Super Retriever Dog Competition Set for Hot Springs on May 26-28

HOT SPRINGS – The Super Retriever Series Crown Championship, which showcases many of the nation’s top retriever-dog handler teams, will be returning to Oaklawn Park’s racetrack infield in Hot Springs on May 26-28. Admission to the competition will be free to the public all three days.

“The Crown Championship was spectacular when we held it in Hot Springs last year,” said Steve Arrison, executive director of the Hot Springs Convention and Visitors Bureau. “This year’s competition will be even greater because we will have additional competition in vertical jumping and also duck- and goose calling as part of the Retriever Trials.”

“The Oaklawn infield is a great place to bring the family and watch these super canine athletes competing at a world-class level in retriever trials, horizontal leaping and, new this year, the Super Vertical Jumping Competition,” Arrison said. “The parking and admission are free, and there will be lots of concessions in the infield in addition to the top dogs in the world competing for the championship.”

Events will begin at 2 p.m. Friday, May 26, with pre-qualifying for the Super Vertical competition. The world record for the event is a vertical leap of 7 feet 4 inches.

On Saturday, May 27, the infield will open to the public at 8 a.m. with competition to begin at 8:30 in the Retriever Trial Championship. At 10 a.m. the semifinals in the Ducks Unlimited Super Vertical competition will begin. The Retriever Trials field will be trimmed to 12 dogs beginning at 1 p.m., and the Super Vertical finals will be held at 2:30 p.m.

The Oaklawn infield will open at 7 a.m. on Sunday, May 28, and the Retriever Trials Top 8 Series will begin at 8 a.m., featuring world champion duck and goose callers during the competition. The Ducks Unlimited Super Fly horizontal jumping competition, a spectacular sporting dog event, will start at 11 a.m. The Retriever Trials semifinals will get under way at 1 p.m. and the Super Fly jumping semifinals will begin at 2 p.m. and will be followed by the finals. The Retriever Trials Championship will start at 4 p.m., followed immediately by awards ceremonies.

Free parking will be available in Oaklawn’s northern parking lot, the parking area along Central Avenue closest to downtown Hot Springs.