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.
The Arkansas Derby has produced some of the sport's most celebrated champions, including Triple Crown winner American Pharoah and Kentucky Derby winners Smarty Jones and Super Saver, along with standout champions such as Curlin , Afleet Alex, and Summer Bird.
Few individuals shaped modern horse racing more than Lukas. Over a career that helped define the national era of the sport, Lukas trained four Kentucky Derby winners—Winning Colors, Thunder Gulch, Grindstone, and Charismatic—along with seven Preakness Stakes (G1) winners, the second most of any trainer in the race's history. His achievements also include a unique chapter in Oaklawn history: in 1984, Lukas trained Althea, the only filly ever to win the Arkansas Derby. Her victory came in record time—a mark that still stands as the fastest Arkansas Derby ever run.
Lukas was among the first trainers to operate a national racing stable, and Oaklawn became a regular winter home for his horses as he prepared contenders for the Triple Crown trail.
"When we came here, we fell in love with it," Lukas once said of Hot Springs. "I love it here."
While Lukas helped shape the modern era of Thoroughbred racing, Cella now leads the historic track that continues to shape the sport's future.
Oaklawn has been guided by the Cella family for more than a century, with Louis A. Cella representing the fourth generation of leadership. Since becoming president in 2017, Cella has continued the family's long-standing commitment to racing while also strengthening Oaklawn's position among the country's premier racing venues.
In recent seasons, Oaklawn has continued to evolve under Cella's leadership through significant investment in the racing program, facility improvements, and expanded support for the horsemen and backstretch workers who sustain the sport. From purses to infrastructure, those investments reflect Cella's belief that the strength of Thoroughbred racing depends not only on champions on the track, but on the trainers, grooms, and backstretch workers who make the sport possible.
Each spring, the Arkansas Derby draws the sport's top trainers, jockeys, and contenders to Hot Springs—continuing a tradition that has made Oaklawn one of the most influential stops on the Triple Crown trail.
"It is an honor to be recognized by the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame," Cella said. "To be inducted in the same class as D. Wayne Lukas—someone who contributed so much to Thoroughbred racing—makes it especially meaningful."
For Oaklawn, the shared recognition reflects more than individual achievement. It underscores the enduring role the historic Arkansas track has played in shaping generations of Derby contenders and the people behind them.
Founded in 1958, the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame recognizes athletes, coaches and contributors who have made significant impacts on sports in the state.
This press release has been edited for content and style by BloodHorse Staff.
