Stall applications are now available for Oaklawn Park’s 2013 live meet, which
will be the richest in the track’s 109-year history with purses totaling close
to $20 million during the 56-day season. Oaklawn, which runs January 11 through
April 13, announced a record $5.7 million stakes schedule several weeks ago.
Racing Secretary Pat Pope is busy putting together the most lucrative
condition book in the track’s history, featuring maiden allowance races at
$53,000; open allowance races as high as $56,000 and increases in key categories
as high as 50 percent when compared to the first condition book of the 2012
season.
“We were thrilled last year when we were able to offer $40,000 for maiden
allowance races,” Pope said. “For that number to climb to $53,000 this year is
just phenomenal.”
The increases in purses can be attributed to the growing success of Instant
Racing and Gaming as well as the growth in popularity of the Oaklawn racing
signal. During the 2012 race meet, which benefited from a mild winter and no
cancellations, there were four purse increases and by the time the meet ended,
maiden allowance races, for example, had grown from $40,000 to $51,000.
The other classes of races to receive significant increases over 2012 were
claiming races with a claiming price of $15,000 and above. These purses were
increased a least 31 percent over last year depending on the actual claiming
price.
“Oaklawn has enjoyed a banner year and we have put that money right back into
purses for the horsemen who support our racing program,” Assistant General
Manager of Racing David Longinotti said. “We look forward to reviewing our stall
applications at the end of October and to our stable area opening in
Mid-November.”
Longinotti and Pope will begin recruiting trips shortly with planned stops in
California, Kentucky and New York for starters.
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