Oaklawn canceled through week; stakes, including Southwest, rescheduled Feb. 25-28

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. -- Oaklawn Park has canceled racing from Thursday through Sunday due to the winter storm system that has engulfed Arkansas, according to a text notice issued by the track late Monday.

It’s the second round of weather-related cancellations for Oaklawn, which last raced Feb. 11. The track had called off Presidents Day weekend ahead of the forecasted storm.

Oaklawn then moved the Grade 3, $750,000 Southwest Stakes, Grade 3, $250,000 Bayakoa, and Grade 3, $600,000 Razorback Handicap from the holiday weekend to Saturday, Feb. 20, and later, because of the worsening forecast, to Sunday, Feb. 21.

The stakes will now be rescheduled across the dates of Feb. 25-28, according to the text notice. The Southwest is a points race for the Kentucky Derby.

The extreme conditions that were forecast came to pass. The snow hit the Hot Springs area Sunday night and into Monday. Temperatures went as low as 11 degrees and a winter storm warning that was to be lifted Tuesday has been extended to Thursday, according to the Weather Channel. There are calls for six to 10 more inches of snow and “dangerous” wind-chill levels throughout Arkansas.

Freezing conditions last week forced the cancellation of training Friday and ultimately the Feb. 12 card of racing. Horses have not been able to train through Monday.