Oaklawn raises purses again...

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HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Citing continued success in all product lines during its current live racing season, Oaklawn officials announced a second purse increase Saturday.


Just 13 days after bumping all allowance and maiden special weight races by $1,000 and claiming races by $300, and three days after announcing a unique Racing Festival of the South participation incentive, the latest purse increase will add an additional $1,000 to all allowance and maiden special weight races, and $500 to all claiming races.


This means purses will be as much as $2,000 per race higher than they were three weeks ago, and they could increase by still another $4,000 a race on top of that once the Festival begins.


The increase will go into effect Sunday, March 22.


Through the first 38 days of the 54-day season, Oaklawn has been up in attendance (3%); on-track handle (2%) and export handle (6%). Average field size (9.64 compared with 9.11) for the corresponding dates last year, also remains up.


“Our numbers continue to be surprisingly good,” Oaklawn President Charles J. Cella (pictured) said. “We hope this latest purse increase, along with our Racing Festival of the South participation incentive, will allow us to close out the season the way our fans have come to expect, with a rousing crescendo.”