Oaklawn Park Adds Nine Stakes to Record Stakes Schedule

Although Oaklawn Park's racing season doesn't begin until Dec. 9, the 2022-23 meet has already broken at least two records. The Hot Springs, Ark., track will offer the greatest number of stakes races and the highest stakes purses in its history.

Nine races have been added to the stakes schedule for the 68-day season, bringing the total to 45. Total purses offered for the stakes program have increased by $1.45 million to an all-time high of $13.75 million. The overall purse distribution for the season is projected to exceed $50 million, which would be another record.

The stakes schedule is once again highlighted by the $1.25 million Arkansas Derby (G1) April 1, along with three $1 million stakes races—the Rebel Stakes (G2) Feb. 25, the Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) April 15, and the Oaklawn Handicap (G2) April 22.

This is the second consecutive season Oaklawn is opening in December. Oaklawn president Louis Cella said the expansion of the stakes program is made possible by the early start.

"We were pleased with how December racing was received last year, by both racing fans and horsemen," Cella said. "Now, we're going to use our stakes schedule to build on that momentum."

Three of the new stakes races are scheduled for December, while the other six will take place during the final weeks of the season:

"One of the reasons Oaklawn has been successful for more than a century is because of where we are located," Oaklawn general manager Wayne Smith said. "Tourism is a major industry in our area, and Oaklawn is proud to be the state's top tourism attraction. We wanted some stakes with names synonymous with Oaklawn's hometown and the surrounding area."

Oaklawn's rich 3-year-old series, offering points towards eligibility in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1), begins Jan. 1, with the $250,000 Smarty Jones Stakes and continues with the $750,000 Southwest Stakes (G3) Jan. 28, and the Rebel Stakes, before culminating with the Arkansas Derby.

The 3-year-old filly series offering points towards eligibility in the Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) follows the same path as the males, starting Jan. 28 with the $200,000 Martha Washington Stakes, and continues with the $300,000 Honeybee Stakes (G3) Feb. 25, and $600,000 Fantasy Stakes (G3) April 1.

Other notable highlights of Oaklawn's 2022-23 stakes schedule are the $600,000 Razorback Handicap (G3) Feb. 18, $500,000 Essex Handicap (G3) and $200,000 Whitmore Stakes (G3) March 18, and the Apple Blossom and $500,000 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap (G3) April 15.

The 2022-23 season runs Dec. 9 through May 6, which is Kentucky Derby Day.