Oaklawn increases purses across the board

Oaklawn, currently offering the highest purses in its 118-year history, is getting even richer with an across-the-board purse increase beginning next Friday.

All claiming and starter allowance races are being increased by $4,000, while all maiden special weights and allowances are being increased by $6,000. The minimum purse will now be $29,000, maiden special weights will be $90,000 and allowances will start at $106,000.

Because of greater on-track and off-track wagering during the last three weeks, Oaklawn will add Thursday, April 7m to its schedule after racing was canceled Jan. 21 because of inclement weather.

“The first half of the racing season has gone extremely well, and we could not be happier to be sharing that success with our Horsemen,” Oaklawn president Louis Cella said. “We are particularly proud of the quality of the horses we are seeing on a daily basis, and we are very excited for the great racing to close out our season.”

“Anytime you see graded-stakes winners running regularly in allowance races, you know you have attracted the best of the best to your meet,” added racing secretary Pat Pope. “There is no doubt the horses beginning their year here at Oaklawn are going to be the same ones everyone is talking about at the end of the year. That’s really gratifying.”

Oaklawn’s live meet runs through Sunday, May 8.