Purses rise to record levels for Oklahoma Classics

Purses for the Oklahoma Classics Day program at Remington Park on Sept. 27 will total a record $535,000 after seven of the eight restricted stakes making up the card were boosted by $5,000 each. The increase impacts all of the races except the featured $100,000 Classic.

The purse boost has pushed the value of the Distaff, Sprint, Filly and Mare Sprint, and Filly and Mare Turf to $65,000 each. The purses for both the Juvenile and Lassie are now $55,000. All of the races are restricted to horses bred in Oklahoma.

Remington's 65-date season opens Aug. 21 and runs through Dec. 14. Purses are budgeted at $203,000 a day, up from $185,550 in 2007. The centerpiece of the $2.1 million stakes schedule is the $300,000 Oklahoma Derby at 1 1/8 miles on Oct. 19.

* The Oklahoma Thoroughbred Association is now selling tickets for its annual awards banquet that will be held at Remington Park on Aug. 2. The master of ceremonies will be racing analyst Chris Lincoln. The banquet will honor the state's racing champions of 2007. Among the finalists for Oklahoma-bred horse of the year is Breeders' Cup Mile winner Kip Deville.