Rebel Stakes sets Oaklawn records
Oaklawn set a record attendance and had a record handle of more than $10 million for Saturday’s Rebel Stakes, a track official said Monday.
“We had a record handle on a Rebel Stakes day and record attendance for a Rebel Stakes day,” said Jennifer Hoyt, media relations manager, adding the handle is the total amount of bets.
On Saturday, race fans bet a total of
$10,771,984, and attendance for the day was
37,500 people, Hoyt said.
“The whole weekend was perfect, the weather was gorgeous and with the parade it was kind of this perfect storm for attendance,” Hoyt said. “A lot of people came into town for the parade Saturday, but they needed something to do in the afternoon.”
After a wetter-than-normal February, Hoyt said Saturday was the push needed to finish out the last four weeks of the live meet.
“Despite the weather we had in February, we have had terrific attendance, but we were kind of hoping we wouldn’t get hurt by weather this weekend,” she said. “This was just the kind of momentum build we were hoping for to finish out the last four weeks.”
Hoyt said Oaklawn is already getting some top names in racing lined up for the Arkansas Derby on April 14, including Justify, a Bob Baffert-trained 3-year-old who has gained a lot of respect and “been very impressive winning his earlier races,” and Unique Bella, a top filly and top pick for the Apple Blossom.
“When you get that kind of star power, you can expect a big crowd for the Arkansas Derby,” Hoyt said.
A team of the world-famous Budweiser Clydesdales, which was brought to town by Arkansas Beverage Sales for the First Ever 15th Annual World’s Shortest St. Patrick’s Day Parade, also made a stop at Oaklawn Friday, participating in race festivities and drawing a crowd of nearly
10,000 people, according to Hoyt.
It will be 11 years before St. Patrick’s Day falls on a Saturday again. This year, it made for a tremendous event in the history of the World’s Shortest St. Patrick’s Day Parade, organizers said.
“I can think of big and small cities that would love to have what we saw this weekend,” Steve Arrison, CEO of Visit Hot Springs, said. “The entertainment was great, both Friday with Grand Funk Railroad and Saturday with Morris Day and the Time. It was a two-day event because the
17th was on a Saturday and this was our 15th anniversary. I don’t think it will be two days again for a few years, but it all was perfect.”
This year included the star power of *NSYNC’s Joey Fatone as celebrity grand marshal and “Napoleon Dynamite’s” Jon Heder as the official parade starter, who took time while they were here to get out and about in Hot Springs.
“Joey Fatone actually went to The Big Chill Saturday night, got up on stage with the band and sang three songs,” Arrison said. “And I believe Jon Heder said he hiked up to the Mountain Tower and hiked Gulpha Gorge.
“The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders did some hiking as well, and Grand Funk Railroad went walking downtown before their concert. That’s what we want (celebrities) to do when they’re here — get out and see Hot Springs.”
Arrison said the crowd was tremendous because of the number of events, including the Rebel Stakes and spring break for Arkansas schools, taking place simultaneously over the weekend.
“The logistics of it all, handling a crowd that size can be a challenge,” he said. “You can only do so much, but everyone involved gave 110 percent and it all went as well as it could.”
The Budweiser Clydesdales, he said, made the event even more special this year.
“I can’t say enough how thankful we are to Arkansas Beverage Sales as our local Budweiser distributor for making that happen and bringing them here,” Arrison said. “It made the whole event that much more special.”