Oaklawn cancels racing Friday through Sunday due to severe winter weather

Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark., has canceled live racing for Friday, Saturday and Sunday because of a winter storm system that has gripped the region since Sunday, the track announced on Wednesday.

Sam Houston Race Park and Louisiana Downs also have canceled recent race dates during the patch of winter weather. Those tracks, and Delta Downs, have lost some training time, too, and Oaklawn announced Wednesday there would be no training until further notice.

Oaklawn made the decision to cancel the upcoming raceweek just before 2 p.m. Central on Wednesday.

“Out of an abundance of caution for our equine and human athletes, we made the decision to cancel,” said Jason Milligan, vice president of racing for Oaklawn. “The forecast is still calling for sub-freezing temperatures throughout the weekend.”

Oaklawn was forced to cancel racing last Sunday due to a winter storm warning that came to fruition that afternoon as snow fell in Hot Springs. There was additional snow Monday, and snow remained on the ground Wednesday as temperatures were struggling to reach a forecast of 40 degrees.

Temperatures are set to drop back down, going into the 30s on Friday and slipping into the teens overnight on both Friday and Saturday, according to AccuWeather.

The status of lost races and stakes – the $150,000 Fifth Season was to have been run this Saturday – will be determined at a later date, said Milligan.

“We are going to have those discussions in the very near future,” he said shortly after the cancellation was made Wednesday. “We haven’t made any decisions.”

Oaklawn announced the track will remain open for simulcasting from Thursday through Sunday. The simulcast operations will be from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Central. The track also operates a hotel and casino, which remains in operation.

Louisiana Downs, which is operating a meet for Quarter Horses, has canceled races for Thursday. It also lost live cards this past Tuesday and Wednesday. Sam Houston lost its live card this past Monday.

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