Oaklawn Park announces purse increase

Oaklawn Park announced a $700 across-the-board purse increase, excluding

stakes races, effective Wednesday. The boost is due in large part to increased

Instant Racing revenue and better-than-expected business during the early stages

of the meet. The increased business is in spite of losing the three-day

Presidents' Day holiday weekend because of wintry weather.

Through Sunday, total mutuel handle was up 12 percent, and Instant Racing rose

62 percent, despite a 22 percent drop in total attendance.

"We are gratified for the support of Oaklawn racing in spite of losing such

critical days as the Presidents' Day holiday weekend," Oaklawn Park General

Manager Eric Jackson said. "If you exclude the three days we lost, we actually

show a 36 percent increase in mutuel handle on live racing and an increase in

Instant Racing at 86 percent. This has been an unusual year for us, but we have

built great momentum and are working to sustain it through the rest of the meet,

thanks in large part to the horsemen who have brought the best horses to Oaklawn

in our history."