Oaklawn increases purses

Once again bucking national economic trends, Oaklawn Park has announced

across-the-board purse increases of approximately $10,000 per day for the second

half of its 54-day racing season. The increase of $500 in all claiming races and

$2,000 in all allowance and maiden special weight races -- an approximate 5

percent hike -- went into effect on Thursday's program.

Oaklawn kicked off its 2010 season offering the highest purse structure in

its 106-year history, featuring maiden special weight races at $36,000 and no

purses lower than $15,000. This purse increase will take Oaklawn purses to yet

another record level -- maiden special weight races of $38,000 and no purse less

than $15,500.

"We have had wonderful cooperation from our horsemen," Oaklawn racing

secretary Pat Pope said. "When we have been fortunate with the weather, our fans

have responded by being very supportive of our racing product. We are now

getting into the time of our season where the weather is typically beautiful, so

we're very happy to be able to reward our horsemen at this time."

The purse increase can also be attributed to the popularity of Oaklawn's

newly expanded Instant Racing and Gaming Center, which opened in May of last

year and underwent an expansion the week prior to opening day of the 2010 live

season.

"The excitement since the announcement of the $5 million Apple Blossom

Invitational (G1) has also kept Oaklawn in the minds of racing fans," Pope said

of the April 9 event designed to lure Rachel Alexandra (Medaglia d'Oro) and

Zenyatta (Street Cry [Ire]). "We have certainly benefited from the publicity and

positive vibes generated by that event."