Arkansas Derby

Anyone here planning on going to Oaklawn for the Ark Derby? I've never been down there, so I decided this year I'm making the drive from StL with a friend that's green to horse racing. He suggested we take a road trip to one of the better tracks so I offered this suggestion.

Can anyone that's familiar with that area make suggestions for where to stay, eat, get tickets, etc.? I read somewhere that the attendance is about 80,000 on derby day there now. So, I want to make reservations early because Hot Springs is not that big of a place!!! Maybe now is not considered early??? Uh-oh!