Oaklawn Cancels Presidents’ Day Weekend Racing

With extreme cold temperatures and the possibility of ice in and around Hot Springs, Arkansas, Oaklawn park has cancelled its live racing programs from Saturday, Feb. 13 through Monday, Feb. 15, and will reschedule the three graded and one listed stakes that were set to take place.

“The weather forecast does not look promising this weekend between the ice and frigid temperatures, so out of consideration for the safety of the horses, our horsemen and fans, we wanted to make this call as soon as possible,” Oaklawn General Manager Wayne Smith said. “We appreciate the cooperation we have received from our horsemen and Racing Commission. Though we are frustrated Mother Nature has thrown us a curveball, our rescheduled stakes will create a spectacular weekend of racing next week.”

The GIII Bayakoa S., the GIII Razorback H. and the GIII Southwest S. have been pushed back to Saturday, Feb. 20, while the Dixie Belle S. and Downthedustyroad S. will now run Sunday, Feb. 21. Entries for the Feb. 20 program will be taken Sunday, Feb. 14. The track will stage 11 live races Feb. 20 and 10 races Feb. 21.

Oaklawn is expected to conduct live racing Thursday and Friday, Feb. 11 and 12, with post time at 1 p.m. CT each day. The casino and simulcast racing will remain open all weekend. No reservations will be required for seating in the simulcast area for this weekend only and will be on a first-come, first-served basis.

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Oaklawn Cancels Weekend Races Due To Winter Storm; Graded Stakes Rescheduled To Feb. 20

Due to the predicted winter weather expected in Hot Springs over the next few days, Oaklawn is canceling its extended Presidents' Day weekend, Saturday, Feb. 13 – Monday, Feb. 15, and is rescheduling the three graded stakes and one listed stakes.

The $250,000 Bayakoa Stakes (G3), $600,000 Razorback Handicap (G3), and $750,000 Southwest Stakes (G3) will now be run Saturday, Feb. 20 and the $150,000 Dixie Belle Stakes and $150,000 Downthedustyroad Stakes will be run Sunday, Feb. 21.

“The weather forecast does not look promising this weekend between the ice and frigid temperatures, so out of consideration for the safety of the horses, our horsemen and fans, we wanted to make this call as soon as possible,” General Manager Wayne Smith said. “We appreciate the cooperation we have received from our horsemen and Racing Commission. Though we are frustrated Mother Nature has thrown us a curveball, our rescheduled stakes will create a spectacular weekend of racing next week.”

Oaklawn expects to run the Thursday and Friday cards as scheduled. Post time is at 1 p.m. on both days. The casino and simulcast racing will remain open all weekend. No reservations will be required for seating in the simulcast area this weekend only, first come, first served.

Entries for the Saturday, Feb. 20 card will be taken on Sunday, Feb. 14. Oaklawn will run 11 races next Saturday and 10 races next Sunday.

All reservations made for Saturday, Feb. 13 – Monday, Feb. 15 have been cancelled. Fans wishing to attend the races Feb. 18 -21 must call 501-363-4660 starting at 9 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 15. Reservation lines are open Monday – Saturday, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. For more information, visit www.Oaklawn.com.

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Breeders’ Cup ‘Win And You’re In’ Races To Prohibit Lasix

As 2021 kicks off with stakes races being run without Lasix at the leading racetracks and Thoroughbred racing events across the country, including the 2021 World Championships, Breeders' Cup is pleased to announce that this year's “Win and You're In” Challenge Series races will be run without Lasix. Additionally, Graded Stakes points for the purpose of selection into a Breeders' Cup World Championships race will only be awarded in Lasix-free graded stakes races.

As an operator of world-class racing with the highest safety and integrity measures in place, these initiatives are in keeping with Breeders' Cup's efforts to lead by example to move towards elimination of race day medications and to better align the industry with the rest of the world. Breeders' Cup welcomes others to join these efforts to bring the U.S. further in line with international standards.

2020 saw a successful year of 2-year-olds running Lasix-free, including on Future Stars Friday at the Breeders' Cup World Championships at Keeneland. In addition, the groundbreaking passage of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA), which was signed into law on Dec. 27, 2020, has provided a critical framework for the industry going forward. Under HISA, Lasix-free racing will be the general standard as of July 1, 2022.

“Even before HISA was signed into law, running the World Championships Lasix-free was a goal of Breeders' Cup,” said Drew Fleming, President and CEO of Breeders' Cup Limited. “Extending this standard to all races associated with the Breeders' Cup World Championships will hopefully set an example for other racetracks and stakeholders to embrace forthcoming safety and integrity measures, including the elimination of race day medication, as a new, safer era for our storied sport approaches.”

Aligning Breeders' Cup's year-round “Win and You're In” program with the World Championships by modifying the Field Selection Process and allocation of Challenge Race designations to races that prohibit Lasix further strengthens Breeders' Cup commitment to this effort. The safety of human and equine athletes and the integrity of our sport must always come first, which is why Breeders' Cup, like so many others around the world, supports eliminating Lasix in racing.

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Early Nominations To Kentucky Oaks, Old Forester Turf Classic Due Saturday

Early nominations for the Grade 1, $1.25 million Longines Kentucky Oaks and $1 million Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic (G1), held annually on Kentucky Derby Weekend at Churchill Downs, are due Saturday, Feb. 13.

Early nominations to the 1 1/8-mile Longines Kentucky Oaks on Friday, April 30 – the nation's premier race for 3-year-old fillies – cost $200. A payment of $100 must be paid to become eligible for the 1 1/8-mile Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic, which annually attracts top older grass stars and is run immediately prior to the Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) on Saturday, May 1.

Owners and trainers can nominate horses by calling the Churchill Downs Racing Office at (502) 636-3806. Stakes nomination forms are available online: https://www.churchilldowns.com/horsemen/stakes/nomination-forms/.

A late nomination period, for both the Longines Kentucky Oaks and Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic will run through Sunday, April 10. The late nomination fee to the Oaks is $1,500 and Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic is $1,000

For more information, visit https://www.churchilldowns.com/horsemen/stakes/.

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