racing forward sept · day – monday, feb. 15, but there will be no racing on easter sunday, april...
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![Page 1: Racing Forward SEPT · Day – Monday, Feb. 15, but there will be no racing on Easter Sunday, April 4. OAKLAWN PLANNING 57-DAY MEET WITH FOUR $1 MILLION STAKES IN 2021 Racing Forward](https://reader033.vdocument.in/reader033/viewer/2022060605/605a5a9d742869309b60fa23/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
Pending approval from the Arkansas Racing Commission, Oaklawn plans to conduct its regular 57-day meet highlighted by four $1 million stakes races – $1 million Rebel Stakes (G2), $1 million Arkansas Derby (G1), $1 million Oaklawn Handicap (G2) and $1 million Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) – and the richest purse structure in its 117-year history. The 2021 season, which will be accentuated by the opening of a multi-purpose event center and a
luxury 200-room hotel overlooking the track, is scheduled to run Friday, Jan. 22 – Saturday, May 1.In addition, 21 stakes will
have their purses raised by at least $25,000, most notably are $150,000 increases to both the Essex Handicap on March 13 and Oaklawn Mile on April 10, which will be worth $500,000 and $400,000, respectively. The purse of the Razorback Handicap (G3) on Saturday, Feb. 13 will be raised by $100,000 to $600,000. All stakes,
including ones for state-breds, will be at least $150,000 each. “We would not be able to once
again offer record purses next year if it weren’t for the tremendous support we’ve received from the Arkansas Racing Commission, the horsemen, and our fans in 2020,” Oaklawn President Louis Cella said. “We are excited to continue building on our ‘New Level of Excellence,’ which will include our new hotel, event center, state-of-the-art spa, and additional restaurants, which are all on schedule to open late 2020/early 2021.” Oaklawn’s rich 3-year-old
program for horses with Kentucky Derby aspirations will begin opening day, Jan. 22, with the $150,000 Smarty Jones Stakes and will culminate closing day, May 1, with the $300,000 Oaklawn Invitational. In between are the $750,000 Southwest Stakes (G3) on Feb. 15, Presidents’ Day Monday, the $1 million Rebel Stakes (G2) on March 13, and the $1 million Arkansas Derby (G1) on April 10. Oaklawn’s five signature races that
comprise the traditional Racing Festival of the South will be run over three Saturdays starting with the $600,000 Fantasy Stakes (G3) for 3-year-old fillies on Kentucky Oaks (G1) trail on April 3. The $1 million Arkansas Derby
(G1), a major stepping stone to the Kentucky Derby, will be run on April 10 along with three other stakes. Oaklawn’s series for older horses culminates on April 17 with the $1 million Oaklawn Handicap (G2) and the $1 million Apple Blossom (G1) for fillies and mares. “Once finalized, the full purse
program will be released soon,” added Oaklawn General Manager Wayne Smith. “We anticipate it will exceed $700,000 a day.”Oaklawn’s 2021 stakes schedule
features a total of 33 races worth $11,000,000. Racing will be conducted Friday–Sunday for the first two weeks of the meet and then shift to a Thursday–Sunday schedule starting in February. There will be racing on Presidents Day – Monday, Feb. 15, but there will be no racing on Easter Sunday, April 4.
