NEWS
Apple Blossom could be richest race
for females in history
Posted: Wednesday, February 03, 2010 3:48 PM
by Ed DeRosa
Oaklawn Park will announce on Thursday plans that could make its Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) the richest race for females in the history of Thoroughbred racing.
A board member of the Arkansas chapter of the Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association confirmed Wednesday that Oaklawn will attempt to attract last year’s Horse of the Year finalists Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta by increasing the purse of the Apple Blossom from $500,000 to at least $3-million based on certain conditions.
Rachel Alexandra topped the unbeaten Zenyatta in Horse of the Year voting, and both earned unanimous championships in their respective divisions.
The board member said Oaklawn has the Arkansas HBPA’s complete support and that the purse could ultimately be “$3-million, $4-million, or more.”
Zenyatta won the 2008 Apple Blossom when she defeated champion older female Ginger Punch, and Rachel Alexandra won the Martha Washington and Fantasy (G2) Stakes in ’09 at Oaklawn.
Charles Cella owns Oaklawn, and the track will make no other details of its announcement available until 10 a.m. CST in its Post Parade Restaurant.
Speaking about the possibility of Zenyatta racing in 2010 and that she could face Rachel Alexandra at Oaklawn, the track’s announcer and director of communications Terry Wallace said January 8, “I can’t imagine a better place [than Oaklawn for them to meet] since both have won over this track, and it thus becomes neutral ground.”
Ed DeRosa is news editor of Thoroughbred Times
