Arkansas Horseracing
Arkansas horseracing is best known for its lone horseracing track - Oaklawn Jockey Club in Hot Springs. However, there was a lesser known horseracing track in Hot Springs called Essex Park.
In 1902, William McGuigan, a member of the state legislature, bought land on Malvern Avenue which he transformed into Essex Park. Back in the day, travel by train was the choice travel option and Essex Park was just a short hike from the train route.
Opening in 1904, Essex Park featured a wooden grandstand and horse stalls. Behind the facility, Lake Catherine provided a scenic backdrop to the horseracing action.
In 1907 the Arkansas State Legislature halted betting on horse racing but in 1917 it re-opened horse racing. Bad luck struck Essex Park in March 30, 1917, as its grandstand was destroyed by fire, just a day after its grand re-opening. Essex Park wasn’t able to rise from the ashes.
Meanwhile, Oaklawn Jockey Club opened on February 24, 1905. During the early years the track only ran six races a day. In 1918, Louis Cella died and the ownership of the track was transferred to his brother, Charles.
In 1934, the track began a modern meeting with a larger card. The first Arkansas Derby was held in 1936 for a purse of $5,000. On October 29, 1940, Charles G. Cella died and the presidency was handed to his son, John G. Cella. By 1943, the Arkansas Derby had a purse of $10,000.
Since then, Oaklawn continued to climb in handle, attendance and purses.
Horseracing in Arkansas is overseen by the Arkansas State Racing Commission.
Arkansas Horseracing Track
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Horseracing Tracks
- Arizona
- Rillito Park - Tucson
- Turf Paradise - Phoenix
- Yavapai Downs - Prescott Valley
- Arkansas
- California
- Alameda County Fair - Pleasanton
- Bay Meadows Racecourse - San Mateo
- Del Mar - Del Mar
- Fairplex Park - Pomona
- Ferndale Race Track - Ferndale
- Golden Gate Fields - Albany
- Hollywood Park - Inglewood
- Los Alamitos Race Course - Cypress
- Santa Anita Park - Arcadia
- Sonoma County Fair, Santa Rosa
- The Big Fresno Fair, Fresno
- Delaware
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- Arlington Park - Chicago
- Balmoral Park Harness Racing - Crete
- Fairmount Park - Collinsville
- Hawthorne Race Course - Chicago
- Maywood Park - Maywood Park
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kentucky
- Churchill Downs - Louisville
- Ellis Park - Henderson
- Keeneland - Lexington
- Kentucky Downs - Louisville / Franklin
- Red Mile - Lexington
- Turfway Park - Florence
- Louisiana
- Delta Downs - Vinson
- Evangeline Downs - Lafayette
- Fair Grounds Race Course - New Orleans
- Louisiana Downs - Bossier City
- Maryland
- Laurel Park - Maryland
- Ocean Downs - Ocean City
- Pimlico - Baltimore
- Rosecroft Raceway - Fort Washington
- Timonium - Timonium
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Great Lakes Downs - Muskegon
- Hazel Park Raceway - Hazel Park
- Mount Pleasant Meadows - Mt. Pleasant
- Minnesota
- Canterbury Park - Shakopee
- Nebraska
- Fonner Park - Grand Island
- Horsemen's Park - Omaha
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- Freehold Raceway - Freehold
- Meadowlands Racetrack - East Rutherford
- Monmouth Park - Oceanport
- New Mexico
- Downs at Albuquerque - Albuquerque
- Ruidoso Downs - Ruidoso
- Sunland Park - Sunland
- SunRay Park and Casino - Farmington
- New York
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Fair Meadows - Tulsa
- Remington Park - Oklahoma City
- Will Rogers Downs - Claremore
- Oregon
- Portland Meadows - Portland
- Pennsylvania
- Ladbroke at the Meadows - Pittsburgh
- Penn National Race Course - Grantville
- Philadelphia Park - Bensalem
- Pocono Downs - Wilkes-Barre
- Texas
- Virginia
- Colonial Downs - New Kent
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wyoming
- Wyoming Downs - Evanston