2010 PROMOTIONS SCHEDULE
SATURDAY, JANUARY 16
Corned Beef Sandwiches for 50 cents – The enormously popular reduced price of Oaklawn’s signature sandwich, the Corned Beef Sandwich, will take place on Saturday of the opening weekend of racing action. Not only will fans get to see some fast fillies and mares in the $50,000 American Beauty Stakes, but they will also get to enjoy another great tradition, the delicious Corned Beef Sandwich, at the special bargain of just 50 cents each. This has become a very popular opening weekend special since 2004 and there will be plenty of corned beef consumed on that day. First post time on Friday, Saturday and Monday of opening weekend will be 1:00 p.m. Gates open at 11:00 a.m. and the Instant Racing/Gaming Room will remain open for play on Friday, Saturday and Sunday until 4:00 a.m. the following morning.
MONDAY, JANUARY 18, MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR., DAY
Get your FREE Rachel Alexandra Bobble Horse!! A special day of racing completes our four-day opening weekend and it will be highlighted by the Smarty Jones Stakes, our first distance race for Arkansas Derby-bound three-year-olds and the free Rachel Alexandra Bobble Horse, honoring perhaps the greatest filly to ever race in America. (One per customer with paid admission. While supplies last)
FEBRUARY 15, PRESIDENTS DAY
Presidents Day $55,000 Cash Giveaway and the $250,000 Southwest Stakes. Be on hand to participate in the large cash giveaway that highlights the national holiday. After the first race the prize will be $1,000. After the second race, $2,000. And the amount increases by $1,000 with each race, climaxing with the 10th race and a cash prize of $10,000!! You must be here to win, but everyone comes to the races on Presidents Day, so you’ll have plenty of company. The featrure race on Presidents Day is the $250,000 Southwest Stakes, the first major step at Oaklawn leading to the Triple Crown Classics of the Spring. In just the last five years Southwest winners like Smarty Jones, Lawyer Ron and Denis of Cork have made a major mark on the national three-year-old scene. Not only will you have a chance to win some big money in the Cash Giveaway, but you’ll also see some of the budding superstar three-year-olds in action. There is a special first post time of 1:00 p.m. on that day.
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 21
Hot Springs Village Day – The annual day celebrating the many patrons of Oaklawn who reside in Hot Springs Village, the retirement community north of Hot Springs. Admission, seating, parking, and programs are provided to Hot Springs Village patrons.
SATURDAY, MARCH 13
The Great Boat and Truck Giveaway and the $300,000 Rebel Stakes –The popular Boat and Truck Giveaway returns once again. This year one lucky fan will ride away with a Tahoe I/O Deckboat from Bradford Marine and a beautiful quality pickup truck to haul it to the water. Plus this is also the day of the $300,000 Rebel Stakes, the final critical step for three-year-olds prior to the Arkansas Derby.
FRIDAY-SATURDAY, APRIL 2-3 RACING FESTIVAL OF THE SOUTH OPENS
This year's Racing Festival of the South will begin on Friday, April 2 and feature the finest three-year-old fillies in the land in the $300,000 Fantasy Stakes at a mile-and-a-sixteenth. Over the past two season, Oaklawn fans have seen some of the finest fillies ever to race in America, Rachel Alexandra, Eigh Belles and Pure Clan, to contest the Fantasy and this is one of the most anticipated races of the Festival from coast-to-coast.
Saturday, April 3, is Million Dollar Day. Racing fans will see the finest older horses in the land do battle in the $500,000 Oaklawn Handicap, for older horses at a mile-and-an-eighth, and the $500,000 Apple Blossom Handicap, for older fillies and mares at a mile-and-a-sixteenth. With a recent roster of champions that includes Zenyatta and Azeri, it's no woder the Apple Blossom Handicap ranks as the most important race in the Spring for fillies and mares across the country.
SATURDAY, APRIL 10, ARKANSAS DERBY DAY
The Arkansas Derby will once again have a purse of $1,000,000 but this year, for the first time in 20 years, it will be raced as a Grade 1 event, following action by the American Graded Stakes committee in December. The meet’s largest crowd will be on hand to witness the best three-year-olds in America in the mile-and-an-eighth Arkansas Derby. The infield will likely to be open for the public. And, of course, everyone will be eager to lay eyes on the best three-yeear-olds in America. This race has served as the launching pad for such nationally-renowned runners as Smarty Jones, Afleet Alex, Lawyer Ron and Curlin to etch their spots into the list of Eclipse Award winning champions. From there it’s on to the Triple Crown and fans will want to see their selections race in person. Annually the Arkansas Derby Day program is all distance races, including the popular Trails End, for claiming-level horses at one mile-and-three-quarters, the longest race of the year. The infield area will be open for all festivities on Friday and Saturday of closing weekend. There is a special first post time of 12:00 Noon on Derby Day, April 10.