2002-2007

2002

Azeri, largely off her brilliant victory in the Apple Blossom Handicap, catapulted herself into the position as the top-rated horse in America by the end of the year. Her brilliance was the highlight of an Oaklawn season that saw across-the-board increases in attendance and mutuel handle. Cole Norman captured the trainer's title for the second straight year and once again was among the top three trainers nationally in wins for the year. James Lopez won his first Oaklawn riding title. Instant Racing® continued it's meteoric rise in handle, providing over $500,000 for purses. Two days were lost to weather, the first such occurrence since 1997.

2003

In spite of losing six days to weather-related causes, the season ended on a high note as 61,752 attended Arkansas Derby Day and wagered over $12.8 million. Azeri nosed out Take Charge Lady in one of the greatest races in Oaklawn history, the Apple Blossom Handicap. Cole Norman won his third straight trainers title and saddled 71 winners, easily breaking the record of 50 wins established in by David Vance. Jamie Theriot edged Terry Thompson, 71-69 for jockey honors.

2004

IThe Centennial year was, in words of track president Charles J. Cella, "the most exciting season we\'ve ever had." Not only did Smarty Jones sweep the Arkansas Derby, Rebel and Southwest, he went on to capture the Kentucky Derby and Preakness, emerging a national sports celebrity and a household name. Attendance increased 4.4%, on track handle 4.2% and Instant Racing®, 31.1%. General manager Eric Jackson attributed the gains to "the historical significance attached to the 2004 season." He called it "a storybook meeting."

2005

Oaklawn became the first racetrack in American to be honored with an Eclipse Award. The Eclipse Award of Merit was award the Cella family and Oaklawn in January festivities in California. An election, which allowed expanded games of skill and the Oaklawn Community Benefits Plan, passed by 90 votes in November. For the fifth consecutive year Oaklawn continued to show across-the-board gains in attendance and mutual handle. Afleet Alex, who would end the year as three-year-old champion, set a record with his eight-length win in the Arkansas Derby and equaled the stakes record in easily winning the Mountain Valley Stakes. He also went on to win both the Preakness and Belmont Stakes.

2006

A record crowd of 72,464 made its way to Oaklawn on April 15 for the 70th running of the Arkansas Derby. The previous high was the 71,203 which attended Arkansas Derby Day, 1986. The $14,700,492 in all-sources pari-mutuel handle on Arkansas Derby Day ranked second best in Oaklawn’s long history. Three weather-related cancellations totally wiped out the Presidents’ Day weekend, one of the most popular weekends of the season. Instant Racing enjoyed an increase of 49% for the season. In large part Instant Racing was responsible for the record purse distribution of the season, $14,988,950.

2007

Trainer Steve Asmussen enjoyed one of the greatest days a trainer could ever imagine on Arkansas Derby Day. Not only did he saddle eventual champion Curlin to a record 10 ½ lengths win in the Arkansas Derby, but he won both of the undercard stakes, the Northern Spur with Takedown and the Instant Racing with Cream Only, plus two other races, for a five-win day, taking his season-leading total of wins to 36. The track lost four consecutive early season days, February 1-4, due to weather-related causes and the track infield was open on Arkansas Derby Day only, the first time the popular area was so limited in decades. Electronic Games of Skill were approved once the State Supreme Court struck down challenging legislation and the gaming end of Oaklawn business surpassed the $10 million mark in purse money developed for live racing since 2000.