Bucking recent industry trends, Oaklawn will offer a record of nearly $4.8 in stakes purses in 2010, officials announced Wednesday.

"We had a great live racing season, both on-track and off-track, and our Instant Racing division has performed better than ever," David Longinotti, the assistant general manager of racing, said. "We opened the first phase of our expanding gaming facility in May and are on schedule to complete the second phase before Opening Day of the 2010 Live Season."


In all, Oaklawn will offer 30 stakes races with total purses of $4.775 million. A total of 10 of the 30 events will offer a higher purse than in previous years.


"Rather than increase the number of stakes races, we thought it more prudent to increase the purses on as many of the events as possible," Pat Pope, racing cecretary, said.


Oaklawn's 2010 season opens Friday, Jan. 15, and runs through Saturday, April 10, with the traditional season-ending $1 million Arkansas Derby, the anchor event of the Racing Festival of the South. The Arkansas Derby has been perhaps the most important Triple Crown prep race of the decade, producing champions Smarty Jones, Afleet Alex, Lawyer Ron, two-time Horse of the Year Curlin, and this year's Belmont Stakes winner, Summer Bird.


Oaklawn will kick off its 2010 season with a four-day holiday weekend, highlighted by the $100,000 Smarty Jones Stakes on Monday, Jan. 18, Martin Luther King Day. The Smarty Jones, which offered a $50,000 purse in its first two runnings, is one of the 10 stakes races that offer an increased 2010 purse. A one-mile event for 3-year-olds, the Smarty Jones also kicks off Oaklawn's important series of Triple Crown prep races. Culminating with the Arkansas Derby, the series continues with the $250,000 Southwest Stakes, Monday, Feb. 15, and the $300,000 Rebel Stakes, Saturday, March 13.

Heading the list of stakes races with increased purses in 2010 is the $75,000 Martha Washington Stakes, increased from $50,000; the $125,000 Honeybee, increased from $100,000; and the $300,000 Fantasy Stakes, increased from $250,000, all for three-year-old fillies.


"With the success of recent graduates of these races, including Rachel Alexandra, Eight Belles and Pure Clan, we felt that the series of races we offer for 3-year-old fillies deserved a bit of a bump, too." Pope said. "Our goal is to be the best track in the nation to prepare 3-year-olds of both sexes for the spring classics."


Other stakes races that will offer more money in 2010 include the $75,000 Pippin Stakes (up from $50,000); the $60,000 Spring Fever, the $60,000 Mountain Valley, the $60,000 Hot Springs, the $60,000 Prima Donna and the $60,000 Carousel - all up from $50,000.


The 2010 Racing Festival of the South, considered by many the most prestigious week of racing in North America, will open Saturday, April 4, and continue through Saturday, April 10. Climaxing with the $1 million Arkansas Derby, the Racing Festival showcases at least one stakes race per day with a minimum purse of $100,000. In 2010, the Racing Festival opens Friday, April 2, with the Fantasy Stakes and continues Saturday, April 3, with the $500,000 Apple Blossom and $500,000 Oaklawn Handicap.


In addition to the increase in stakes purses, Oaklawn will also increase overnight purses for 2010. The minimum purse for 2010 will be $15,000, compared with $13,000 in 2009, and maiden allowance races will begin at $36,000, compared with $34,000 in 2009.


Stall applications for the 2010 Live Season are now available on Oaklawn's web site and must be turned in to the racing office by Thursday, Oct. 29. The Oaklawn stable area will open Monday, Nov. 16, and the track will open for training Monday, Nov. 23.

By Oaklawn.com