Oaklawn notes

— Churchill snaps up Oaklawn’s track man

For the second time in about 18 months, Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs is searching for somebody to oversee daily maintenance of the racing surface.

Jamie Richardson, who was track supervisor during the 2012 live meeting, resigned last week to become assistant track superintendent at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky.

David Longinotti, Oaklawn’s assistant general manager for racing, said Oaklawn hopes to name Richardson’s replacement “as soon as possible” before the 2013 live meeting begins Jan. 11.

“It’s great for Jamie,” Longinotti said. “It’s a wonderful opportunity.”

Richardson, 44, said he interviewed for Churchill’s track superintendent position that became vacant after Butch Lehr’s retirement this summer.

An assistant’s job subsequently became open after Churchill promoted Lehr’s younger brother, David, to superintendent early last month.

“It’s a good opportunity,” Richardson said. “Hopefully, I’ll have the opportunity to fill his shoes upon his retirement.”

Richardson said he begins work at Churchill on Oct. 8.

Richardson was named Oaklawn’s track supervisor in June 2011, replacing Steve Breckling, who had held the position since 2005.

Richardson had spent most of the previous 26 years working in track maintenance in Maryland.

He was track superintendent at Pimlico in Baltimore from 1989-2008.

“I’ve got nothing but great things to say about Oaklawn,” Richardson said. “I liked my time here. The timing is what it is and out of my control, being so close to the meet. They’ll be fine here at Oaklawn. It’s a good group of people.”

Hobby horses

Junebugred was scratched from Saturday’s $1 million Grade II Pennsylvania Derby at Parx near Philadelphia to run in the $500,000 Grade II Indiana Derby on Oct. 6, trainer Steve Hobby of Hot Springs said.

“This is a little deep,” Hobby said, referring to the Pennsylvania Derby field that included Grade I winners Alpha and Golden Ticket.

Hobby said he was told by Hoosier Park racing secretary Kevin Greely that the track’s Indiana Derby is coming up “pretty light.”

Owned by Alex and JoAnn Lieblong of Conway, Junebugred scored his biggest career victory in the $100,000 Smarty Jones Stakes on Jan. 16 at Oaklawn.

Hobby said two of the Lieblongs’ most promising 2-year-olds won’t be seen again until the 2013 Oaklawn meeting that begins Jan. 11.

I’mclassyandsmart underwent surgery to remove a tiny bone chip from a knee after her runner-up finish in the $100,000 Sorority Stakes on Sept. 2 at Monmouth Park in New Jersey.

Hobby said he will probably give the filly two months off before she resumes training.

“She’ll make part of Oaklawn,” Hobby said. “She won’t make the beginning, probably.”

Hobby said the unstarted Marshall Raylan, a $650,000 Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co. March graduate, is turned out in Kentucky.

Marshall Raylan (by Dixie Union) was close to running twice this summer before suffering minor physical setbacks.

“He’s fine,” Hobby said. “He just had too many works, too much training for a 2-year-old, so we had to stop for a while.”

Promotion

Oaklawn has promoted Sandy King to assistant director of operations, the track announced Friday.

King, a Pine Bluff native, was hired as a floor operations supervisor 18 months ago.

In his new role, King will help provide a constant management presence on site, assisting with the coordination of security and emergency procedures, according to a news release.

The operations team is responsible for monitoring all areas of Oaklawn for cleanliness, service and safety.

Sports, Pages 30 on 09/23/2012

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