HOT SPRINGS, Ark. — Almost nothing beats a day at the races. Some spend hours doing their research, while others simply pick a horse by name to bet on— either way, while you’re at the track, likely all the talk will be around a “stakes race”.
“A stakes race means the owner has paid to either nominate the horse to be able to run in the entries. They may pay to start and might even pay to enter the horse in the race so there’s a fee attached,” explained Nancy Holthus, paddock analyst at Oaklawn Park.
Although a fee to enter could be a small investment for a big return if the horse does well.
“If you win a stakes race the value of the horse goes up exponentially, even if you hit the board your value can go up not only on the track but also the breeding shed,” she added.
Oaklawn Park offers over 40 stakes races from December until May including the Smarty Jones, the past weekend’s Rebel Stakes, and of course, the Arkansas Derby.
“We like to say all good things come through Hot Springs because Oaklawn has produced so many champions that are either shipped into race or that have been stabled here throughout the meet. Just the fact we have the purses that we do, we do get those better horses,” Holthus said.
And if you haven’t made it out to a stakes race yet now is the time!
“We’ve got the most amazing athletes, professional athletes. Equine and human,” she said.