Oaklawn Park report

— Numbers, official’s spirits up

Oaklawn Park completed its first six days of live racing with substantial gains in on-track attendance and mutuel handle compared to 2012.

Average daily attendance through Monday was9,804, a 12.2 percent increase from last year.

Average daily on-track handle jumped 17.3 percent to $706,510.

Comparing business numbers is tricky because Oaklawn lost two live dates (Jan. 12-13) after heavy rain created unsafe track conditions, and Monday’s special holiday program, unlike the previous five years, occurred during the second scheduled week of live racing and not the first.

But on-track business was up each day compared to the corresponding dates in 2012.

“It’s been wonderful,” Oaklawn General Manager Eric Jackson said Monday afternoon.

Jackson said he believes several factors have contributed to the strong start, including an improved economic climate in Arkansas.

“We’ve been really fortunate, except for those two days, to have good weather here,” Jackson said.

“And the racing has been spectacular. All of that’s good. We’ve still got to get through February. But it’s all good right now.”

A crowd of 12,821 wagered $775,108.40 on Monday’s nine-race card.

Classix fever

A $48,820.20 Classix carryover awaits fans when racing resumes at 1:30 p.m.

Thursday.

The Classix, which requires fans to select the winners of races 3-8, hasn’t been solved since the live meeting began Jan. 11.

Monday’s Classix races included two winning favorites - Casper the Cat ($6.20) and Cyber Secret ($5) - but three double-digit winners.

Bridge of Allan ($14) won the fifth race, Bold Choice ($14.80) won the sixth race and Will Take Charge ($26.20) won the final leg, the $150,000 Smarty Jones Stakes for 3-year-olds.

Knight in Armour ($9.40) won the fourth race.

Calling the Hogs

Arkansas-bred Mallett, named after former Arkansas Razorbacks standout quarterback Ryan Mallett, won Monday’s first race.

The 4-year-old Hesabull gelding races for Sanders Brothers and is trained by David Whited, who has a training facility in the Hot Springs area.

Jimmie Sanders is a cattle farmer from Marshall.

Roy Sanders (also the filly’s breeder) is a Little Rock attorney.

Another horse named after a former Razorbacks football standout, McFadden, has been retired from racing, said the gelding’s trainer, Ron Moquett of Hot Springs.

Moquett said Arkansas bred McFadden, named for tailback Darren McFadden, is now a jumper.

McFadden, an 8-year-old son of Cinnamon Creek, won four races in his career, three of those at Oaklawn.

Final furlong

Cecil Alexander of Heber Springs has been reappointed to the Arkansas Racing Commission by Gov.

Mike Beebe. Alexander is the commission chairman and his term expires Jan. 14, 2018. … Funeral services for Alexander’s mother, Evelyn Alexander, were Monday in Heber Springs. Alexander, 99, died Saturday. … Cyber Secret, powered to a 4 1/2-length second-level allowance victory in Monday’s seventh race for owner and Oaklawn President Charles Cella and trainer Lynn Whiting.

It snapped a six-race losing streak. … Barney R became the first winner of the meeting for owner Danny Caldwell and trainer Federico Villafranco in Monday’s second race.

Caldwell was the leading owner last year at Remington Park in Oklahoma City.

Barney R was claimed out of the race for $7,500 by Cody Autrey, Oaklawn’s leading trainer this year.

Strong start

Average daily ontrack attendance and mutuel handle are up 12.2 and 17.3 percent, respectively, in 2013 compared to the first six corresponding dates in 2012:

YEAR ATT. HANDLE

2012 8,736 $602,217

2013 9,804 $706,510

At a glance DAY 6

ATTENDANCE 12,821 ON-TRACK HANDLE $775,108.40 OFF-TRACK HANDLE $1,562,113.57 TOTAL HANDLE $2,337,221.97 CLASSIX CARRYOVER $48,820.20

MONDAY’S STARS Jon Court and Alex Birzer each rode two winners.

THURSDAY’S TIMES First post for the nine races is 1:30 p.m. Gates open at 11 a.m.

THURSDAY’S TELEVISION “Oaklawn Today” replays (7:30 p.m., Resort Cable Channel 5 11 p.m., KARZ, Channel 42, Little Rock, 11 p.m.) THURSDAY’S RADIO “Oaklawn Morning Line” (8:45 a.m., KVRE-FM, 92.9, Hot Springs Village)

Sports, Pages 20 on 01/22/2013

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