Remington Park: Oklahoma Derby moved up two weeks; new racing secretary named

The $400,000 Oklahoma Derby will be run two weeks earlier this year, on Sept. 30, in the biggest change to the 31-race, $3.5 million stakes schedule at Remington Park. The Oklahoma City track beings its Thoroughbred meet Aug. 10. The season runs through Dec. 9.

Mike Shamburg, the racing secretary at Remington’s sister track, Lone Star Park near Dallas, has been named to the same position for Remington’s meet for Thoroughbreds, said Scott Wells, president of Remington. Shamburg, 58, replaces Dan Fick.

“We made the move to achieve some continuity between the two tracks because Mike has worked here before,” Wells said. “He’s one of the most well-respected racing officials in the region.”

Fick left his Thoroughbred post in a mutual agreement between the parties, said Wells. Fick is the racing secretary for the track’s current Quarter Horse meet, and a decision has not been made whether he will remain in that position next year, said Wells. The agreement with Shamburg was reached this week, said Wells. Shamburg had been Remington’s racing secretary in 2005.

The Oklahoma Derby, at a mile and an eighth, will anchor a card of five stakes worth more than $1 million on Sept. 30. The program also includes the $250,000 Remington Park Oaks at a mile and a sixteenth, and the $200,000 Remington Park Sprint Cup.

Other top races this fall include the $300,000 Remington Springboard for 2-year-olds Dec. 9, and the $200,000 Governor’s Cup for 3-year-olds and up at a mile and an eighth Aug. 11.

The $1 million Oklahoma Classics Night program on Oct. 19 features eight divisional stakes for horses bred in Oklahoma.

Wells said purses at the meet are projected to average more than $225,000 a card.