Oklahoma Derby purse elevated to $250,000
The purse of the Oklahoma Derby has been increased from $150,000 to $250,000 for this year's running on Oct. 20, largely because of the success of a gaming casino that opened last fall at Remington Park in Oklahoma City.
The Oklahoma Derby is one of 29 stakes worth a sum of more than $2 million scheduled for the Thoroughbred meet that runs Aug. 4 through Nov. 28.
Remington has a casino on the second floor of its grandstand that houses 650 electronic, bingo-based gaming machines. The casino opened Nov. 21, and through the end of April it had generated approximately $3.4 million for Thoroughbred purses, according to records kept by the Oklahoma Racing Commission.
The funds make for one of the richest racing programs in years at Remington. For the first condition book, purses will average $185,000 a day compared with about $100,000 in 2005.
"The casino has absolutely reinvigorated Remington Park," said Scott Wells, the track's vice president and general manager. "And it's not only provided its own form of entertainment. It's brought a lot of new customers and we can actually see a positive impact on our horse racing."
Remington will close out its Quarter Horse meet this weekend with increases in handle and attendance over last year, said Wells.
The 2006 Oklahoma Derby at 1 1/8 miles will be run again on a Friday night. It will be supported by five other stakes, including the MEC Mile for 2-year-olds, which has had its purse boosted from $75,000 to $100,000. Also to be run that day are the $100,000 Remington Green and the $100,000 Remington Park Breeders' Cup Oaks, both of which were worth $40,000 in 2005. The program also includes the $50,000 E. L. Gaylord Memorial for 2-year-old fillies, and the $75,000 Sprint Championship.
The $150,000 DeBartolo Memorial Breeders' Cup on turf is Sept. 4, and the annual Oklahoma Classics Day program of seven stakes for eligible Oklahoma-breds is Sept. 30.
All stakes this year are worth a minimum of $50,000. As for overnight races, the first condition book lists purses for maiden special weight races at $25,000, and open allowance races at $35,000.
2006 stakes schedule
| DATE | EVENT | CONDITIONS | DISTANCE | PURSE |
| Fri.,Aug. 4 | Adena Matchmaker Turf Sprint | F&M, 3YO & Up | 5 furlongs (T) | $50,000 |
| Sat.,Aug. 5 | Brother Brown Stakes | 3YO & Up | 5 furlongs (T) | 50,000 |
| Mon.,Aug. 7 | Ponca City Stakes | 3YO F | 6 furlongs | 50,000 |
| Sat.,Aug. 19 | Silver Goblin Stakes | 3YO & Up* | 6 1/2 furlongs | 50,000 |
| Sat.,Aug. 26 | Black Mesa Stakes | F&M, 3YO & Up* | 6 furlongs | 50,000 |
| Mon.,Aug. 28 | Red Earth Derby | 3YO* | 7 1/2 furlongs (T) | 50,000 |
| Mon.,Sept. 4 | Edward J. DeBartolo Mem. | B.C.3YO & Up | 1 1/8 miles (T) | 150,000 |
| Mon.,Sept. 4 | Clever Trevor Stakes | 2YO | 6 furlongs | 50,000 |
| Mon.,Sept. 4 | Ricks Memorial Stakes | F&M, 3YO & Up | 1 mile (T) | 75,000 |
| Sat.,Sept. 9 | Chuck Taliaferro Mem. Stakes | 3YO & Up | 6 furlongs | 50,000 |
| Sat.,Sept. 30 | OK. Classics Lassie | 2YO F* | 6 furlongs | 50,000 |
| Sat.,Sept. 30 | OK. Classics Juvenile | 2YO, c&g* | 6 furlongs | 50,000 |
| Sat.,Sept. 30 | OK. Classics Sprint | 3YO & Up* | 6 furlongs | 50,000 |
| Sat.,Sept. 30 | OK. Classics Filly and Mare Turf | F&M, 3YO & Up* | 7 1/2 furlongs (T) | 50,000 |
| Sat.,Sept. 30 | OK. Classics Turf | 3YO & Up* | 1 mile (T) | 50,000 |
| Sat.,Sept. 30 | OK. Classics Distaff | F&M, 3YO & Up* | 1 mile 70 yards | 50,000 |
| Sat.,Sept. 30 | OK. Classics Classic | 3YO & Up* | 1 1/16 miles | 100,000 |
| Fri.,Oct. 20 | E.L. Gaylord MEM. Stakes | 2YO F | 6 1/2 furlongs | 50,000 |
| Fri.,Oct. 20 | Remington Sprint Championship | 3YO & Up | 7 furlongs | 75,000 |
| Fri.,Oct. 20 | Remington Park B.C. Oaks | 3YO F | 1 mile (T) | 100,000 |
| Fri.,Oct. 20 | Remington Green Stakes | 3YO & Up | 1 1/16 miles (T) | 100,000 |
| Fri.,Oct. 20 | Remington MEC Mile | 2YO | 1 mile | 100,000 |
| Fri.,Oct. 20 | Oklahoma Derby | 3YO | 1 1/8 miles | 250,000 |
| Mon.,Oct. 30 | Osage Hills Stakes | 3YO & Up* | 5 furlongs (T) | 50,000 |
| Sat.,Nov. 4 | Ada Stakes | F&M, 3YO & Up | 6 furlongs | 50,000 |
| Sat.,Nov. 11 | Lady's Secret Stakes | F&M, 3YO & Up | 1 1/16 miles | 75,000 |
| Sat.,Nov. 18 | Cimarron Stakes | 2YO F | 7 1/2 furlongs (T) | 50,000 |
| Tue.,Nov. 28 | Centennial Stakes | 2YO, c&g | 1 mile (T) | 50,000 |
| Tue.,Nov. 28 | Governor's Cup | 3YO & Up | 1 1/16 miles | 75,000 |
* Oklahoma-bred