The $14,000 raised during the final six days of the 2021-2022 meeting was through the new “Ring the Bell” program, which gives winning connections following each race an opportunity to donate at least $100 toward aftercare. The “Ring the Bell” Program Returns to Oaklawn to Benefit AftercareĪfter some test rings last spring, Oaklawn’s fund-raising efforts for local Thoroughbred aftercare began in earnest Friday afternoon with the opening of its scheduled 68-day live racing season. In 2020, the racing commission awarded the Pope County license to Gulfside, but the state Supreme Court nullified it the following year when it ruled that Gulfside’s endorsement from a Pope County Judge was not acceptable because the judge was not in office at the time of the application.Contact: Jennifer Hoyt, or (501) 363-4305Īrkansas HBPA President Bill Walmsley watches as Oaklawn President Louis Cella rings the bell last season The amendment passed with 54.1% of voters in favor statewide. The Jefferson County license is held by Saracen Casino Resort, but a casino has never opened in Pope County. In 2018, Arkansas voters approved a constitutional amendment that allowed for casinos at what are now called Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort in Hot Springs and Southland Casino in West Memphis, along with one casino each in Jefferson County and Pope County. We will work with the commission to ensure all legal requirements of Amendment 100 are fulfilled and that the process is carried out in compliance with Arkansas law.” “DFA will be working with the Arkansas Racing Commission to open a new application window in a timely manner.

“The Department of Finance and Administration’s Regulatory Division is still reviewing the opinion issued by the Arkansas Supreme Court this morning,” said Trent Minner, Administrator of DFA’s Regulatory Division, which includes the Arkansas Racing Commission.

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