Hot Springs in Garland County, Arkansas — The American South (West South Central)
The Cella Family
Thoroughbred Racing
| | Hot Springs Arkansas Walk of Fame | |
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 14, 2024
1. The Cella Family Marker
Oaklawn Jockey Club founded 1904 by Charles and Louis and developed by John and his family into Arkansas No. 1 attraction Led Oaklawn to national prominence as chapter member of Thoroughbred Racing Association Charles J., president since 1968 developed Racing Festival of the South Won Eclipse Award in 1995 with Northern Spur
Hot Springs Inducted 2001
Erected by Hot Springs Arkansas Walk of Fame.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Entertainment • Sports. A significant historical date for this entry is February 24, 1904.
Location. 34° 30.646′ 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: Joey Lauren Adams (here, next to this marker); Tommy Freeman (here, next to this marker); Marjorie Lawrence (here, next to this marker); Jo Ann Castle (here, next to this marker); Russ Taff
this page online
Also see . . .
1. Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort (Wikipedia).
Excerpt: Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort, formerly Oaklawn Park Race Track, is an American thoroughbred racetrack and casino in Hot Springs, Arkansas. It is the home to "The Racing Festival of the South", a four-day series of races that concludes with the Arkansas Derby.(Submitted on January 18, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)Oaklawn Park opened on February 24, 1904. The city declared a holiday to mark the occasion, and more than 3,000 people attended the first day of racing. In 1907, political problems in the state forced the closure of Oaklawn. Both original business partners had died, so the closed track was sold, to Louis Cella. The track reopened in 1916 under the auspices of the Business Men's League of Hot Springs. In 1918, Cella died, and the track passed to his brother, Charles. For the next few years, the track was opened and closed periodically because of vagaries in the state's political climate.
In
1935, Oaklawn increased purses to become competitive with the best tracks across the country. The first Arkansas Derby was run in 1936 for a purse of $5,000. On October 29, 1940, Charles G. Cella died and the presidency of Oaklawn transferred to his son, John G. Cella (1909-1968). In 1968, Oaklawn president John G. Cella died suddenly and his son Charles J. Cella took over.Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 13, 20242. The Cella Family MarkerLooking east from Central Avenue; it is the rightmost of five markers in this photo. The Hot Springs City Visitor Center parking lot is in the background.
2. Charles J. Cella (Wikipedia).
Excerpt: Charles Joshua Cella (August 27, 1936 December 6, 2017) was president of Southern Real Estate and Financial Company, an executive in the American Thoroughbred horse racing industry, and a racehorse owner. Cella was a member of the third generation to head the Cella family's Oaklawn Jockey Club Inc., which owns and operates Oaklawn Park Race Track racetrack in Hot Springs, Arkansas. He took over as its president in 1968 on the death of his father, John G. Cella.(Submitted on January 18, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)An innovator, Charles J. Cella led Oaklawn Park Race Track to even greater success. Oaklawn Park is a member track with the Thoroughbred Racing Association; Cella served as the association's president in 197576. In 2005, the Cella family and Oaklawn Park received the Eclipse Award of Merit. In 2015,
eventual Triple Crown winner American Pharoah began his record-setting season with a pair of victories at Oaklawn.
Credits. This page was last revised on January 18, 2025. It was originally submitted on January 18, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 434 times since then and 122 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on January 18, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.
