Ark. Derby purse now $1.5M

The Arkansas Derby purse has been elevated to $1.5 million in a move that puts its value on par with the most recent runnings of the Preakness and Belmont Stakes.

In addition to the Arkansas Derby, which last season was worth $1.25 million, all of the major 3-year-old races at the Hot Springs, Ark., track have had their purses increased for 2024.

The meet opens Dec. 8 and runs 66 dates through May 4 of next year.

The Arkansas Derby is the richest of 47 stakes to be offered during the upcoming season, the track announced Wednesday. The stakes schedule will be worth a total of $16.2 million.

Oaklawn’s move to continue pushing its 3-year-old program to new heights comes on the heels of a meet in which 10 horses who raced at the track were entered in the Kentucky Derby. Angel of Empire, who won the Arkansas Derby, finished third in the Kentucky Derby, which had a purse of $3 million this year.

Oaklawn’s points races for the Kentucky Derby will open with the Smarty Jones on Jan. 1. The purse of the race has been boosted to $300,000 from $250,000, and its distance has been lengthened from a mile to 1 1/16 miles.

The Grade 3 Southwest, which remains at 1 1/16 miles, will be worth $800,000 when it’s renewed Jan. 27. The race was worth $750,000 in 2023.

The Grade 2 Rebel will feature a purse of $1.25 million after being worth $1 million last season. The 1 1/16-mile race will be held Feb. 24.

The Grade 1 Arkansas Derby, which again will be run over 1 1/8 miles, is set for March 30.

Oaklawn’s series for fillies begins with the Year’s End, a one-mile race for 2-year-olds on Dec. 31. It’s purse has been boosted to $200,000 after being worth $150,000 last season when captured by eventual Grade 1 Ashland winner Defining Purpose.

The $250,000 Martha Washington on Jan. 27 is the first of Oaklawn’s three points races for the Kentucky Oaks – each at a distance of 1 1/16 miles. Last season, the Martha Washington was worth $200,000.

The Grade 3 Honeybee on Feb. 24 is now worth $400,000, an increase of $100,000. The Grade 3 Fantasy on March 30 has shot up in value to $750,000 after being run for $600,000.

For older horses, both the Grade 1 Apple Blossom at 1 1/16 miles on April 13 and Grade 2 Oaklawn Handicap at 1 1/8 miles on April 20 will be worth $1.25 million. Last season, each race had a purse of $1 million. They are among the pillars of the annual Racing Festival of the South, which features a series of major stakes across the latter part of the Oaklawn meet.

Two $150,000 sprint stakes for 3-year-olds have been added to the schedule – the Mockingbird for fillies at six furlongs Jan. 13 and the Ozark at the same distance Feb. 10.

Beginning in March, the minimum purse for all open stakes races will be $200,000, a new standard for Oaklawn, which has positioned itself as a destination resort with a hotel, event center, and casino.