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Oaklawn Shuffles Cards Due to Cancellations; Southwest Now Scheduled Feb. 3

Oaklawn Park, forced to cancel a number of race dates this month–including this coming weekend's live racing–due to winter weather, has moved the entire GIII Southwest S. card to Saturday, Feb. 3. A GI Kentucky Derby points race, the $800,000 Southwest is worth 20 points to the winner and points on a scale of 10-6-4-2 to the second- through fifth-place finishers. Although the Southwest was originally scheduled for Jan. 27 and racing is currently scheduled for that date, several stakes races have been reshuffled at the Hot Springs oval due to the cancellations.

All three Southwest undercard black-type events have also been moved to Feb. 3. They include the Martha Washington S. for 3-year-old fillies offering points on a 20-10-6-4-2 basis toward the GI Kentucky Oaks, as well as the American Beauty S. for filles and mares three and up and the King Cotton S. for horses three and up.

“The Southwest and Martha Washington are important preps for our 3-year-old stakes program,” said Oaklawn President Louis Cella. “They are also important points races for the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks. It is important for our horsemen to have ample opportunities to train their horses properly for the races. Not only has this winter weather forced us to cancel racing, but our horsemen have also missed some training days.”

The Southwest will join three other 20-point Derby preps also scheduled for Feb. 3: the GIII Withers S. at Aqueduct, the GIII Robert B. Lewis S. at Santa Anita, and the GIII Holy Bull S. at Gulfstream. The entire Southwest card will be drawn Sunday, Jan. 28 with the same races originally listed in the condition book for Jan. 27.

The GIII Bayakoa S., originally scheduled for Feb. 3, has been bumped back to Feb. 2 to accommodate the new schedule. In addition, the listed Fifth Season S., originally set for this Saturday, Jan. 20, will now be run Jan. 27. It will be redrawn.

Live racing at Oaklawn is scheduled to resume next Friday, Jan. 26 with a first post at 12:30 p.m. CST.

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Lages Named State Steward At Oaklawn; Brasher Association Steward

The Arkansas Racing Commission has appointed longtime racing official and state steward James Lages to the position of state steward for the 2021-2022 Oaklawn live season, which runs Friday, Dec. 3, 2021 to Sunday, May 8, 2022 in Hot Springs, Ark. Lages replaces Bernie Hettel, who served as state steward the last two Oaklawn meets.

“We are excited to have James Lages as the state steward of Arkansas,” Arkansas Racing Commission chairman Alex Lieblong said. “He brings a wealth of experience to the position, including having the insight only a former rider could have. His knowledge will be invaluable as we continue to work with Oaklawn to make Arkansas one of the strongest racing jurisdictions in the country.”

Lages is currently serving as state steward at Indiana Grand. He has also held the state steward position at Gulfstream Park, Pompano-Isle Casino, Colonial Downs, Monmouth Park, Delaware Park, Calder Racecourse and Fairmount Park. Lages began his career in racing as a multiple-stakes winning jockey and has held various positions as a racing official, including Patrol Judge, Paddock Judge and Claims Clerk. He was the Clerk of Scales at Monmouth Park for 11 seasons.

“I'm excited, it's an honor to be appointed State Steward of Arkansas,” Lages said. “Oaklawn has a rich racing history, great horsemen and a great future. I've already had a really warm welcome. I'm looking forward to the meet.”

Oaklawn has named longtime steward Rick Brasher as association steward for the upcoming live meet.

“Oaklawn is very happy to have Rick Brasher as our association steward,” vice president of racing Jason Milligan said. “He has a lot of experience, comes highly recommended and is well-respected by many of our horsemen that have worked with him at other tracks. As a former trainer, he brings a lot of valuable knowledge to the stewards' stand.”

Brasher, a Texas native, is currently a state steward in Oklahoma, working primarily at Will Rogers Downs, where he is chief steward, and Fair Meadows. He has also been a state steward in Texas, working at Sam Houston, Retama and Lone Star Park, in Louisiana at Evangeline Downs and in Wyoming at Wyoming Downs. He has been an association steward at Fair Grounds. Prior to his 20-year career as a steward, he was a trainer and worked as a starter at Retama.

“It's just an honor to work at Oaklawn,” Brasher said. “I'm really looking forward to it. When I was a trainer, it was always my favorite place to race. I have a lot of fond memories there and I'm looking forward to getting back to Hot Springs.”

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Letter to the Editor: Cynthia McGinnes

For the sake of being entirely accurate, which would help members of the press and public who aren't close followers of racing, I think it is important to clarify that Bob Baffert's positive tests have all been for overages of permitted medications not for banned substances.

I think it is an important point to make, as it is not the same as what Jason Servis was using. Also, the positive test for Gamine in the Oaks was within the rules–she received the Beta Vet 18 days before the race, which had a 14-day suggested withdrawal time. Gamine did not clear the medication within that withdrawal time, which happens occasionally.

Finally, perhaps not everyone knows that the Arkansas Racing Commission vacated the disqualifications for Gamine and Charlatan, restoring the purse money, because of problems with the testing. Several other horses that day turned up positive for lidocaine. Baffert and several other trainers, I believe, paid fines as absolute insurers, but there were no further penalties because of problems with the testing.

For the six months after Gamine's Oaks, which was an explainable violation, Baffert had no further positives until the Derby, where the tests are still ongoing as to which beta variant tested positive.

Actually, if the first Saturday in May hadn't been the first day of the month, it would not have been five in one year. Since May 1 there have been no further positives, making it basically one in the last year.

I feel as if the media has used incomplete information to blacken racing's reputation, and hope you feel the same way. I believe that it was the fungus cream that tested, as Baffert knew from Gamine's experience not to trust a withdrawal time for Beta Vet, and he certainly knew it would test. Medina Spirit' s performance was not enhanced in any way. The Derby winner was not doped!

I do hope as one of the most-read and -trusted publications that you can help to get the difference between banned substances and overages of permitted medications

made clear to the general public and media. Racing doesn't deserve this black eye.

Yours truly,

Cynthia McGinnes

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Oaklawn Renews Commitment To Clenbuterol-Free Racing

Working in partnership with the Arkansas Racing Commission and the Arkansas HBPA (Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association), Oaklawn has announced, subject to regulatory approval, the prohibition of Clenbuterol or any other beta2-agonist within 120 days of a race. This restriction is part of Oaklawn's ongoing commitment to enhancing the safety and integrity of its racing program.

Conducted by Industrial Labs, the presence of Clenbuterol and other beta2-agonist will be determined through blood, urine and hair follicle testing.

“Banning the use of Clenbuterol and other beta2-agonists further proves our commitment to the safety and integrity of our racing program,” said Oaklawn President Louis Cella. “Every decision we make is to enhance the experience of our horsemen and fans at Oaklawn. When we say “Racing First,' we lead by example.”

Oaklawn's 2021-2022 season runs from Friday, Dec. 3 to Sunday, May 8. The schedule features a total of 36 stakes worth $12,300,000, highlighted by the $1.25 million Arkansas Derby (G1) and three $1 million stakes races – $1 million Rebel Stakes (G2), $1 million Oaklawn Handicap (G2) and $1 million Apple Blossom Handicap (G1). All allowance races will be worth a minimum of $100,000 as part of the richest purse structure in Oaklawn's 118-year history.

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