Oaklawn Park Race Track
Cella was a member of the third generation to head the Cella family's Oaklawn Jockey Club Inc., which owns and operates Oaklawn Park Race Track racetrack in Hot Springs, Arkansas. He took over as its president in 1968 on the death of his father, John G. Cella. John Cella had also owned Fort Erie Racetrack in Fort Erie, Ontario, Canada, but sold it in the 1950s to E. P. Taylor. An innovator, Charles J. Cella led Oaklawn Park Race Track to even greater success. Oaklawn Park is a member track with the Thoroughbred Racing Association; Cella served as the association's president in 1975–76. In 2005, the Cella family and Oaklawn Park received the Eclipse Award of Merit. In 2015, eventual Triple Crown winner American Pharoah began his record-setting season with a pair of victories at Oaklawn.