Culminating with 62,500 fans turning out to watch champion Classic Empire (Pioneerof the Nile) win the GI Arkansas Derby, the 2017 Oaklawn live racing season concluded with nearly a 5% gain in total handle and another record-setting season for purses.
Good weather along with large, competitive fields led to total handle of $189,534,228 in 2017 compared to $180,582,197 in 2016. Horsemen racing at Oaklawn benefitted from the country's highest purse structure for the time of year. Maiden Special Weights grew from $72,000 to $80,000 during the season, while allowance races ended as high as $84,000 after starting out at $74,000. The record average daily purse distribution of $502,781 also contributed to plenty of action at the claim box with 456 horses claimed for nearly $6.23 million.
“Our goal is to offer our racing fans an entertainment value that is second to none and I couldn't be more proud of our team for helping us achieve that goal in a big way,” General Manager Wayne Smith said. “I want to congratulate owner Danny Caldwell, trainer Steve Asmussen and jockey Ricardo Santana Jr. for leading our standings. They and all the horsemen helped us put on quite a show. It was a terrific season.”
Asmussen earned his eighth leading trainer title with 41 victories and $2,763,845 in earnings, while Santana earned his fifth straight leading riding title with 53 wins and $2,753,797 in earnings. Caldwell earned his fourth leading owner title with 22 wins and $965,728 in earnings.
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