LITTLE ROCK — Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs has raised the purse for 13 of its 32 stakes races for the 2013 live season and extended the distance of one of its major Kentucky Derby prep races.
The schedule, which was released Thursday morning, is highlighted by the $1 million Arkansas Derby on closing day, April 13.
But the road to the Arkansas Derby will be much greener, with purse hikes for the Smarty Jones on Jan. 21 ($100,000 to $150,000), Southwest on Feb. 18 ($250,000 to $300,000) and the Rebel on March 16 ($500,000 to $600,000).
The increases take each race to record levels and give horsemen 289 points and $2,050,000 to chase under the new Kentucky Derby qualifying system.
Horses will accumulate points through top-four finishes in designated races for starting preference in the Kentucky Derby, instead of the traditional graded-stakes method.
“Before the Derby came out with the points system, we were wishing we could get a grade for the Smarty Jones,” said David Longinotti, Oaklawn’s assistant general manager for racing. “Turned out, we didn’t need to. But if the Kentucky Derby still had the graded-stakes race methodology, I think our stakes schedule would be exactly the same.”
The Southwest is being lengthened from a mile to 1 1/16 miles.
Many trainers had been calling for the change because horses in outside post positions in mile races at Oaklawn are normally at a disadvantage because of a short run to the first turn.
“Just coming off a year when we split it going a mile, it seems odd to be messing with that distance,” Longinotti said. “But I think one of the things that everyone is doing at racetracks across the country is putting more emphasis on traditional route race distances.”
Oaklawn also raised the purse for the Fantasy, its marquee race for 3-year-old fillies, from $300,000 to a record $400,000.
The purse for the Oaklawn Handicap for older horses also was raised from $400,000 to $500,000.
All of Oaklawn’s stakes races will carry a minimum purse of $60,000, a $10,000 increase from 2012.
Oaklawn dropped two stakes races, the Prima Donna and Redbud, and reduced the purse of the Instant Racing for 3-year-old fillies.
Longinotti said the $100,000 Redbud for older fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles “didn’t pan out” in 2012.
The Redbud was a late addition to Oaklawn’s 2011 stakes schedule after track officials decided to race on the Wednesday of closing week — previously a dark day — to help offset a record eight weather-related cancellations earlier in the meeting.
The Prima Donna was essentially absorbed by the Instant Racing, which is being shortened from a mile to 6 furlongs and reduced from $100,000 to $75,000.
The Prima Donna, also for 3-year-old fillies, previously carried a $75,000 purse and was 6 furlongs.
“We were going to eliminate one or the other,” Longinotti said. “We want our best 3-year-old fillies in the Fantasy.”
Oaklawn’s live season begins Jan. 11.
Sports, Pages 23 on 07/27/2012