Dixie Belle drew 11 entrants, including unbeaten Toutsie Rules for trainer Mike Stidham and unbeaten stakes winner Promise Me Silver for trainer Bret Calhoun.

Gates open at 11 a.m. Friday. General admission is free after Oaklawn waived the $2 fee this year. 

Oaklawn will have special first post times of 12:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday in order to take advantage of 30 additional minutes of daylight.

In addition to the two races for 3-year-olds, there's a third-level allowance sprint for older fillies and mares and a starter-allowance race for older horses at 1 1/16 miles.