NEWS
Oaklawn to pay $5-million purse through tenth place
Posted: Friday, February 12, 2010 12:29 PM
OAKLAWN PRESIDENT CHARLES CELLA
Coady Photography
by Jeff Lowe
Shooting for a big group to accept invitations to join Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta in the Apple Blossom Invitational Stakes (G1), Oaklawn Park will pay $100,000 to places six through ten in the distribution of the $5-million purse.
Oaklawn spokesman Terry Wallace said the purse breakdown allocates 50% ($2.5-million) to the winner, 20% ($1-million) to the runner-up, 10% ($500,000) to third, 6% ($300,000) to fourth, 4% ($200,000) to fifth, and 2% ($100,000) to the horses who finish six through ten.
Oaklawn will cap the field at ten starters.
A $200 nomination fee is due on March 10, and Racing Secretary Pat Pope will issue invitations by a date that has not been finalized.
Wallace said the participation fees would be $5,000 to pre-enter, $5,000 to enter, and $10,000 to start, meaning the track could receive up to $200,000 in participation fees if a capped field starts.
ESPN spokesman Mark Mandel said the network has been in discussions to possibly provide television coverage of the race, but no decision or deal had been made on Friday morning.
Jeff Lowe is a Thoroughbred Times staff writer
