Oklahoma Derby, Springboard Mile top Remington stakes; purses reduced due to pandemic

The Grade 3 Oklahoma Derby and the Springboard Mile for 2-year-olds will be the co-richest races for the Remington Park meet, the Oklahoma City track announced Wednesday.

Each race is worth $200,000. Last year, the stakes were worth $400,000 apiece, but due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic Remington has had to reduce some of its stakes purses.

There will be a total of 32 stakes during the meet that opens Aug. 21. They will be worth a cumulative $2.8 million, the total reduced by $820,000 after Remington was unable to simulcast or conduct gaming for two months earlier this year, according to the press release.

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The Oklahoma Derby, at a mile and an eighth Sept. 27, will share a card with the Grade 3, $100,000 Remington Park Oaks at a mile and a sixteenth. The meet's two graded offerings will anchor a program of eight stakes worth a cumulative $640,000. The lineup also includes the $60,000 David M. Vance Sprint and $60,000 Remington Green.

The Springboard Mile, which traditionally carries points for the Kentucky Derby, highlights the closing day program Dec. 20. It’s part of a card of six stakes worth a total of $535,000.

The richest card of racing during the meet will be the $1 million Oklahoma Classics Night on Oct. 16. It features eight stakes for horses bred in Oklahoma. The purses remain intact, with the highlight the $175,000 Oklahoma Classics Cup.

The first stakes race of the meet is opening night. It's the $75,000 Governor’s Cup for 3-year-olds and up at a mile and an eighth and could draw defending winner Mocito Rojo, who runs in a Wednesday night allowance at Evangeline Downs.