Here are some of the highlights from this issue…

2018 ARKANSAS-BRED RESTRICTED STAKES

Local racing fans watched five $100,000 restricted Arkansas-bred stakes races during Oaklawn’s 2018 live meet; four being 6 furlongs and the fifth at a distance. Starting the series, Ministry, after an eight month layoff, won The Downthedustyroad Breeders’ S. The son of Ordained and Heated Debate, bred by Arthur Hall & C Frank Newman, owed by Starfish Stable LLC, trained by Jaimie Gonzalez and ridden by Tommy Pompell, took the victory by 1 1/4 lengths in a driving finish over Avisionofchocolate and Ms. Fifty First St., second and third place finishers respectively.

A few days later J.E.’s Handmedown, by Storm and a Half – Pennywit, fought off contenders from all corners to win the Nodouble Breeders’ Stake for breeder/owner David Whited, trainer Elueterio Altamirano and jockey Ramon Vazquez. Glacken’s Ghost and Five O One followed for place and show respectively. J.E.’s Handmedown was named after Arkansas horseman, John E Anthony, because he was the owner of the dam, Pennywit, before Whited. The winner’s trophy was presented to Whited by Dash Goff, son of Gene Goff, who was the breeder of NODOUBLE, an Arkansas-bred that won the 1968 Arkansas Derby, finished third in the Preakness Stakes and after whom this stakes race is named.

2017 AWARDS BANQUET

The 2017 Awards Banquet was held March 30, 2018 at the Clarion on the Lake.