Oaklawn cancels Sunday card after first race due to snow, rain

Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark., canceled Sunday's program after the first race to allow more time for maintenance on the racing surface, the track announced.

Oaklawn had “suspended” morning training after the break Sunday for “track maintenance purposes” and had pushed back first post about an hour. The first race went off without incident. The horses were waiting to be saddled for the second race when officials sent them back to the stable area.

Oaklawn experienced snow and rain on Friday. The surface also was wet for Saturday, and for the first race Sunday. The surface was listed as “good” for the opener Sunday.

Oaklawn announced the early pick five and pick three would be refunded and a consolation would be paid in the daily double ending on the second race. Wagers on the second race were to be refunded.

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“Due to our snow, rain, and freezing temperatures over this past weekend, and in an abundance of caution for both our equine and human athletes, the remainder of today’s races are canceled,” Oaklawn said in a statement. “We will continue to renovate the track and prepare for next week’s racing.”

Oaklawn plans to offer morning training Monday.

Racing is scheduled to resume Friday.

“At Oaklawn, the safety of our equine and human athletes will always take priority,” Oaklawn president Lou Cella said in a statement. “In consultation with our jockeys, horsemen, and outside engineers, we chose to cancel the remainder of the card so that we can prepare for next week’s racing, highlighted by Saturday’s Mockingbird Stakes.”

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