Historic season

May 14, 2024

Historic season: Oaklawn distributes over $60M in purses, daily handle up 7.1%A new article in The Sentinel-Record about Oaklawn’s historic season doesn’t mention that part of Oaklawn racing’s current success is due to the money it receives from the 17.5% tax paid by all three current casinos on net casino gaming receipts, which is “used only for purses for live horse racing… by Oaklawn.”

Bigger purses mean better horses make their way to Oaklawn.

Over $60 million in total purses were distributed this racing season, and that amount will be even larger after the Pope County casino opens.

When open, gaming taxes on Legends Resort and Casino will contribute as much as $10 to $11 million a year to the ARC’s Purse and Awards fund.

A lot of money is being bet at Oaklawn during the racing season. “The total handle for Oaklawn’s races this season was $450,263,230.” “Handle” is a term for the amount of money bet.

Info and Quick Links

An unofficial repository of material and links related to Pope County.

The blog is a reverse chronological compilation of posts, social media posts, and new ongoing material. Commenting is intentionally turned off.

Pope Count official website
Quorum Court—Justices of the Peace, phone numbers, and email
Association of Arkansas Counties website
Casino Gaming License, November 12, 2021
Amendment 100, Amendment 100.
Casino Gaming Rules of The State of Arkansas – Arkansas Racing Commission, effective the second week of March 2019
Economic Development Agreement between CNB and Pope County.
Arkansas Municipal League website
Russellville Stuff
Search Public Records—Use this to search for existing permits, plans, inspections, code cases, requests and licenses.
ReImagine Russellville 2040—September 2020, a narrative report on the Comprehensive Plan for Russellville. The plan serves as an official policy statement of the City of Russellville for directing growth and development within its city limits and planning area.

Litigation

  1. There are currently NO active cases related to the Pope County Casino. There have been 18 cases filed so far, including appeals:
    1. 58CV-18-768—Knight v. Gibson; filed 12-27-2018
    2. 58CV-19-439—CFABPC & Knight v Cross et al. filed 8-13-2019.
    3. 60CV-19-5832—Gulfside Casino Partnership v. ARC, filed 8-15-2019.  This was a judicial review of the ARC denial of Gulfside’s application.  Judge Tim Fox ruled in favor of Gulfside. This ruling was reversed and remanded by the Arkansas Supreme Court. Fox again ruled in favor of Gulfside.  The Arkansas Supreme Court reversed his ruling and dismissed the case.
    4. 60CV-19-5858—Knight et al v.ARC, filed 8-15-2019
    5. 58CV-19-462—Gulfside Casino Partnership v. ARC, filed 8-22-2019. A week after 60CV-19-5832 was filed in Pulaski County, Judge Tim Fox said the proper venue was Pope County and sent it there, where it was filed under this case number. Judge William Pearson found that the proper venue was Pulaski County.  The case was returned to Pulaski County, where it was refiled under the original case number and Judge. filed 8-22-2019
    6. CV-19-968—Gulfside Casino Partnership v. ARC, filed 12-23-2019
    7. 60CV-19-9172—CFABPC & Knight v. ARC, filed  12-27-2019
    8. CV-20-145—CFABPC & Knight v Cross et al., filed 3-2-2020
    9. CV-20-211—CNB v. Gulfside, filed 4-2-2020
    10. CV-20-438—CNB v. ADFA, filed 7-8-2020
    11. 58CV-20-429—Cross et al. v. ARC, filed 10-13-2020
    12. 60CV-21-1217—Legends et al v. ARC et al., filed 2-16-2021
    13. 60CV-21-1653—Gulfside v. ARC, filed 3-09-2021
    14. CV-21-289—CNB v. Gulfside, filed 6-28-2021
    15. 60CV-21-7742—Goodin v. ARC, filed 12-7-2021
    16. CV-23-50—Legends v. Gulfside, filed 1-26-2023
    17. CV-23-541—Knight v. ARC, filed 8-11-2023
    18. 60CV-23-7266—Goodin & Thone v. ARC, filed 9-25-2023

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Your voter registration information at Arkansas Secretary of State website: address, party association, ballot statuses, and polling place locations – also all of the districts that are applicable for your location.

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Arkansas Department of Transportation

I Drive Arkansas, traffic conditions, traffic cameras, etc.

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Arkansas Codes

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Arkansas Constitution

Article 5 § 1 – Initiative and Referendum–“no local legislation shall be enacted contrary to the Constitution or any general law of the State, and any general law shall have the effect of repealing any local legislation which is in conflict therewith.
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Legends Resort & Casino | Arkansas

Other Miscellaneous Stuff