THE HISTORY

The Caddo Indians thrived along the banks of the river making use of its water for fishing, farming, and travel. By the mid 1500’s they traded goods for horses with other tribes and DeSoto’s Spanish explorers, which greatly impacted the way they traveled and hunted.

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In 1809, Jacob Barkman (often referred to as the father of Clark County) arrived from Kentucky and began trading with the Caddo tribe. Being situated along both the Southwest Trail (Old Military Road) and the Caddo River, they constructed a homestead which later served as the territory/county’s first; Courthouse, Post Office, Stagecoach stop, and even a jail for a time. Barkman began river commerce travel in 1815, departing from this property with cotton, pelts, and salt traversing five rivers before arriving in New Orleans on a six month round trip. He would return home with coffee, chinaware, crosscut saws, seeds, gun powder, and household items unknown to the vast wilderness of Clark County.   

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By 1831, Barkman had introduced horse racing to the region, often hosting events with as many as 300 people gathering atop the Indian mound with spectators traveling as far away as Texas and Tennessee.  Some races were for mere bragging rights yet cut silver coins were a common wager for the day. These events pre-date races held at the current site of Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs by about 20 years.

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Despite the many inhabitants on the landscape, the horse has played a role in serving the Caddo tribe, Spanish explorers, settlers from the east, and throughout the civil war. Welcome to Caddo Paddock.