Purses boosted 10 percent for upcoming meet

Remington Park in Oklahoma City announced that all overnight purses will be increased 10 percent for the meet that opens next Friday. The 67-date season runs through Dec. 13.

The boost starts with the first card of the meet at Remington, which operates an ontrack casino. Purses are now projected to average $230,000 a program. Maiden special weight races for open company will be worth $33,000, while maiden special weight races for Oklahoma-breds will have a purse of $42,750. In addition, the increase puts purses for open allowance races at $44,000.

The purse boost was made in conjunction with the Thoroughbred Racing Association of Oklahoma.

“We’re ecstatic to see horse racing in Oklahoma as strong as it’s ever been,” Danielle Barber, executive director for the TRAO, said in a release issued by Remington. “During a period in our industry when declines have become an unfortunate trend, we are proud to be moving the purses at Remington Park in a positive direction.”

The track’s 33-race, $3.5 million stakes schedule is topped by the Grade 3, $400,000 Oklahoma Derby on Sept. 27.