your day at the races - View this location on map  'Post time at Oaklawn Park (800-625-5296) isn't until 1 p.m. on Saturdays (noon on derby day), but get there early. At Oaklawn, the sport of kings takes a decidedly populist turn. Die-hard bettors arrive well ahead of the more casual race fans to study the current handicapping sheets and watch the simulcast races on outsized projection screens. From the glassed-in clubhouse to the indoor paddock, the whole complex buzzes with the distant hope of picking a long shot to win. On any given Saturday, the one-mile dirt track will accommodate 10 to 12 races spaced roughly 27 minutes apart. The opening race usually sets the inescapable rhythm of race day - 25 minutes of betting, 2 minutes of intense photo-finish drama, then 2 minutes of triumph or ticket-tearing despair. Repeat until sundown.'' New York Times 2705 Central Avenue, Hot Springs, Arkansas Cultural, Kids |