Cella sons at the helm as Oaklawn opens

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Oaklawn Park will open Friday with a new president for the first time since 1968 following the December passing of Charles Cella. But those who patronize the thriving track can rest assured the new generation in command has full respect for the traditions of Oaklawn.

Louis Cella, the 52-year-old son of Charles Cella, has been named the track’s president, while his brother, John, who is president of the family’s Southern Real Estate and Financial Co., also will be central to the operation of Oaklawn.

“The continuity of our racing program is our goal,” said Louis Cella, who last year was elected to The Jockey Club. “I’m born and raised doing that. My father was born and raised doing that. So, we have a heavy burden to not mess it up. We have a great foundation. We have every intent to grow from the bedrock that was put in front of us.”

Charles Cella left a turnkey operation at its finest. Oaklawn will race 57 days through April 14, the meet closing with the Grade 1, $1 million Arkansas Derby. Purses are projected to average a record $500,000 a program, said longtime Oaklawn racing secretary Pat Pope, while the 31-race, $8.5 million stakes schedule is highlighted by four Kentucky Derby points races – the Smarty Jones on Monday, the Southwest on Feb. 19, the Rebel on March 17, and the Arkansas Derby.

“The boys have always been deeply involved, and in my opinion, you could not have had a better teacher than Charles himself,” Pope said.

Another theme to be carried over is maintaining the integrity of racing at Oaklawn.

“That’s probably what my father was most, most proud of,” Louis Cella said. “Everything we’ve done in the past and everything we do in the future is to make sure the sport continues to have the highest standard.”

Cella said Oaklawn has created a new position of integrity officer that has been filled by Hal Wiggins, the retired trainer who won the Kentucky Oaks with Rachel Alexandra and later worked as a steward.

“Dad was very excited about this program,” Cella said. “Hal has free range. He’s got out-of-competition testing. He’s going to drop in on farms outside the backstretch, walk around the backstretch, walk around the facility.”

Wayne Smith is another part of the new generation. He was brought on a year and a half ago and took over as general manager midway through last season when Eric Jackson was named senior vice president.

“We’re excited about the future,” Smith said.

Smith said during the offseason the Cellas added new box seats for patrons and built three new barns. Smith said he also went on several recruiting trips with director of racing David Longinotti and Pope.

New faces include trainers Doug O’Neill, Peter Miller, and Norm McKnight and jockeys Gary Stevens, Mike Luzzi, David Cohen, Alan Garcia, and Edwin Maldonado. Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen is seeking his third straight local title, and Ricardo Santana Jr. is going for a sixth consecutive riding crown.

“We truly believe right now we have one of the most competitive racing products to put forth this season,” Smith said. “We’ve got a stellar program.

“The reinvestment the Cella family is putting into the product is resonating with folks around the country.”

Pope received requests for about 2,600 stalls; the track can house 1,500 horses. He said drawing points included maiden special weights at $75,000 and some allowances at $80,000. Pope also noted that the purse of the Apple Blossom, a Racing Festival of the South staple each April, was raised to $700,000.

It sounds like a season that would make Charles Cella proud.