No doubt that historical racing has been good for Oaklawn. It has been interesting to watch it expand every few years from a small area in the grandstand into that big parking lot south of the track and I think it has been good that Charles Cella’s sons are staying involved. I have been a long time observer of things at Oaklawn. I went to my first horse race there in 1968 while a college student in south Arkansas. I moved to Hot Springs in 1976 and I used to attend the races a lot, but haven’t gone in recent years, but maybe I need to change that. I am alone now with three dogs. I talk to them a lot, but so far they haven’t replied. When they do, I will know for sure that I need to get out more.
I hope that the recent vote to have more casinos doesn’t harm Oaklawn. They have had a monopoly on the casino action for most of the state outside the Memphis area where Southland Greyhound Park is the only other racino. Now there will be an Indian casino in Pine Bluff and a couple of casinos in Russellville. Also with the passing of the new law authorizing casinos, Oaklawn will be able to become a full fledged casino with live dealers and such, which I think would be more labor intensive and thus, expensive to operate. So far, everything has been electronic or video gaming.
12-20-2018, 11:55 AM
Hybrid Mode
