Oaklawn boosts Fantasy purse to $1 million, Honeybee to $750K
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Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark., has moved its Rebel Day card to a Sunday spot on the calendar and boosted the purse of the Fantasy Stakes to a record $1 million from $750,000 in the most significant changes to its more than $18 million stakes schedule announced Tuesday.
The 64-date season opens Dec. 12, with a “holiday meet” that extends to Jan. 4. Following a three-week winter break, the meet resumes Jan. 30 and continues to May 2.
The Grade 2 Fantasy, for 3-year-old fillies on March 27, becomes the fourth Kentucky Derby or Kentucky Oaks points race at Oaklawn worth $1 million or more. The others are the Southwest, Rebel, and Arkansas Derby, which are all preps for the Kentucky Derby.
Oaklawn has boosted the purse of another Kentucky Oaks points race, the Grade 3 Honeybee, from $500,000 to $750,000. It will be run on March 1. The other race in the series for 3-year-old fillies is the Martha Washington on Jan. 31.
“The increase to our Fantasy Stakes by itself makes a very strong statement,” Lou Cella, president of Oaklawn, said in a press release. “This will be the first time in the history of North American racing that 3-year-old fillies will have an opportunity to run for a seven-figure purse prior to the Kentucky Oaks.
“When you factor in the Honeybee at $750,000 and Martha Washington at $300,000, it’s clear Oaklawn continues to be the nation’s best track to condition 3-year-olds.”
The Kentucky Derby points races at Oaklawn begin with the $250,000 Smarty Jones on Jan. 3. The Grade 3, $1 million Southwest is Jan. 31, the Grade 2, $1 million Rebel is March 1, and the Grade 1, $1.5 million Arkansas Derby is March 28. The purse of the Rebel had been $1.25 million in 2024 and 2025.
Last year, Oaklawn moved its Rebel Day card from Saturday to Sunday due to severe weather and handle topped $21 million. The prior year, when run on a Saturday, Rebel Day handle was more than $19 million.
In another calendar move, the Fantasy will be run on a Friday, instead of on the undercard of the Arkansas Derby.
The Grade 1, $1.25 million Apple Blossom Handicap for fillies and mares will share a card with the Grade 3, $500,000 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap on April 11. The Grade 2, $1.25 million Oaklawn Handicap is April 18.
Oaklawn’s stakes schedule features 62 races, including six new overnight stakes. One is named for the late Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas. “The Coach” is for 4-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles Jan. 2 and is worth $135,000.
Oaklawn plans to run at least one stakes or overnight stakes on every day of its holiday meet.
Purses for the meet are projected to average $1 million a card. The track’s first condition book features maiden special weight races worth $100,000 and some allowances valued at $117,000.
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