Oaklawn is projecting total purses worth $27 million for the 2016 racing season.
Oaklawn’s 112th season is scheduled to begin Jan. 15 and will feature the richest purses in track history for the eighth consecutive year. The track released its Condition Book 1 earlier this week.
Maiden special weight races will be worth $68,000, an $8,000 increase from 2015, and open allowance races will be worth as much at $75,000, a $9,000 increase over the 2015 season. The minimum purse will be $21,000 in 2016, an increase of $3,000.
Oaklawn’s average distribution will be $475,000 per day. This is a 12 percent increase over the 2015 and a 76 percent increase since 2008.
The track, which has previously announced a $7.55 million stakes schedule in 2016, will run from Jan. 15 to April 16.
BASKETBALL
Harris playing in Japan
Former Arkansas and Little Rock Central forward Alandise Harris is playing professional basketball in Japan, according to a report in The Japan Times newspaper.
Harris has signed to play for the Iwate Big Bulls, the newspaper reported.
Last season as a senior for the Razorbacks, the 6-6 Harris averaged 7.6 points, 3.3 rebounds and 21.4 minutes in 35 games, including 26 starts. He helped Arkansas to its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2008.