REMINGTON PARK THOROUGHBRED STAKES SCHEDULE BOASTS GRADE 3 OKLAHOMA DERBY, TRAPEZE RENAMED IN HONOR OF TOBY KEITH
The upcoming Remington Park Thoroughbred stakes schedule for the upcoming season that begins Aug. 16 will feature the Grade 3, $400,000 Oklahoma Derby on Sept. 29. The schedule of races carries more than $3 million in stakes purse money.
Oklahoma Derby Day, on the lone Sunday afternoon of the season, will host eight stakes events with total purses more than $1 million.
The meet also has a cornerstone race for 2-year-olds, the $300,000 Springboard Mile,
which includes qualifying points for the 2025 Kentucky Derby. The Springboard Mile night will conclude the season on Friday, Dec. 13 with six stakes races including one with a new moniker.
There lone name change on the schedule this season has the former Trapeze Stakes renamed the Toby Keith Stakes, in honor of the late Oklahoma country singer/songwriter and horseman. The $75,000 Toby Keith Stakes will be run on Dec. 13 for 2-year-old fillies, racing one mile. Keith was a horse owner and breeder who raced primarily under his stable name of Dream Walkin Farms. He had a banner career in racing as his horses earned more than $18 million on the racetrack, according to Equibase statistics.
Dream Walkin Farms’ top horse all-time was Smack Smack, who earned $986,419 overall, and won the 2013 Clever Trevor Stakes and 2015 Governor’s Cup at Remington Park. He was also victorious in the Grade 3 Prairie Meadows Cornhusker Handicap in Altoona, Iowa, and the Downs at Albuquerque Handicap in New Mexico, both in 2016.
Keith passed away in February at the age of 62 after a battle with stomach cancer. The 6-foot-4 Oklahoman made his breakthrough in the 1990s with his hit song “Should Have Been a Cowboy.” He finished his career with 20 No. 1-Billboard hit songs, including “Beer for My Horses.”
Last year’s Oklahoma Derby and Springboard Mile winners were 44-1 longshot How Did He Do That and Otto the Conqueror, respectively, both from trainer Steve Asmussen’s barn. Asmussen extended his historical run of training titles at Remington Park in 2023, now with 18 under his belt. The closest to him in second place is Donnie Von Hemel with 12.
The state-bred runners get their annual night to shine with the renewal of the Oklahoma Classics on Friday, Oct. 18. The lucrative night of stakes racing, restricted to eligible Oklahoma-breds, will feature the $175,000 Oklahoma Classics Cup as the richest event.
The entire stakes schedule for the 2024 Thoroughbred Season at Remington Park:
Aug. 16 – $100,000 Governor’s Cup, 3 and older, 1-1/8 miles
Sept. 6 – $50,000-estimated Oklahoma Stallion Colts and Geldings Handicap, 3-year-olds, 7 furlongs
Sept. 6 – $50,000-estimated Oklahoma Stallions Fillies Handicap, 3-year-old fillies, 7 furlongs
Sept. 20 – $50,000 Red Earth Stakes, 3 and older, 7-1/2 furlongs (turf) (OK)
Sept. 20 – $50,000 Bob Barry Memorial, 3 and older, fillies and mares, 7-1/2 furlongs (turf) (OK)
Sept. 20 – $50,000 Remington Park Turf Sprint, 3 and older, 5f (turf) (OK)
Sept. 29 – $50,000 Flashy Lady Handicap, 3 and older, fillies and mares, 6 furlongs
Sept. 29 – $200,000 Remington Park Oaks, 3-year-old fillies, 1-1/16 miles
Sept. 29 – $75,000 Kip Deville Stakes, 2-year-olds, 6 furlongs
Sept. 29 – $100,000 David M. Vance Stakes, 3 and older, 6 furlongs
Sept. 29 – Grade 3, $400,000 Oklahoma Derby, 3-year-olds, 1-1/8 miles
Sept. 29 – $50,000 E.L. Gaylord Memorial, 2-year-old fillies, 6-1/2 furlongs
Sept. 29 – $75,000 Ricks Memorial, 3 and older, fillies and mares, 1-1/16 miles (turf)
Sept. 29 – $75,000 Remington Green, 3 and older, 1-1/8 miles (turf)
Oct. 18 – $145,000-estimated Oklahoma Classics Distaff Handicap, 3 and older, fillies and mares, 1m-70yds (OK)
Oct. 18 – $40,000-estimated Oklahoma Classics Starter Allowance Stakes, 3 and older, 7 furlongs (OK)
Oct. 18 – $40,000-estimated Oklahoma Classics Distaff Starter Allowance Stakes, 3 and older, F&M, 7 furlongs (OK)
Oct. 18 – $175,000-estimated Oklahoma Classics Cup, 3 and older, 1-1/16 miles (OK)
Oct. 18 – $130,000-estimated Oklahoma Classics Sprint, 3 and older, 6 furlongs (OK)
Oct. 18 – $100,000-estimated Oklahoma Classics Juvenile, 2-year-old colts and geldings, 6 furlongs (OK)
Oct. 18 – $130,000-estimated Oklahoma Classics Distaff Sprint, 3 and older, fillies and mares, 6 furlongs (OK)
Oct. 18 – $100,000-estimated Oklahoma Classics Lassie, 2-year-old fillies, 6 furlongs (OK)
Oct. 18 – $130,000-estimated Oklahoma Turf Classic Handicap, 3 and older, 1-1/16 miles (turf) (OK)
Oct. 18 – $130,000-estimated Oklahoma Classics Distaff Turf, 3 and older, fillies and mares, 1-1/16 miles (turf) (OK)
Oct. 25 – $75,000 Clever Trevor Stakes, 2-year-olds, 7 furlongs
Nov. 8 – $50,000 Don C. McNeill Stakes, 2-year-olds, 1 mile (OK)
Nov. 8 – $50,000 Slide Show Stakes, 2-year-old fillies, 1 mile (OK)
Nov. 8 – $50,000 Silver Goblin Stakes, 3 and older, 6-1/2 furlongs, (OK)
Dec. 13 – $300,000 Springboard Mile, 2-year-olds, 1 mile
Dec. 13 – $75,000 Toby Keith Stakes, 2-year-old fillies, 1 mile
Dec. 13 – $75,000 Jeffrey A. Hawk Memorial, 3 and older, 1m-70yds
Dec. 13 – $75,000 She’s All In Stakes, 3 and older, fillies and mares, 1m-70yds
Dec. 13 – $50,000 Jim Thorpe Stakes, 3-year-olds, 1 mile (OK)
Dec. 13 – $50,000 Useeit Stakes, 3-year-old fillies, 1 mile (OK)
(OK) denotes stakes restricted to Oklahoma-breds
Remington Park has provided more than $351 Million to the State of Oklahoma general education fund since the opening of the casino in 2005. Located at the junction of Interstates 35 & 44, in the heart of the Oklahoma City Adventure District, Remington Park presents simulcast racing daily and non-stop casino gaming. The 2024 Thoroughbred Season will begin on August 16. Must be 18 or older to wager on horse racing or enter the casino gaming floor. Visit remingtonpark.com for more information.
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