Oaklawn cancels Friday card due to extreme cold

Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark., has canceled Friday's program "due to the extreme cold," the track announced. Oaklawn anticipates racing Saturday.

Oaklawn has lost five dates at this meet due to the winter weather that has gripped many parts of the country, including its opening weekend in early January. Oaklawn also had to postpone its first major prep for the Arkansas Derby, the Grade 3, $300,000 Southwest Stakes, by six dates because a winter storm forced the cancellation of its original placement on a holiday Monday program Feb. 16. The race was run last Sunday.

Temperatures dipped into the teens Thursday night in Hot Springs. It was sunny and 24 degrees mid-morning Friday.