Horsemen will have $4 million worth of reasons to race their best 3-year-olds in Hot Springs during the 2025 Kentucky Derby (G1) prep season. The value applies to the four races at the Arkansas track leading toward the Run for the Roses.
Oaklawn Park president Louis Cella announced July 23 that the purse for the Southwest Stakes (G3), which was won this year by eventual Kentucky Derby champion Mystik Dan, has been bumped from $800,000 to $1 million.
The second of four Kentucky Derby points races to be contested at Oaklawn, the Southwest Stakes (G3) will be run next year on Saturday, Jan. 25, and joins the $1.25 million Rebel Stakes (G2) and $1.5 million Arkansas Derby (G1) as seven-figure preps for the first race of the Triple Crown.
The series kicks off Saturday, Jan. 4, with the $250,000 Smarty Jones Stakes. The Rebel Stakes (G2) is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 22, and the Arkansas Derby (G1) will be run Saturday, March 29. The Smarty Jones, Southwest, and Rebel are run at 1 1/16 miles, while the Arkansas Derby (G1) is 1 1/8 miles.
Purses for Kentucky Oaks (G1) points races have also increased, with the Honeybee Stakes (G3) being bumped $100,000 to $500,000 and the Martha Washington Stakes increased to $300,000. The Martha Washington kicks off the series and will complement the Jan. 25 Southwest Stakes card. The Honeybee (G3) is scheduled to complement the Feb. 22 Rebel Stakes program. Both serve as preps for the $750,000 Fantasy Stakes (G2), which served as a launching pad this year for Kentucky Oaks winner and likely 3-Year-Old Filly champion Thorpedo Anna.
"With the success of Arkansas-owned Mystik Dan and Thorpedo Anna, the facts speak for themselves and echo what we've been saying for a number of years," Cella said. "There is no better place for horsemen to prepare Thoroughbreds for future success than Oaklawn. Not only were our runners able to win the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks this year, Seize the Grey keyed a Preakness Stakes (G1) trifecta of horses that had competed in Oaklawn races."
Oaklawn purses have risen dramatically over the past decade due to a flourishing casino and racetrack business.
In addition to the 47 traditional stakes offering $16.2 million in purses, Oaklawn also announced the addition of 10 restricted overnight stakes, each offering a purse of $145,000, bringing the grand total to $17.65 million. Many of the new overnight stakes races will be used to further strengthen the racing cards on marquee race days.
Over the three-day Arkansas Derby weekend (March 28-30), 10 stakes will be contested. The 1 1/2-mile, $200,000 Temperence Hill Stakes for older runners and the $145,000 La Patourel overnight stakes for older fillies and mares lead the way Friday; followed Saturday by the Arkansas Derby card, which includes the $750,000 Fantasy, $500,000 Oaklawn Mile (G3), $250,000 Matron, $145,000 American Pharoah overnight stakes and $145,000 Eclipse overnight stakes. Sunday's card includes the $200,000 Hot Springs Stakes for 3-year-olds and the $145,000 Southern Hospitality overnight stakes.
This press release has been edited for content and style by BloodHorse Staff.
