Oaklawn boosts overnight purses

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Oaklawn Park has increased all overnight purses from $1,000 to $4,000 a race, the track announced Thursday. The boost goes into effect with the races for Saturday.

Oaklawn projects purses this meet will average more than $600,000 a day. It’s a track record, fueled in part by a gaming center expansion that opened the day before the meet opened Jan. 24. On the track, field sizes are averaging 9.5 horses a race, according to Lou Cella, president of Oaklawn.

“This is only possible because of the tremendous support we continue to receive from our horsemen and fans,” Cella said in a press release. “We promised a new level of racing at the beginning of the season and we are delivering. Our field sizes are among the highest in nation, we have horsemen participating from both coasts as well as the Midwest, and the fans are responding. We could not be more excited about the rest of the season.”

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Allowances have been increased by $4,000 a race, which boosts the purse of those with first-level conditions to at least $90,000. Maiden special weight races will be increased $2,000 a race to bring their purse value to $87,000. In the claiming ranks, races with a $20,000 tag or higher will receive a $2,000 increase, while all other overnight purses will go up $1,000 a race, according to the press release.

“Everything is coming together nicely,” Wayne Smith, general manager of Oaklawn, said in a press release. “We have completed the expansion of our casino, and construction is moving right along on the hotel and event center. This is an exciting time for Oaklawn and we are very happy to share our good fortune with the horsemen. It’s awesome to be offering the richest winter racing in North America with allowance races starting over $90,000.”

Oaklawn races through May 2.