$11M on offer in 2021 stakes

Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark., on Wednesday announced a record racing program for 2021 led by a slate of 33 stakes races worth a cumulative $11 million.

There are four $1 million offerings – the Rebel, Arkansas Derby, Oaklawn Handicap, and Apple Blossom – while the minimum stakes purse will be $150,000.

The stakes calendar and a racing schedule of 57 dates, from Jan. 22 through May 1, both are pending approval from the Arkansas Racing Commission. The season will be the first with an ontrack hotel, which is part of a major construction project that has included an expansion of the track’s casino.

Oaklawn plans to announce a record purse structure in the near future. Officials said it is projected to be more than $700,000 per day.

“We would not be able to once again offer record purses next year if it weren’t for the tremendous support we’ve received from the Arkansas Racing Commission, the horsemen, and our fans in 2020,” Lou Cella, president of Oaklawn, said in a press release. “We are excited to continue building on our ‘New Level of Excellence,’ which will include our new hotel, event center, state-of-the-art spa, and additional restaurants, which are on schedule to open by early 2021.”

Oaklawn traditionally has four points races for the Kentucky Derby – the $150,000 Smarty Jones at a mile set for Jan. 22; the Grade 3, $750,000 Southwest Stakes on Feb. 15; the Grade 2 Rebel on March 13; and the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby on April 10.

The Arkansas Derby will be part of the annual Racing Festival of the South, which in a twist will be run over three consecutive Saturdays. The 1 1/8-mile Arkansas Derby will be supported by the Grade 3, $500,000 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap, the Oaklawn Mile, which has been boosted to $400,000; and the Carousel for filly and mare sprinters, which has been increased to $250,000.

The Festival opens April 3 with the Grade 3, $600,000

Fantasy, which traditionally carries points for the Kentucky Oaks. The card also will include the Purple Martin for 3-year-old filly sprinters, a race boosted in value to $200,000.

The Festival closes April 17 with the Grade 2 Oaklawn Handicap at 1 1/8 miles and the Grade 1 Apple Blossom over 1 1/16 miles. There are preps for those races during the meet. The Grade 3, $600,000 Razorback Handicap on Feb. 13 and the Essex Handicap with a new record purse of $500,000 on March 13 both are feeder races for the Oaklawn Handicap. The Grade 2, $350,000 Azeri on March 13 is a major steppingstone to the Apple Blossom.

The Oaklawn Handicap and Apple Blossom were both tabbed for $1 million purses last meet, but due to the coronavirus pandemic disrupting operations, each was reduced to $600,000. The races have been restored to their full value of $1 million each for 2021.

The $300,000 Oaklawn Invitational for 3-year-olds at 1 1/8 miles will close the meet May 1. In the past, it has carried a berth to the Preakness.