Purse increases for 19 of 31 stakes races and the creation of a Racing Festival of the South Preview Day are among the highlights of the 2014 stakes schedule at Oaklawn Park .
The minimum purse for all open stakes races was increased from $60,000 to $100,000, while the minimum purse for state-bred stakes was increased from $60,000 to $75,000. Oaklawn begins its 57-day race meet Jan. 10, 2014.
The Razorback Handicap and Azeri Stakes (both gr. III) each received a $50,000 increase to $200,000 and the Razorback has been moved back a week to March 15. The move is to help create a preview card for the Racing Festival of the South along with the Azeri and the $600,000 Rebel Stakes (gr. II), which featured a runner-up finish from eventual Preakness Stakes (gr. I) winner Oxbow in 2013. These races are the final local preps for the $500,000 Oaklawn Handicap (gr. II), $500,000 Apple Blossom Handicap (gr. I), and $1 million Arkansas Derby (gr. I), respectively.
"The popularity of Instant Racing and electronic games of skills continues to grow in Arkansas, which is tremendous for our stakes program," said director of racing David Longinotti in a release. "We don't think it's a coincidence that our purses have steadily grown over the last 10 years and in that same period, 10 Triple Crown races have been won by horses that raced at Oaklawn, with Oxbow being the latest. We also expect our overnight purses to be a record for our track this coming season."
Additionally, Oaklawn is returning to a more traditional Racing Festival of the South schedule with stakes races again extending over the final two weekends of the meet.
The $400,000 Fantasy Stakes (gr. III) for 3-year-old fillies on the Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) path will now be held April 5, after anchoring a Wednesday program the past two years. The Count Fleet Sprint Handicap (gr. III) has had its purse increased from $250,000 to $300,000 and will return to its traditional Thursday spot April 10. The meet will again culminate with the 78th running of the Arkansas Derby April 12 and the closing day card will also feature the Oaklawn Handicap, $100,000 Northern Spur Stakes, and $100,000 Instant Racing Stakes.
|
2014 OAKLAWN PARK STAKES SCHEDULE
|
|||||
| DATE | STAKES | CONDITIONS | DISTANCE | 2014 PURSE | 2013 PURSE |
| Friday, Jan. 10 | Dixie Belle | 3-Year-Olds, Fillies | 6 Furlongs | $100,000 | $60,000 |
| Saturday, Jan. 11 | Fifth Season | 4-Year-Olds & Up | 1 1/16-Miles | $100,000 | $75,000 |
| Saturday, Jan. 18 | Pippin | 4-Year-Olds & Up, Fillies & Mares> | 1 1/16-Miles | $100,000 | $75,000 |
| Monday, Jan. 20 | Smarty Jones | 3-Year-Olds | 1 Mile | $150,000 | $150,000 |
| Saturday, Jan. 25 | American Beauty | 4-Year-Olds & Up, Fillies & Mares | 6 Furlongs | $100,000 | $60,000 |
| Saturday, Feb. 1 | Martha Washington | 3-Year-Olds, Fillies | 1 Mile | $100,000 | $75,000 |
| Saturday, Feb. 8 | King Cotton | 4-Year-Olds & Up | 6 Furlongs | $100,000 | $60,000 |
| Saturday, Feb. 15 | Essex Handicap | 4-Year-Olds & Up | 1 1/16-Miles | $100,000 | $100,000 |
| Sunday, Feb. 16 | Bayakoa | 4-Year-Olds & Up, Fillies & Mares | 1 1/16-Miles | $100,000 | $100,000 |
| Monday, Feb. 17 | Southwest (gr. III) | 3-Year-Olds | 1 1/16-Miles | $300,000 | $300,000 |
| Saturday, Feb. 22 | Spring Fever | 4-Year-Olds & Up, Fillies & Mares | 5 1/2 Furlongs | $100,000 | $60,000 |
| Saturday, March 1 | Downthedustyroad Breeders' | 3-Year-Olds & Up, Fillies & Mares (Ark.) | 6 Furlongs | $75,000 | $60,000 |
| Saturday, March 1 | Nodouble Breeders' | 3-Year-Olds & Up, Colts & Geldings (Ark.) | 6 Furlongs | $75,000 | $60,000 |
| Saturday, March 8 | Honeybee (gr. III) | 3-Year-Olds, Fillies | 1 1/16-Miles | $150,000 | $150,000 |
| Saturday, March 8 | Hot Springs | 4-Year-Olds & Up | 6 Furlongs | $100,000 | $75,000 |
| Saturday, March 15 | Razorback Handicap (gr. III) | 4-Year-Olds & Up | 1 1/16-Miles | $200,000 | $150,000 |
| Saturday, March 15 | Azeri (gr. III) | 4-Year-Olds & Up, Fillies & Mares | 1 1/16-Miles | $200,000 | $150,000 |
| Saturday, March 15 | Rebel (gr. II) | 3-Year-Olds | 1 1/16-Miles | $600,000 | $600,000 |
| Saturday, March 22 | Gazebo | 3-Year-Olds | 6 Furlongs | $100,000 | $60,0000 |
| Friday, March 28 | Arkansas' Breeders Open Div. | 3-Year-Olds & Up, (Ark.) | 1 1/16-Miles | $75,000 | $60,000 |
| Saturday, March 29 | Rainbow Miss | 3-Year-Olds, Fillies (Ark.) | 6 Furlongs | $75,000 | $60,000 |
| Sunday, March 30 | Rainbow | 3-Year-Olds, Colts & Geldings (Ark.) | 6 Furlongs | $75,000 | $60,000 |
| Saturday, April 5 | Fantasy (gr. III) | 3-Year-Olds, Fillies | 1 1/16-Miles | $400,000 | $400,000 |
| Sunday, April 6 | Carousel | 4-Year-Olds & Up, Fillies & Mares | 6 Furlongs | $100,000 | $100,000 |
| Thursday, April 10 | Count Fleet Sprint Handicap (gr. III) | 4-Year-Olds & Up | 6 Furlongs | $300,000 | $250,000 |
| Friday, April 11 | Bachelor | 3-Year-Olds | 6 Furlongs | $100,000 | $75,000 |
| Friday, April 11 | Apple Blossom Handicap (gr. I) | 4-Year-Olds & Up, Fillies & Mares | 1 1/16-Miles | $500,000 | $500,000 |
| Saturday, April 12 | Northern Spur | 3-Year-Olds | 1 Mile | $100,000 | $100,000 |
| Saturday, April 12 | Instant Racing | 3-Year-Olds, Fillies | 6 Furlongs | $100,000 | $75,000 |
| Saturday, April 12 | Oaklawn Handicap (gr. II) | 4-Year-Olds & Up | 1 1/8-Miles | $500,000 | $500,000 |
| Saturday, April 12 | Arkansas Derby (gr. I) | 3-Year-Olds | 1 1/8-Miles | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 |
