Racing season is heading down the stretch and is almost at the finish lines!

May signals the end of racing season, but the fun isn’t stopping at Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort.

The first weekend of May is the biggest weekend of the entire racing season: The Kentucky Derby. Horsing enthusiasts, jockeys and more will be gathering at Churchill Downs in Louisville to witness the 2019 Derby. Hot Springs may be almost 600 miles from Louisville, but that won’t stop visitors from enjoying the races.

Oaklawn will be hosting a simulcast of the Kentucky Derby races, starting at 9 a.m. on Friday, May 3. The simulcast will also be held on Saturday, May 4, starting at 9 a.m.

On May 3, Oaklawn will also host the Oaklawn Mile, a 1-mile race for 4-year-olds and up. The race has a $200,000 purse.

Visitors can see the famous Budweiser Clydesdales on Saturday. They will be on the track, starting at 1:15 p.m., and will be available for pictures in the Infield until 3 p.m.

There will also be a Kentucky Derby Hat Contest on Saturday. There will be a hat contest at Oaklawn’s Infield at 2 p.m. and one at the casino starting at 7 p.m.

Of course, we can’t forget the races! The first post on Saturday is 12:30 p.m. The Oaklawn Invitational will be held on Saturday. This 1 1/16 mile race has a purse of $300,000. Meanwhile, the Arkansas Breeders’ Championship, a 1 1/16 mile race, has a purse of $200,000.

Don’t leave before Sunday! You could will a brand-new Jeep! Guests can earn entries for the Jeep giveaway between April 1 and May 5. Entries are earned for every 20 points on a Oaklawn Rewards Card each day; each guest receives a free entry each day. The day of the drawing, May 5, guests must swipe their Oaklawn Rewards card at a kiosk.

Every Friday in May, there will be a Pepper Punch Out. From 6-9:40 p.m., guests can enter a drawing to get the chance to win $300.

Throughout the month, there will be great live entertainment at Oaklawn! You can hear the Western tunes of Dylan Earl, an LA native who’s based in Fayeteville, on May 4. Or you can get up and move to the dynamic sounds of the Wesley Pruitt Band on May 11. The Brent Frazier Band will be performing at Silk’s Bar and Grill on May 17-18.

No matter what your taste in music, there’s sure to be a musical act that excites you!

READ MORE: The Hot Springs Revival