Oaklawn cancels final five races Sunday due to bad weather

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Oaklawn Park canceled the final five races on its nine-race program Sunday due to inclement weather. The decision was made after conferring with the local riding colony, according to officials.

It’s the second partial card lost during the meet. Oaklawn also has lost four full programs to bad weather since the meet began Jan. 10.

It was overcast and about 60 degrees when Oaklawn opened for training with a fast track at 7 a.m. Central. Rains moved into the area within an hour, and by the time the first race went off at 1:30 p.m., temperatures had plummeted to 45 degrees, and the surface was sloppy. Heavy rains fell on and off throughout the first four races of the program, and there was lightning in the area.

Forecasts call for overnight temperatures to drop to 20 degrees.

Oaklawn announced that racing was canceled while horses were in the paddock for the fifth race. The track remained open for simulcasting and gaming. Racing is scheduled to resume Thursday.