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

Robert Holthus

Thoroughbred Racing

— Hot Springs Arkansas Walk of Fame —

Robert Holthus Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 14, 2024

1. Robert Holthus Marker

Inscription.
Leading trainer at Oaklawn nine times • President of Arkansas Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association • Top trainer at Hawthorne, Arlington, Detroit, and Louisiana Downs • Trained Proper Reality, winner of 1998 Arkansas Derby, earned $1.7 million

Royal, Arkansas • Inducted 2000

Erected by Hot Springs Arkansas Walk of Fame.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Animals • Sports. A significant historical year for this entry is 1998.

Location. 34° 30.652′ N, 93° 3.232′ W. Marker is in Hot Springs, Arkansas, in Garland County. It is on Central Avenue (State Highway 7) just north of Spring Street, on the right when traveling north. The marker is embedded in the sidewalk on the north side of the Hot Springs City Visitor Center. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 629 Central Avenue, 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 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: Brent M. Jennings (here, next to this marker); B. J. Sams (here, next to this marker); Tracy Lawrence (here, next to this marker); Paul Runyan (here, next to this marker); Fay Jones (here, next to this marker); Freeman Harrison Owens

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(here, next to this marker); Bill Dickey (here, next to this marker); The Martins (here, next to this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Hot Springs.

Also see . . .
1. Robert E. Holthus (Wikipedia).

Excerpt: Robert E. "Bob" Holthus (June 24, 1934 – November 22, 2011) was an American Thoroughbred racehorse trainer. Holthus is the all-time winningest trainer at Oaklawn Park and as of 2005 had won nine trainer's titles there. He also won training titles at Chicago's Arlington Park and Hawthorne Race Course, the Detroit Race Course, Ellis Park Racecourse in Henderson, Kentucky, Louisiana Downs in Bossier City, Louisiana plus a fall meeting at Turfway Park in the suburbs of Cincinnati, Ohio. Bob Holthus was the trainer for the Kentucky Derby entrants Greater Good and Pro Prado but is best known nationally as the trainer of Pure Clan and Lawyer Ron from the start of his career in 2005 until October 2006.

(Submitted on January 16, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

2. Three-Time Grade I Winner Proper Reality Dies (BloodHorse.com).

(By BloodHorse Staff, 2/19/2010) Excerpt:
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 13, 2024

2. Robert Holthus Marker
Looking east from Central Avenue; it is the rightmost of four markers in this photo. The Hot Springs City Visitor Center parking lot is in the background.
Proper Reality, a 25-year-old multiple graded stakes winner of more than $1.7 million who had been retired at Old Friends Thoroughbred Retirement Facility, was euthanized Feb. 19 at Hagyard’s Equine Medical in Lexington.
The sturdy bay son of In Reality out of Proper Princess (by Nodouble) won the grade I Arkansas Derby, Metropolitan Handicap, and Iselin Handicap, as well as the grade II Illinois Derby and grade III Essex Handicap. He ran fourth to Winning Colors in the 1988 Kentucky Derby (gr. I). Bred and owned by Mrs. James A. Winn, Proper Reality was retired at Bob Holthus’ Kilkerry Farm in Royal, Ark., until he was donated to Old Friends last summer. Holthus trained the horse throughout his career.

(Submitted on January 16, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Credits. This page was last revised on January 16, 2025. It was originally submitted on January 15, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 211 times since then and 34 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on January 16, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.