Full fields, higher purses mark opening weekend cards

The entry box got slammed for Friday night’s opener at Remington Park. There are 110 horses entered for the ninerace program, for an average of more than 12 horses per race. It’s a rousing start to the 67-day meet, highlighted by the Grade 3, $400,000 Oklahoma Derby on Sept. 24 and the $400,000 Springboard Mile for 2-yearolds on the closing day program Dec. 17.

Remington is starting and ending its meet a few days later than normal. That twist combined with an increase in purses have been good for business at the entry box. For the Saturday night card, 94 runners were entered in nine races, for an average of more than 10 horses a race.

“I think that’s just indicative of how eager people are to get

here to run – on a good surface for good purses,” said Scott Wells, president of Remington. “It’s very encouraging – the national average is 7.38 starters per race – and I hope bettors nationwide take notice of our payouts, which rank among the nation’s highest.”

Wells said the meet will open with average daily purses of $235,000, up from last year due in part to an Oklahoma law that went into effect July 1. It enabled the track to operate its 750-machine casino 24 hours a day after having been restricted to no more than 18. Purses for maiden special weight races will range from $33,000 for open company to $42,000 for Oklahoma-breds. The “no-conditions” allowances for open company are worth $40,000, while the Springboard Mile purse was boosted by $100,000.

“Our casino has been allowed to operate 24-7, which has not been the case for the previous 12 years, and of course the casino numbers help the purses,” Wells said. “The response from the public has been even better than we expected, so we already increased some purses and are looking at how we want to do that as the meet goes on.”

The season starting later is in response to a couple of different factors, said Wells.

“We tried to avoid as much overlap as we can with some of the boutique meets,” he said. “And the later start in August, the more of that hot August weather we missed. We visited with the horsemen with it, and they liked it. It gives a 25-day break between the end of [sister track] Lone Star and the beginning of Remington. Horses have a chance to get refreshed.”

Wells said that Remington, which draws horses from around the Midwest, received requests for 3,000 stalls. The track has 1,476.

Remington will race Wednesdays through Saturdays most weeks, with a 7 p.m. Central first post. The Oklahoma Derby will be showcased on a card of 10 stakes on a Sunday program that starts at 3 p.m. Oklahoma Classics Night is Oct. 20, while the Springboard Mile card of five stakes also will be on a Sunday.

For the meet, a daily full card analysis will appear with past performances in Daily Racing Form.