OAKLAWN PLANNING 57-DAY MEET WITH FOUR $1 MILLION STAKES IN 2021
Racing ForwardRacing Forward SEPT2020
2021 RACING CALENDARJANUARY
172431
1825
1926
2027
2128 30
2229
23S M T W T F S
FEBRUARY
7142128
181522
291623
3101724
4111825
5121926
6132027
S M T W T F S
MARCH
7142128
18152229
29162330 31
3101724
4111825
5121926
6132027
S M T W T F S
MAY
1S M T W T F S
APRIL
4111825
5121926
6132027
7142128
81
152229 30
92
1623
3*101724
S M T W T F S
Fri, Jan. 22..............................................................$150,000 Smarty JonesSat, Jan. 23................................................................$150,000 Fifth SeasonSat, Jan. 23............................................................................$150,000 Pippin Sat, Jan. 30.......................................................$150,000 American BeautySat, Jan. 30..................................................$200,000 Martha WashingtonSat, Feb. 6..................................................................$150,000 King CottonSat, Feb. 13.....................................................................$150,000 Dixie BelleSat, Feb. 13.......................................$600,000 Razorback Handicap (G3)Mon, Feb. 15..............................................................$250,000 Bayakoa (G3)Mon, Feb. 15.........................................................$750,000 Southwest (G3)Sat, Feb. 20....................................$150,000 Downthedustyroad Breeders’Sat, Feb. 27...............................................................$200,000 Spring Fever Sat, Mar. 6.........................................................$300,000 Honeybee (G3)Sat, Mar. 13.................................................................$200,000 Hot SpringsSat, Mar. 13.........................................................$150,000 Temperence HillSat, Mar. 13.........................................................$500,000 Essex HandicapSat, Mar. 13...............................................................$350,000 Azeri (G2)Sat, Mar. 13.............................................................$1,000,000 Rebel (G2)Sat, Mar. 20........................................................................$150,000 GazeboSat, Mar. 27....................................................$150,000 Nodouble Breeders’Sat, Apr. 3.............................................................$200,000 Purple MartinSat, Apr. 3...............................................................$600,000 Fantasy (G3)Sat, Apr. 10.....................................................................$250,000 CarouselSat, Apr. 10..........................................................$400,000 Oaklawn MileSat, Apr. 10....................................$500,000 Count Fleet Sprint Hcp. (G3)Sat, Apr. 10...............................................$1,000,000 Arkansas Derby (G1)Fri, Apr. 16..................................................................$150,000 Rainbow MissFri, Apr. 16..........................................................................$150,000 RainbowSat, Apr. 17.........................................$1,000,000 Oaklawn Handicap (G2)Sat, Apr. 17........................................$1,000,000 Apple Blossom Hcp. (G1)Sat, Apr. 24.....................................................................$200,000 BachelorFri, Apr. 30.......................................$200,000 Arkansas Breeders’ ChampionshipSat, May 1 ..................................................$300,000 Oaklawn Invitational
2021 STAKES SCHEDULE
![Page 2: Racing Forward SEPT · Day – Monday, Feb. 15, but there will be no racing on Easter Sunday, April 4. OAKLAWN PLANNING 57-DAY MEET WITH FOUR $1 MILLION STAKES IN 2021 Racing Forward](https://reader033.vdocument.in/reader033/viewer/2022060605/605a5a9d742869309b60fa23/html5/thumbnails/2.jpg)
GAMBLING PROBLEM? 1-800-522-4700
SIGN UP AT WWW.OAKLAWNANYWHERE.COM OR DOWNLOAD APP$4 million generated for purses
Peter J. Callahan’s SWISS SKYDIVERALABAMA STAKES (G1)
Ten Strike Racing and Madaket Stables LLC’s WARRIOR’S CHARGE
PHILIP H. ISELIN STAKES (G3)
KMN Racing LLC’s SNEAKING OUTRANCHO BERNARDO HANDICAP (G3)
Albaugh Family Stables LLC and Spendthrift Farm LLC’s THOUSANDS WORDSHARED BELIEF STAKES
Repole Stable and Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners’ MORETTI
BIRDSTONE STAKES
End Zone Athletic, Inc.’s HUNKA BURNING LOVEGOVERNOR’S CUP
Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC’s PNEUMATICPEGASUS STAKES
L and N Racing LLC’s ECHO TOWNH. ALLEN JERKENS STAKES (G1)
Calumet Farm’s VEXATIOUSPERSONAL ENSIGN STAKES (G1)
WinStar Farm LLC, CHC Inc. and SF Racing LLC’s IMPROBABLE
WHITNEY HANDICAP (G1)
Joel Politi’s SERENGETI EMPRESSBALLERINA STAKES (G1)
CONGRATS TO OUR STAKES WINNERS!
CONSTRUCTION UPDATE:Work is progressing on the track and in the barn area as
we move closer to the horses returning in late November. In addition, work on the hotel, multi-purpose event center and spa remains on target. The hotel and event center will open just prior to the start of the live meet on Friday, Jan. 22 and the Astral Spa will open by Presidents’ Day weekend. Among the projects taking place in the Grandstand is the installation of large ceiling fans in the Oaklawn Jockey Club.