HOPKINSVILLE, KY (CHRISTIAN COUNTY NOW) – Oak Grove Racing, Gaming, and Hotel is kicking off their sixth live horse racing season on April 1. While a lot of people know them exclusively as a casino, behind the building is a massive 60,000 square foot equestrian center and 5/8 mile standardbred racing track.
Cara Collins, the Racing and Equine Operations Manager, explained that their standardbred races are uniquely different than the thoroughbred racing everyone knows. Mainly, the horsemen are riding behind the horses in a sulky instead of on top. The track with standardbred races is also smaller, and the horses go at a different pace.
Races are family friendly, and their simulcast area allows people to make knowledgeable wagers during the race. Collins believes this is the year that is going to put Oak Grove on the map for horse racing.
“We’ll be playing with the big dogs after this season,” said Collins.
Bringing in the community
The goal is to see more Christian County fans pack the grandstand this season. With the area’s history with racing, and their close proximity to Fort Campbell, she believes they have the potential to engage a diverse audience of both new and old racing fans. “Our hopes in building it here was to be a place for the community,” said Collins.
Having a track in Oak Grove allows horseman to have an additional stop in Kentucky to race all year long, while also giving local horse enthusiasts a place to ride. Outside of racing season, they open up the equestrian center for recreational riding and other events like dog shows and tractor pulls.
“Ideally the end goal is to make sure we have a track that is fast, a track that is safe, and a track that is very welcoming and friendly to the horseman. Because without them we could not do what we do here,” Collins told Christian County Now.
Find a schedule of events and races on the Oak Grove Racing website.
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