HOT SPRINGS, Ark.– Although it doesn’t begin until Friday, December 9, the 2022-2023 Oaklawn racing season has already broken at least two records. The Hot Springs, AR, 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, yet 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) February 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:
• Ring the Bell Stakes ($150,000) – December 10
• Renaissance Stakes ($150,000) – December 31
• Year’s End Stakes ($150,000) – December 31
• Matron Stakes ($250,000) – March 31
• Hot Springs Stakes ($200,000) – April 1
• Valley of the Vapors Stakes ($150,000) – April 22
• Dig a Diamond Stakes ($150,000) – April 29
• Lake Ouachita Stakes ($150,000) – May 5
• Lake Hamilton Stakes ($150,000) – May 6
“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 (G1), begins January 1, with the $250,000 Smarty Jones Stakes and continues with the $750,000 Southwest Stakes (G3) January 28, and the Rebel Stakes (G2) February 25, before culminating with the April 1 Arkansas Derby (G1). The 3-year-old filly series offering points towards eligibility in the Kentucky Oaks (G1) follows the same path as the males, starting January 28 with the $200,000 Martha Washington Stakes, and continues with the $300,000 Honeybee Stakes (G3) February 25, and $600,000 Fantasy Stakes (G3) April 1.
Other notable highlights of Oaklawn’s 2022-2023 stakes schedule are the $600,000 Razorback Handicap (G3) February 18, $500,000 Essex Handicap (G3) and $200,000 Whitmore Stakes (G3) March 18, and the $1 million Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) and $500,000 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap (G3) April 15.
The 2022-2023 season runs Friday, December 9 through Saturday, May 6, Kentucky Derby Day.
For complete stakes schedule click here.
Oaklawn Park Press Release
Photo of Cyberknife winning the Arkansas Derby by Coady Photography
