Smarty Jones will run out of the 15th post at Churchill Downs this Saturday.

All eyes in Arkansas are on the state's adopted horse, who, with a win, would capture the largest horse racing prize in American history.. $5.8 million.

The "Smarty Parties" all over the state start around 1pm, Derby follows a few hours later.

WPS

I've been hearing a lot about the Arkansas Derby this week. Where is it(what city) and what's the name of race track/park?

Arkansas Derby is held at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs (1 hour SW of Little Rock). It's the ninth race in the last day of Oaklawn's "Racing Festival of the South".

Some quick facts on Oaklawn and the Arkansas Derby....
- Track opened in 1904 and is celebrating their 100th year of operations
- Race track is a mile oval. The Arkansas Derby, like most other races before the Triple Crown, is a 1 1/8 mile race.
- Winner of the Arkansas Derby is automatically qualified for the Kentucky Derby.
- In honor of their 100th year, Oaklawn CEO Charles Cella put up a $5 million bonus, equal to that of the Triple Crown, for any horse that could sweep the $200,000 Rebel Stakes, the $1 million Arkansas Derby, and the $1 million Kentucky Derby. Smarty Jones won the Rebel Stakes by 3 1/2 lengths, and the Arkansas Derby by 1 1/2 lengths over Borrego, who's also running at Churchill Downs this weekend
- Roughly 67,000 people showed up for this year's Arkansas Derby. Handle was over $8 million.
- Horse that wins the Arkansas Derby receives a blanket of apple blossoms (state flower).


Here's the site for Oaklawn
<a href='http://www.oaklawn.com' target='_blank'>Oaklawn Park</a>

WPS