Oaklawn Park Delays Opening Weekend
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Opening of the 2015 meet at Oaklawn Park has been postponed until Thursday, Jan. 15, as a result of track conditions cause by cold weather.
The Hot Springs, Ark., racetrack had been scheduled to open its 57-day meet Friday, Jan. 9, with a card that featured the $100,000 Dixie Belle Stakes. The Dixie Belle has been rescheduled for Jan. 15, and the $100,000 Fifth Season Stakes, initially set for Jan. 10, will now be run Jan. 16. Fields for both stakes will be re-drawn.
An Oaklawn release said the decision to postpone came following a meeting between track management and horsemen representatives early Jan. 8. The previous night, temperatures tumbled to as low as 11 degrees, with high winds.
"Our track maintenance crews worked to maintain the racing surface all night," Oaklawn director of racing David Longinotti said. "It became clear shortly after sunrise that we were not going to be able to hold it. The safety of the horses and riders is always our first concern, and this weather is just not conductive for racing. We look forward to kicking off things next week."
Oaklawn remains open for gaming and simulcast racing.