Oaklawn announces $8.8 million stakes program for 2019
Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark., will boast two $1 million preps for the Kentucky Derby in 2019 as part of a number of flashy changes to its stakes schedule for a meet that will extend beyond Arkansas Derby Day to May 4. The season starts Jan. 25.
Oaklawn will offer 30 stakes worth a record $8.8 million during its 57-date meet. The centerpiece remains the Grade 1, $1 million Arkansas Derby on April 13.
But that race will no longer stand alone as the single seven-figure offering at Oaklawn. The Grade 2 Rebel will be worth $1 million upon its renewal March 16, up from the $900,000 purse introduced in 2016. The Rebel is part of the 3-year-old series at Oaklawn that opens with the $150,000 Smarty Jones, which was moved to the opening-day card, Friday, Jan. 25, and the Grade 3, $500,000 Southwest Stakes on Feb. 18.
“The Rebel Stakes has become a significant prep in its own right and warrants a $1 million purse with [past] runners like Smarty Jones, Lookin At Lucky, Curlin, Oxbow, Will Take Charge, American Pharoah, and Creator,” Lou Cella, president of Oaklawn, said in a press release. “We’re extremely proud to offer the richest and most proven path to the Triple Crown.”
The four stakes for 3-year-olds carry qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby. And for those who might not collect quite enough to get into the big dance May 4 at Churchill Downs, there’s a new 3-year-old stakes the same afternoon at Oaklawn. The $250,000 Oaklawn Invitational is a 1 1/8-mile race for 3-year-olds slotted for the closing-day card on May 4.
“Our hope is that it will attract horses that maybe finished third or fourth in the Arkansas Derby and some of the other preps around the country that still have Triple Crown aspirations, that it would be used as a way to get to the Preakness or Belmont,” said Jennifer Hoyt, a spokeswoman for Oaklawn.
Also new to the stakes schedule is the $200,000 Oaklawn Mile for 4-year-olds and up on May 3 and the $200,000 Arkansas Breeders Championship, a 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-olds and up bred in Arkansas set for May 4.
The annual Racing Festival of the South launches April 12 with the running of the Grade 3 Fantasy for 3-year-old fillies, boosted in value from $400,000 to $500,000 for 2019. The Grade 3, $400,000 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap and the Grade 2, $750,000 Oaklawn Handicap at 1 1/8 miles will again be part of the Arkansas Derby card April 13. The Festival will close on a Sunday next year, with the Grade 1, $700,000 Apple Blossom Handicap for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles on April 14.
Oaklawn’s stakes schedule builds to the Festival. Rebel Day will include the Grade 2, $350,000 Azeri for fillies and mares – a prep for the Apple Blossom – and the $300,000 Essex Handicap for 4-year-olds and up, a prep for the Oaklawn Handicap. Southwest Stakes Day also will feature the Grade 3, $500,000 Razorback Handicap for 4-year-olds and up and the Grade 3, $200,000 Bayakoa for fillies and mares. The three stakes will be run at 1 1/16 miles and will be showcased on a Monday card Feb. 18.
“We couldn’t be more excited about our new stakes and racing schedule,” Cella said. “We are now able to present some of our best racing during the best time of the year weather-wise in Arkansas. While the Racing Festival of the South will remain the focal point of the season, we look forward to growing the new stakes races and providing our fans with world-class racing into May.”
Oaklawn is constructing three new barns for use next meet, according to officials, and also is integrating a winner’s circle into a portion of the apron area. For stakes races, the infield enclosure will still serve as the winner’s circle. Oaklawn also is upgrading its air-conditioning system for the later season in 2019.
