Oaklawn Reschedules Missed Stakes; Adds Days and Races

After losing eight days of racing due to record-breaking winter weather, Oaklawn Park announced Feb. 17 a series of changes to its racing schedule designed to restore as much of the season as possible for the benefit of horsemen. All five canceled stakes—including the $750,000 Southwest Stakes (G3), $600,000 Razorback Handicap (G3), and $250,000 Bayakoa Stakes (G3)—have been rescheduled for the weekend of Feb. 27-28.

The schedule and purse changes include immediately bringing back $2.1 million in canceled stakes, adding 27 races to the schedule, adding two new race days on Wednesday, March 31 and Wednesday, April 28, and increasing the purses on all overnight races by as much as $4,000 per race.

The Southwest, a Road to the Kentucky Derby prep race, and Razorback—both originally scheduled for Presidents Day weekend—have been rescheduled for Saturday, Feb. 27 along with the $200,000 Spring Fever Stakes for older female sprinters. Sunday, Feb. 28, will be highlighted by the Bayakoa for distaffers—also originally scheduled for Presidents Day weekend—$150,000 Dixie Belle for 3-year-old sprint fillies, and $150,000 Downthedustyroad Stakes for Arkansas-breds.

Entries for Feb. 27 will be drawn Tuesday, Feb. 23, and entries for Feb. 28 will be drawn Wednesday, Feb. 24.

"There's no fighting Mother Nature, especially when our priority is safety," Oaklawn president Louis Cella said. "However, we feel these changes will greatly benefit our horsemen and our fans by creating a huge weekend of racing to kick off the rest of the season."

Nominations for all stakes were reopened and will close Friday, Feb. 19.

The Southwest and Bayakoa have been expected to mark the 2021 debuts for Brad Cox-trained champions Essential Quality and Monomoy Girl, respectively. Cox, who earned the Eclipse Award for outstanding trainer in 2020, said Feb. 16 that the two-week delay has not caused a significant problem in preparing either horse for the Oaklawn races. Both Essential Quality and Monomoy Girl are stabled at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.

Oaklawn's purse increase will go into effect Thursday, Feb. 25 when racing is scheduled to resume. The increases will average 5% per overnight race, increasing maiden special weights from $82,000 to $86,000 and top allowance races from $88,000 to as much as $92,000.

Cella said these late-breaking changes would not have been possible without the input and assistance of Arkansas Racing Commission chairman Alex Lieblong and Arkansas Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association president Bill Walmsley.

"Winter dealt us a bad hand," Cella said. "With their help, we truly are making lemonade out of lemons and with these changes, the balance of the season will be terrific."

Due to Arkansas restrictions on crowd size, attendance at Oaklawn for live racing is limited to box holders, Oaklawn Jockey Club members, and patrons with dining/simulcast reservations. However, Oaklawn general manager Wayne Smith anticipates being able to open the Oaklawn infield and other outdoor areas to fans in the coming weeks.