Record-setting Arkansas Derby and Rebel Stakes days contributed to an 11 percent increase in how much money was wagered during Oaklawn’s recently concluded 2018 live season.
An estimated crowd of 64,500 turned out April 14 to watch Robert and Lawana Low’s Magnum Moon remain a perfect four for four with his victory in the $1 million Arkansas Derby.
The $16.2 million wagered on the 12-race card broke the previous single-day record of $15.1 million, set in 2000 on Arkansas Derby Day.
Four weeks earlier, a crowd of 37,500 came out to watch Magnum Moon win the $900,000 Rebel Stakes. The $10.8 million wagered then was the highest wagered on a non-Arkansas Derby Day in the 114-year history of the track.
Oaklawn held races 55 of 57 days after two weather cancellations in January, and $209.7 million was wagered this season.
The average daily amount wagered, at $3.8 million, was up 15 percent compared to the 2017 season. The amount wagered from places other than the track in Hot Springs also saw big gains, growing by 15 percent year-over-year to $175 million.
Oaklawn also said it once again paid horsemen the most of any winter-spring track in the country.
Maiden Special Weights purses started at $75,000 and grew to $81,000 at the end of the season after two purse increases, while purses for open Allowances began at $76,000 and grew to as high as $83,000.
Purse is a term that refers to the total the track pays out to horsemen, or the prize money for races.
Also, 16 jockeys rode horses that earned more than $500,000, and 10 trainers stabled full time at Oaklawn earned more than $500,000.
In addition, 452 racing horses were claimed (sold) for $7.2 million, a 16.3 percent increase compared to 2017.
Hall of Fame Trainer Steve Asmussen collected his ninth leading trainer title with 44 victories and nearly $3 million in purses, while his main jockey, Ricardo Santana Jr., earned his sixth consecutive leading rider title with 69 wins and a single-season record of $4.2 million in purses.
Both trainer and jockey had a successful Racing Festival of the South. They teamed to win the $150,000 Bachelor Stakes with Mitole and Santana, who reached the 1,000-win milestone during the final week of racing, also won the $700,000 Apple Blossom Handicap with Unbridled Mo and the $400,000 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap with Whitmore.
Oaklawn will start a new tradition in 2019 when it opens on Jan. 25 and continues the season through May 4, 2019. That will mark the first time the track’s history that it has held races after Arkansas Derby Day.
The 2019 Arkansas Derby will be held on April 13, 2019.
Sign up for Daily E-news