2019 Oaklawn Park Stakes Schedule
| Date | Race Name | Conditions | Distance | Purse |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday, January 25, 2019 | Smarty Jones | 3-Year-Olds | 1 Mile | $150,000 |
| Saturday, January 26, 2019 | American Beauty | 4-Year-Olds & Up, Fillies & Mares | 6 Furlongs | $100,000 |
| Saturday, February 2, 2019 | Martha Washington | 3-Year-Olds, Fillies | 1 Mile | $125,000 |
| Saturday, February 9, 2019 | King Cotton | 4-Year-Olds & Up | 6 Furlongs | $100,000 |
| Saturday, February 16, 2019 | Dixie Belle | 3-Year-Olds, Fillies | 6 Furlongs | $100,000 |
| Monday, February 18, 2019 | Bayakoa (Gr. 3) | 4-Year-Olds & Up, Fillies & Mares | 1 1/16-Miles | $200,000 |
| Monday, February 18, 2019 | Razorback Handicap (Gr. 3) | 4-Year-Olds & Up | 1 1/16-Miles | $500,000 |
| Monday, February 18, 2019 | Southwest (Gr. 3) | 3-Year-Olds | 1 1/16-Miles | $500,000 |
| Saturday, February 23, 2019 | Downthedustyroad Breeders' | 3-Year-Olds & Up, Fillies & Mares (AR) | 6 Furlongs | $100,000 |
| Saturday, March 2, 2019 | Spring Fever | 4-Year-Olds & Up, Fillies & Mares | 5 1/2 Furlongs | $100,000 |
| Saturday, March 9, 2019 | Hot Springs | 4-Year-Olds & Up | 6 Furlongs | $150,000 |
| Saturday, March 9, 2019 | Honeybee (Gr. 3) | 3-Year-Olds, Fillies | 1 1/16-Miles | $200,000 |
| Saturday, March 16, 2019 | Essex Handicap | 4-Year-Olds & Up | 1 1/16-Miles | $300,000 |
| Saturday, March 16, 2019 | Azeri (Gr. 2) | 4-Year-Olds & Up, Fillies & Mares | 1 1/16-Miles | $350,000 |
| Saturday, March 16, 2019 | Rebel (Gr. 2) | 3-Year-Olds | 1 1/16-Miles | $1,000,000 |
| Saturday, March 23, 2019 | Nodouble Breeders' | 3-Year Olds & Up, (AR) | 6 Furlongs | $100,000 |
| Saturday, March 23, 2019 | Gazebo | 3-Year-Olds | 6 Furlongs | $125,000 |
| Saturday, March 30, 2019 | Purple Martin | 3-Year-Olds, Fillies | 6 Furlongs | $150,000 |
| Saturday, April 6, 2019 | Carousel | 4-Year-Olds & Up, Fillies & Mares | 6 Furlongs | $150,000 |
| Friday, April 12, 2019 | Fantasy (Gr. 3) | 3-Year-Olds, Fillies | 1 1/16-Miles | $500,000 |
| Saturday, April 13, 2019 | Count Fleet Sprint Handicap (Gr. 3) | 4-Year-Olds & Up | 6 Furlongs | $400,000 |
| Saturday, April 13, 2019 | Oaklawn Handicap (Gr. 2) | 4-Year-Olds & Up | 1 1/8-Miles | $750,000 |
| Saturday, April 13, 2019 | Arkansas Derby (Gr. 1) | 3-Year-Olds | 1 1/8-Miles | $1,000,000 |
| Sunday, April 14, 2019 | Apple Blossom Handicap (Gr. 1) | 4-Year-Olds & Up, Fillies & Mares | 1 1/16-Miles | $700,000 |
| Saturday, April 20, 2019 | Rainbow | 3-Year-Olds (AR) | 6 Furlongs | $100,000 |
| Saturday, April 20, 2019 | Rainbow Miss | 3-Year-Olds, Fillies (AR) | 6 Furlongs | $100,000 |
| Saturday, April 27, 2019 | Bachelor | 3-Year-Olds | 6 Furlongs | $150,000 |
| Friday, May 3, 2019 | The Oaklawn Mile | 4-Year-Olds & Up | 1 Mile | $200,000 |
| Saturday, May 4, 2019 | The Oaklawn Invitational | 3-Year-Olds | 1 1/8-Miles | $250,000 |
| Saturday, May 4, 2019 | Arkansas Breeders' Championship | 3-Year-Olds & Up (AR) | 1 1/16-Miles | $200,000 |