Bucking recent industry trends, Oaklawn will offer a record of nearly $4.8 in
stakes purses in 2010, officials announced Wednesday. Ten of the 30 stakes races
have received purse increases from the 2009 season.
“We had a great live racing season, both on-track and off-track, and our
Instant Racing division has performed better than ever,” Assistant General
Manager of Racing David Longinotti said. “We opened the first phase of our
expanding gaming facility in May and are on schedule to complete the second
phase before opening day of the 2010 live season.”
Oaklawn will offer with total purses of $4,775,000 in the 30 stakes races.
“Rather than increase the number of stakes races, we thought it more prudent
to increase the purses on as many of the events as possible,” Racing Secretary
Pat Pope said.
Oaklawn’s 2010 season opens January 15, and runs through April 10, with the
traditional season-ending $1 million Arkansas Derby (G2) being the anchor event
of the Racing Festival of the South. The Arkansas Derby has been the most
important Triple Crown prep race of the decade, producing champions Smarty
Jones, Afleet Alex, Lawyer Ron, two-time Horse of the Year Curlin, and this
year’s Belmont S. (G1) winner Summer Bird (Birdstone).
Oaklawn will kick off its 2010 season with a four-day holiday weekend,
highlighted by the $100,000 Smarty Jones S. on January 18, Martin Luther King
Day. The Smarty Jones, which offered a $50,000 purse in its first two runnings,
is a one-mile event for three-year-olds that kicks off Oaklawn’s important
series of Triple Crown prep races. It continues with the $250,000 Southwest S.
(G3), on February 15, and the $300,000 Rebel S. (G2) on March 13.
Other races featuring purse increases includes the $75,000 Martha Washington
S., which used to be $50,000; the $125,000 Honeybee S. (G3), formerly at
$100,000; and the $300,000 Fantasy S. (G2), which has been bumped from $250,000.
All three races highlight three-year-old fillies.
“With the success of recent graduates of these races, including Rachel
Alexandra (Medaglia d’Oro), Eight Belles and Pure Clan (Pure Prize), we felt
that the series of races we offer for three-year-old fillies deserved a bit of a
bump, too.” Pope said. “Our goal is to be the best track in the nation to
prepare three-year-olds of both sexes for the spring classics.”
The 2010 Racing Festival of the South, the most prestigious week of racing in
North America, will open April 2 and continue through April 10. It showcases at
least one stakes per day with a minimum purse of $100,000.
In addition to the increase in stakes purses, Oaklawn will also increase
overnight purses for 2010. The minimum purse for 2010 will be $15,000, compared
with $13,000 in 2009, and maiden allowance races will begin at $36,000, compared
with $34,000 in 2009.
Stall applications for the 2010 season are now available on Oaklawn’s web
site (www.oaklawn.com) and must be turned in to the racing office by October 29.
The Oaklawn stable area will open November 16, and the track will open for
training on November 23.