The Inaugural is won by Oakhill Farm's King of Kentucky. Season loses two of its 43 scheduled dates when programs of February 23-24 are lost because of heavy snow. J. W. Russo's Jet Avenger takes Inaugural before a crowd of 17,343. Current track President and Chairman of the Board Charles J. Cella took over as head of Oaklawn, succeeding his father John G. Cella, who had died unexpectedly. Jockey Larry Snyder won with six of his eight mounts on April 1 to become first jockey to ever win that many races on a single Oaklawn program.
Records continue to be broken.
1971 J. Sweeney Grant, under whom Oaklawn had enjoyed 16 years of remarkable growth, died. He succumbed to a rare blood disease, July 7. The winning numbers were 12-10. Ranch's Crimson Saint lowers Oaklawn's half mile World and American marks for the distance. This became Oaklawn's first six figure purse.