Hot Springs in Garland County, Arkansas — The American South (West South Central)

Horse Racing in Hot Springs

— Hot Springs Central Avenue Historic District —

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, November 5, 2022

1. Horse Racing in Hot Springs Marker

Inscription. Horse racing had its origins in the early history of Hot Springs. Farm boys brought their horses into the small settlement to race them prior to the Civil War. Formal racing began in the 1890s. The Essex and Oaklawn tracks began operations in 1904.

Erected by City of Hot Springs.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Animals • Sports. A significant historical year for this entry is 1904.

Location. 34° 30.792′ N, 93° 3.241′ W. Marker is in Hot Springs, Arkansas, in Garland County. It can be reached from Central Avenue (Arkansas Route 7), on the right when traveling south. Marker is on the sidewalk, next to a streetlamp post. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 416b Central Ave, Hot Springs National Park AR 71901, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Arkansas’ Ouachita Mountains.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Upper South.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory

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of the Mississippian Culture,

the Louisiana Purchase,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Hot Springs' Major Fires (a few steps from this marker); Quapaw Bathhouse (within shouting distance of this marker); Hot Springs Flood of 1923 (within shouting distance of this marker); Hot Springs National Park Rotary Club Centennial Mural (within shouting distance of this marker); Hot Springs, Incorporated (within shouting distance of this marker); Ozark Bathhouse (within shouting distance of this marker); Fordyce Bathhouse (within shouting distance of this marker); “Rebirth of the American Spa” (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Hot Springs.

Also see . . .
1. About Us: History. Oaklawn wasn’t the first racetrack in Hot Springs, but it’s the lone survivor of what was a fairly crowded central Arkansas landscape more than a century ago. (Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort) (Submitted on November 23, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

2. Don’t Bet on This One.

Oak Lawn Race Track image. Click for full size.

Via Boston Public Library, Tichnor Brothers Collection (CC BY 2.0), circa 1930/45

2. Oak Lawn Race Track

Essex Park had the key ingredients to succeed: It was the first to open and was situated along the railroad and main road into Hot Springs. But a suspicious fire doomed it. ("Dr. Rando", hsnp.com) (Submitted on November 23, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

Credits. This page was last revised on November 25, 2022. It was originally submitted on November 23, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 628 times since then and 29 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 23, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

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