Oaklawn Park, which has the most lucrative purse structure of any track racing during the winter months, will further increase purses by as much as $8,000 per race effective Saturday, Mar. 18, it was announced Sunday. The Hot Springs, Arkansas oval attributed the ability to bolster purses to strong business and favorable weather conditions.
Purses for maiden special weight races will increase from $72,000 to $80,000, while allowance races will be worth as much as $84,000 after the starting the season with a $76,000 ceiling. Total purses for the Mar. 18 card, which features the $900,000 GII Rebel S., are expected to exceed $2 million.
“The Rebel S. is no longer just a stepping stone to the Arkansas Derby,” Oaklawn assistant general manager Wayne Smith said. “It stands on its own merit as one of the leading preps for the Triple Crown races…It just gets better with these purse bumps that will have a positive impact on the under card races and the rest of our season.”
The 2017 Oaklawn meet runs through Saturday, Apr. 15.
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