{"id":530215,"date":"2026-03-18T05:34:11","date_gmt":"2026-03-18T05:34:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/530215\/"},"modified":"2026-03-18T05:34:11","modified_gmt":"2026-03-18T05:34:11","slug":"a-thoughtful-blueprint-oaklawn-redraws-its-architecture","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/530215\/","title":{"rendered":"A Thoughtful Blueprint: Oaklawn Redraws Its Architecture"},"content":{"rendered":"

By J.N. Campbell<\/p>\n

HOT SPRINGS, Ark.\u2013The mercurial Louis I. Kahn said that, \u201cThe sun never knew how great it was until it hit the side of a building.\u201d For something a touch more vernacular, the master architect was still no less pithy when he reminded us that, \u201cArchitecture is the thoughtful making of spaces.\u201d<\/p>\n

Oaklawn Park, ever the innovator in the world of horse racing, has faithfully scooped up Kahn’s architectural spirit. They have put thought into a blueprint that can change their backside for the future and it starts in the form of a new receiving barn.<\/p>\n

With stall spaces full to the gills by the time December rolls around, and the need to control a massive transient horse population, the Hot Springs track endeavored to build a location where overflow horses could enter and be monitored with strict, pacesetting standards in mind.<\/p>\n


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\u201cThere is nothing like a common sense approach in horse racing,\u201d shrugged trainer Ron Moquett, who served as a consultant as the plans for the new receiving barn were being drawn up. \u201cWhen you involve horsemen in the design of something like a barn it can make a real difference moving forward. Oaklawn continues to think different and the scope here makes the sky the limit.\u201d<\/p>\n

As a conditioner, Moquett said he understands how difficult it is for horsemen to run a barn and adhere to all of the complex medication rules that exist in the world. But according to him what tracks can do is create spaces that will keep the threats like contamination at bay and the key to success is utilizing the wealth of knowledge that is out there.<\/p>\n

\u201cI’ve been saying for years about the dangers of leaving coffee cups unattended, that hay deliveries need to be separated, that you have to be careful with washing stations and that when you put one of your horses in a stall that you aren’t familiar with that you never know what has gone on inside of it,\u201d Moquett said. \u201cThis new barn is about using our brains and making smarter decisions that are focused on what’s best for the horse.\u201d<\/p>\n

The new barn is located just inside the entrance of the stable gate. When horses arrive the trailers don’t have to go far and immediately a pair of security personnel who are bilingual appear with scanners. The layout of the barn is fundamentally the same as any other barn, but there are special modifications throughout.<\/p>\n

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Receiving barn’s exterior doors in the background | JN Campbell<\/p>\n

At each end, haylofts allow for materials to be sequestered, so instead of a hay dump along the sides there is no need for vendors to disturb the occupants. Anything that is being delivered will be captured on the multitude of cameras present, and those materials can be examined and sorted before they enter the main structure.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was really important to have good signage and to make clear what the expectations are here,\u201d said Moquett. \u201cBarns are always open and it’s really difficult to monitor them, so that was a priority when it comes to the use of technology. But we also have rules about bucket use, hand washing, keeping caffeinated out of the barn and of course bathroom use too. \u201d<\/p>\n

Moquett had quite a bit of input about stall construction.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe wanted surfaces that can be easily cleaned, so the walls can be wiped and prepared once horses move out,\u201d he said. \u201cThe stall doors have a higher hoop on them, so they can’t reach anything on the ground outside.\u201d<\/p>\n

Special stalls are also available so horses can go directly inside. Having wash areas that are on separate systems and do not share drains with the barn next door can stop contamination before it happens.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe need to be thinking about comfort and weighing that alongside protection,\u201d he added. \u201cWe will continue to find a better process and the way we do that is by minimizing risks.\u201d<\/p>\n

Moquett said the next steps are for Oaklawn to add more than 60 stalls to meet demand and complete the new pony barn. These plans will begin the day the last horse ships out this year.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe’re being judged more than we have ever been judged before,\u201d he said. \u201cThis is how we make a difference in what we literally build for the future.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"By J.N. Campbell HOT SPRINGS, Ark.\u2013The mercurial Louis I. Kahn said that, \u201cThe sun never knew how great…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":530216,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[56],"tags":[230,238377,228,226,227,238378,238379,229,88,238380,5536,238381,238382,238383,238384,238385,5546],"class_list":["post-530215","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-arts-and-design","tag-architecture","tag-arkansas-racing","tag-arts","tag-arts-and-design","tag-artsanddesign","tag-barn-architecture","tag-controlled-medications","tag-design","tag-entertainment","tag-hisa","tag-horse-racing","tag-oaklawn-park","tag-receiving-barns","tag-ron-moquett","tag-shipping-horses","tag-stable-gate","tag-thoroughbreds"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/530215","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=530215"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/530215\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/530216"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=530215"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=530215"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=530215"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}