Venue for January 14 contest

[JolyB]

I'd like to try someplace different for the Saturday's contest. We have just visited Santa Anita, and I'm sure we shall do so again soon. I'm almost positive that Gulfstream Park will be chosen before the end of this month (how could we not play the Pegasus card?). The Fair Grounds has had problems mustering full fields - this past weekend had a number of races with a miniscule number of runners after scratches. And the tracks in the North - well, let's just say that weather cancellations have been abundant and let it go at that. After Aqueduct cancelled both weekend cards, I spent my handicapping time shoveling snow instead and have the sore muscles to prove it.

So, this Saturday I'd like to take us all to Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Arkansas. It's opening weekend and they have a modest 9 race card scheduled that has drawn full fields. While there is a forecast of rain, the predicted temps should be near 60, so there is no chance of freezing stuff. As far as I know, Oaklawn does not have a turf course, so we won't have to worry about what to do with the MTO's. First post is 1:05 PM Central time.

What I would really like to do is to meet all of you in person at a place like Oaklawn - it's a beautiful track and Hot Springs is a very interesting town - a National Park is located within city limits and the Arlington Hotel seems to be proud of the fact that Al Capone held court there back during the Prohibition era. Alas, that isn't likely, so I'll just be content to look for all of you in the starting gate of our contest.