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Oaklawn Planning 57-Day Meet with Four $1-Million Stakes Races in 2021

Pending approval from the Arkansas Racing Commission, Oaklawn plans to conduct its regular 57-day meet highlighted by four $1-million stakes races–$1-million GII Rebel S., $1-million GI Arkansas Derby, $1-million GII Oaklawn H. and $1-million GI Apple Blossom H.–and the richest purse structure in its 117-year history. The 2021 season, which will be accentuated by the opening of a multi-purpose event center and a luxury 200-room hotel overlooking the track, is scheduled to run Friday, Jan. 22–Saturday, May 1.

In addition, 21 stakes will have their purses raised by at least $25,000, most notably are $150,000 increases to both the Essex H. Mar. 13 and Oaklawn Mile Apr. 10, which will be worth $500,000 and $400,000, respectively. The purse of the GIII Razorback H. on Saturday, Feb. 13 will be raised by $100,000 to $600,000. All stakes, including ones for state-breds, will be at least $150,000 each.

“We would not be able to once again offer record purses next year if it weren’t for the tremendous support we’ve received from the Arkansas Racing Commission, the horsemen, and our fans in 2020,” Oaklawn President Louis Cella said. “We are excited to continue building on our ‘New Level of Excellence,’ which will include our new hotel, event center, state-of-the-art spa, and additional restaurants, which are all on schedule to open late 2020/early 2021.”

Oaklawn’s rich 3-year-old program for horses with GI Kentucky Derby aspirations will begin opening day, Jan. 22, with the $150,000 Smarty Jones S. and will culminate closing day, May 1, with the $300,000 Oaklawn Invitational. In between are the $750,000 GIII Southwest S. Feb. 15, Presidents’ Day Monday, the $1-million GII Rebel S. Mar. 13, and the $1-million GI Arkansas Derby Apr. 10.

Oaklawn’s five signature races that comprise the traditional Racing Festival of the South will be run over three Saturdays starting with the $600,000 GIII Fantasy S. for 3-year-old fillies on GI Kentucky Oaks trail Apr. 3.

Oaklawn’s series for older horses culminates Apr. 17 with the $1-million GII Oaklawn H. and the $1-million GI Apple Blossom for fillies and mares.

“Once finalized, the full purse program will be released soon,” added Oaklawn General Manager Wayne Smith. “We anticipate it will exceed $700,000 a day.”

Oaklawn’s 2021 stakes schedule features a total of 33 races worth $11,000,000. Racing will be conducted Friday-Sunday for the first two weeks of the meet and then shift to a Thursday-Sunday schedule starting in February. There will be racing on Presidents Day – Monday, Feb. 15, but there will be no racing on Easter Sunday, April 4.

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Stakes Schedule Set for Belmont Park Fall Meet

The New York Racing Association, Inc. has announced race dates for the 27-day Belmont fall meet, including 38 stakes worth $5.58 million in purse money, that will kick off Friday, Sept. 18 and run through Sunday, Nov. 1.

Following opening weekend at Belmont, live racing will be conducted Thursday through Sunday with the exception of Columbus Day weekend, when live racing will be offered Monday, Oct. 12 and return Friday, Oct. 16.

The Belmont Park fall meet has traditionally opened on the Friday following Labor Day. Due to the continued impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, NYRA adjusted the fall schedule by adding a one-week break following the conclusion of the summer meet at Saratoga Race Course.

“This new fall schedule is the result of a collaborative effort between NYRA, the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association and the New York Thoroughbred Breeders to modify our racing calendar in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and its effect on the industry,” said NYRA President and CEO Dave O’Rourke. “I’d like to thank the horsemen and breeders for their common-sense approach to solving the challenges brought about by this unprecedented public health crisis.”

The fall meet at Belmont Park will be highlighted by 22 graded stakes, featuring seven Grade I events and seven Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” qualifiers to the two-day Breeders’ Cup 2020 World Championships to be held Nov. 6-7 at Keeneland Race Course.

The first of the meet’s Grade I events begins with the GI Belmont Oaks Invitational, the second leg of the Turf Triple series for 3-year-old fillies Saturday, Sept. 19.

Five graded races will highlight the Saturday, Oct. 3 card, led by the GI Belmont Derby Invitational, second leg of the Turf Triple series for males, which offers a berth to the GI Breeders’ Cup Turf.

Columbus Day Weekend beginning Saturday, Oct. 10 and ending Monday, Oct. 12, will feature nine graded events worth $1.65 million, including four Grade I Breeders’ Cup “Win & You’re In” challenge races on Saturday led by the GI Jockey Club Gold Cup, a “Win and You’re In” for the GI Breeders’ Cup Classic.

The Saturday, Oct. 10, card is bolstered by the GI Champagne, which provides a spot in the starting gate for the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.

