Oklahoma Classics Night purses rise to $1M

Remington Park has made some subtle but significant changes to its 26-race stakes schedule, which will once again be highlighted by the $400,000 Oklahoma Derby on Oct. 10. Remington, which opens for a 67-date meet Aug. 19, will offer more than $3 million in stakes purses during the season. Remington will race through Dec. 11.

The Oklahoma Derby, at 1 1/8 miles, will be run on the lone Sunday card of the meet. It will share a program with four other stakes, including the $200,000 Remington Park Oaks and the $150,000 Remington Green, for total purses of $850,000.

But the card won't be the richest of the meet. The Oklahoma Classics Night program of eight divisional stakes for Oklahoma-breds on Oct. 22 will be worth a record $1 million. Last year, the program had purses of $570,000.

In another change, Remington has created a series for 2-year-olds that will open with a new stakes, the $50,000 Kip Deville at six furlongs on Oct. 8. The $100,000 Clever Trevor at seven furlongs follows on Nov. 6. The series will conclude with the $250,000 Springboard Mile on Dec. 11, which has received a $50,000 boost for 2011.

Other key events include the $200,000 Remington Park Sprint Cup for 3-year-olds and up at six furlongs and the $150,000 Governor's Cup for 3-year-olds and up at 1 1/16 miles. Both will share a card Aug. 21.

Remington will race Wednesday through Saturday most weeks, with a typical first post of 6:30 p.m. Central.