Oaklawn Park
The crown jewel of mid-South racing and one of the most important Kentucky Derby prep stops on the calendar. Oaklawn’s six-month winter meet from December through early May features a championship-quality dirt program led by the Arkansas Derby in early April.
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EST. 1904
About Oaklawn Park
The crown jewel of mid-South racing and one of the most important Kentucky Derby prep stops on the calendar. Oaklawn’s six-month winter meet from December through early May features a championship-quality dirt program led by the Arkansas Derby in early April. Oaklawn Park is located at 2705 Central Avenue, Hot Springs, AR 71901.
Arkansas Derby, early April
The premier Kentucky Derby prep race in the central United States. The $1.25 million Grade 1 over 1 1/8 miles offers 100 Kentucky Derby qualifying points to the winner. Past Arkansas Derby winners include American Pharoah (2015), Smarty Jones (2004) and Authentic-runner-up Nadal (2020).
Meets & featured races
Oaklawn Park runs a six-month winter meet from early December through early May, anchored by a deep program of Kentucky Derby prep races. The Arkansas Derby in early April is the meet’s most important race and one of the four major Kentucky Derby prep races nationwide.
Arkansas Derby (early April)
The Arkansas Derby is one of the four major Kentucky Derby prep races, alongside the Florida Derby, Santa Anita Derby and Blue Grass Stakes. The 1 1/8-mile Grade 1 offers 100 Kentucky Derby qualifying points to the winner and is the most important Kentucky Derby prep run west of the Mississippi.
Rebel Stakes (mid-March)
The Rebel Stakes is the Arkansas Derby prep at Oaklawn, run over 1 1/16 miles on dirt three weeks before the Arkansas Derby itself. The Grade 2 carries 50 Kentucky Derby qualifying points to the winner and routinely produces the favorite for the Arkansas Derby.
Apple Blossom Handicap (mid-April)
The Apple Blossom is the country’s premier dirt race for older fillies and mares, run over 1 1/16 miles in mid-April. The Grade 1 has crowned modern stars including Zenyatta, Rachel Alexandra and Letruska. Trainer Bob Baffert and Steve Asmussen have particularly strong Apple Blossom records.
Arkansas Derby Key Trends
The Arkansas Derby has produced multiple Kentucky Derby winners and tends to attract the deepest cluster of dirt-route three-year-olds outside Florida. Speed figures from Oaklawn’s winter meet are highly reliable, and the Arkansas Derby winner often pairs strong fig with proven 1 1/8-mile stamina — an ideal Kentucky Derby profile.
Live races at Oaklawn Park
Upcoming races at this track
Live racecards pulled from our North American racing data feed, refreshed throughout the day.
No scheduled meets at this track in the next 14 days.
Check the Racing Predictor for today's races at other US tracks, or visit Racing Data for past results and statistics.
Arkansas Derby — key trends
Bet on Oaklawn Park with AmWager
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Track statistics & betting angles
1-mile dirt oval. Oaklawn does not have a turf course — the entire program is run on dirt. The main track plays as a fair, speed-favoring surface.
Winter and early spring weather can produce a wide range of track conditions. Sloppy and muddy tracks are routine, with most horsemen having favored mud horses for the meet.
Oaklawn is the spa town’s biggest tourist draw outside the racing season. The combination of horse racing, hot springs, and the historic downtown makes it a destination meet.
Steve Asmussen is the meet’s perennial leading trainer. Bob Baffert, Brad Cox, Todd Pletcher and Wayne Lukas all have strong Oaklawn records.
How to watch Oaklawn Park racing
FanDuel TV and TVG provide daily live coverage of every Oaklawn race throughout the winter meet. NBC Sports broadcasts the Arkansas Derby. For race-by-race picks, the horse.bet Racing Predictor publishes daily Oaklawn Park analysis the morning of racing.
Visiting Oaklawn Park
Oaklawn Park is in Hot Springs, Arkansas, about 55 miles southwest of Little Rock. The track is accessible by car via US 70. Hot Springs is a popular weekend destination — book accommodations early for Arkansas Derby weekend. The track operates an attached casino, making it a year-round entertainment destination.
Official Oaklawn Park website →
Frequently asked questions
When is the Arkansas Derby?
The Arkansas Derby is run on the first Saturday in April each year, exactly five weeks before the Kentucky Derby.
How long is the Oaklawn winter meet?
The Oaklawn meet runs for six months from early December through early May. The Arkansas Derby falls in early April.
How can I bet on Oaklawn?
AmWager offers wagering on every Oaklawn race throughout the winter meet with a new customer bonus.
Does Oaklawn have turf racing?
No — Oaklawn is a dirt-only track. All races at the meet are run on the 1-mile dirt oval.
Where can I find Arkansas Derby picks?
The horse.bet Racing Predictor publishes Arkansas Derby Day picks the morning of racing, with full-field probability ratings.
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