Oaklawn Riding High Into 2024-25 Meet
Oaklawn grads Mystik Dan and Thorpedo Anna captured this year's Derby and Oaks.
Fresh off the heels of outstanding performances by Oaklawn Park grads Mystik Dan and Thorpedo Anna in this year's Kentucky Derby (G1) and Kentucky Oaks (G1), the Hot Springs, Ark., oval reignites Dec. 6 in anticipation of their 2024-25 winter-spring meeting.
Heading into the 65-day race meet, Oaklawn Park's backstretch is filled to capacity with just shy of 1,500 horses for 110 different trainers, including 20 new outfits. Newer faces to the barn area this year include Hall of Famer Mark Casse and Saffie Joseph Jr.
"When you look at racing across the country, you see declines and short fields," said Oaklawn president Louis Cella. "At Oaklawn, we're averaging 10.5 horses per race on our opening weekend. Our star is shining bright and people are aware of that and coming to us."