The card also includes the GI Flower Bowl with a berth in the GI Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf on the line; the GI Frizette offering a berth in the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies.

New York state currently requires all racetracks to operate without spectators in attendance to combat the spread of COVID-19. NYRA will issue updated guidance regarding COVID-19 health and safety protocols for jockeys, trainers and owners in the near future.

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Santa Anita Releases Fall Stakes Schedule, Including Seven ‘Win And You’re In’ Events

Santa Anita's 2020 Autumn Meeting will kick into high gear on opening day, Saturday, Sept. 19, with the Grade III, $100,000 Chillingworth Stakes for fillies and mares at 6 ½ furlongs and will offer fans and horsemen a total of 24 stakes over 18 racing days, through closing day, Oct. 25.

(Most recently run as the Grade III LA Woman Stakes, the Chillingworth has been renamed in honor of the late Sherwood Chillingworth, a longtime Director of the Oak Tree Racing Association who was held in the highest regard throughout North American racing).

Customarily high on the Autumn Meet stakes agenda is a series of Breeders' Cup “Win and You're In” Challenge Races, which provides the winners of each race an automatic fees-paid berth in the Breeders' Cup World Championships at Keeneland on Nov. 6 & 7.

In addition to the Grade III Chillingworth on Sept. 19, the $100,000 Speakeasy Stakes, for 2-year-olds at 5 ½ furlongs on turf, is the first of seven “Win and You're In” events, with the Speakeasy serving as a prep for the Grade II Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint.

On Saturday, Sept. 26, four “Win and You're In” stakes, the Grade I, $300,000 Rodeo Drive, a prep for the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf; the Grade I, $300,000 American Pharoah, for 2-year-olds prepping for the Grade I Breeders' Cup Juvenile; the Grade I, $300,000 Awesome Again, for 3-year-olds an up prepping for the Grade I Breeders' Cup Classic, and the Grade II, $200,000 Chandelier Stakes for 2-year-old fillies prepping for the Grade I Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, will all be offered on what promises to be a blockbuster afternoon that will include a total of six stakes.

The remaining two Breeders' Cup “Win and You're In” stakes, the Grade II, $200,000 Zenyatta, a pivotal steppingstone to the Grade I Breeders' Cup Distaff, and the Grade II, $200,000 Santa Anita Sprint Championship, which preps 3-year-olds and up for the Grade I Breeders' Cup Sprint, will both be offered on Sunday, Sept. 27.

The always-popular Grade II, $200,000 Eddie D Stakes, named in honor of one of racing's all-time great jockeys, retired Hall of Famer Eddie Delahoussaye, is for 3-year-olds and up at 5 ½ furlongs on turf and will be run Friday, Sept. 25.

Fans are encouraged to watch and wager via XpressBet.com or 1stBet.com. For additional wagering information, please visit santaanita.com.

Santa Anita's complete 2020 Autumn Stakes Schedule is available at www.santaanita.com/stakes-schedule/. In addition to our website, fans can get additional information regarding the upcoming Autumn Meet, by calling (626) 574-RACE.

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Santa Anita To Honor Late Sherwood Chillingworth With Stakes Race

The memory of Sherwood Chillingworth, the longtime director and executive vice president of the Oak Tree Racing Association, will be honored with The Chillingworth Stakes to be run during Santa Anita's Autumn season. Known throughout the racing industry as “Chilly”, the veteran racing executive passed away last October at the age of 93.

“Chilly was one of the sport's true gentlemen,” said Aidan Butler, Executive Director of California Racing Operations for The Stronach Group. “He was full of life and loved racing. He actually lived here at Santa Anita and was such a part of this place, that it is only appropriate for us to honor him with The Chillingworth Stakes.”

Chillingworth first served as an Oak Tree director in 1989 and was named executive vice president in 1993, just prior to the first of four Breeders' Cups that he oversaw at Santa Anita. He also raced a number of Thoroughbreds in the name of his Paniolo Ranch or in partnerships, including Grade I winners Swing Till Dawn, Yashgan, Forzando and Valley Victory.

The Chillingworth name will be placed on the stakes race formerly named LA Woman Stakes, a Grade III event for fillies and mares three years old and up. Prior to 2009, the race was run during the Oak Tree meet at Santa Anita as the Louis R. Rowan, named after one of the founders of the Oak Tree Racing Association.

“Santa Anita is about tradition and, especially now during this pandemic when we all long for what has been traditional, we are embracing the importance of our history,” Butler continued. “That includes examining not only the names of our stakes races, but every little detail that makes Santa Anita so special.”

The complete list of stakes races for Santa Anita's upcoming Autumn season will be available Friday afternoon at www.santaanita.com/stakes-schedule/.

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