Every spring, the road to the Kentucky Derby (G1) runs through Hot Springs, Ark.
For decades, Oaklawn Park’s Arkansas Derby (G1) has served as one of Thoroughbred racing’s most important proving grounds, where champions sharpen their form before heading to Churchill Downs. Today, Oaklawn hosts one of the richest racing meets in the country, drawing many of the sport’s leading stables and contenders to Hot Springs each winter and spring.
On April 10, two figures deeply connected to that story—Louis Cella, president of Oaklawn, and Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas—will be honored together as members of the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame, recognizing their lasting influence on Thoroughbred racing and the historic track that connects their legacies…