State sports briefs

HORSE RACING Oaklawn to honor Snyder

Among the new additions set to debut at Oaklawn Park when the track opens Jan. 25 is the Larry Snyder Winner’s Circle.

For the first time in Oaklawn’s 115-year history, winners of all overnight races will return to a dedicated winner’s circle named in honor of the longtime jockey and steward.

“When it came time to think about a name for the new winner’s circle, it was a natural choice to name it in honor of Larry Snyder, a valued member of the Oaklawn family for nearly 60 years,” Oaklawn President Louis Cella said.

Snyder enjoyed a 35-year career as a jockey that began in 1960 and included eight riding titles at Oaklawn where he won 1,248 races at the Hot Springs track. Among his most notable Oaklawn victories were the 1983 Rebel Stakes aboard that year’s Kentucky Derby winner, Sunny’s Halo, as well as the 1989 Arkansas Derby on Dansil, whom he would ride to a fourth-place finish in both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes.

VOLLEYBALL UAFS tops Dallas Baptist

Rachel Williams had 13 kills and Anna Demmer added 11 kills as the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith defeated Dallas Baptist 25-15, 25-22, 25-23 on Thursday in Fort Smith.

Taylor Stoops had 20 assists, and Laryssa Correa added 14 assists for the Lady Lions (16-10, 6-3).

GOLF Dunstan, Nelke qualify for national four-ball

Bailey Dunstan of Little Rock and Raychel Nelke of Pocola, Okla., qualified for the 2019 U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball championship with a five-stroke victory Thursday at Hot Springs Country Club.

Dunstan and Nelke won with a 74, five strokes better than the teams of Julie Oxendine and Libby Pledger and Mallorie Luitwieler and Kate Strickland.

Nora Phillips and Meredith Smith finished fourth with an 80, while Kerry Lareau and Michele Wallace were fifth with an 86.

The 2019 U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball championship will be played at Timuquana Country Club in Jacksonville, Fla.