Kempton, winning the richest race in Oklahoma, the $1 million Heritage Place Futurity, was undefeated during his Remington Park spring campaign.

© Dustin Orona Photography/Remington Park

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK–JUNE 6, 2024–Outstanding performances by top-flight stakes runners on big-program evenings, such as Champions Night on June 1, helped boost a positive Remington Park spring season.

The 2024 American Quarter Horse, Paint and Appaloosa Season came to a close on June 1 when Remington Park featured the richest race card ($2.4 million in purses) and richest race in Oklahoma. The $1 million Heritage Place Futurity saw Kempton remain undefeated, winning by one length. That same night, Jess Good Wine sealed up Horse of the Meeting honors with victory in the Grade 1 Debbie Schauf Remington Park Championship, the top event of the season for older horses.

Remington Park experienced an increase of 5% in pari-mutuel handle, driven by the export handle to those not on-site. The overall handle on Remington Park racing was $36,236,667 compared to the $34,525,729 in 2023. The Remington Park export handle was up 6% with $33,188,090 wagered this spring compared to $31,309,248 in 2023.

Weather normally plays a factor in outdoor sporting events during the spring in Oklahoma and that was once again the case for one important race night. The Remington Park Futurity program on April 27, the second richest night of purses for the season, was forced to be split in half as a severe thunderstorm stopped action after just six races. The final six races, all stakes events including the restricted Grade 1, $854,775 Remington Park Futurity, were moved to Monday afternoon, April 29. The loss of major stakes races in primetime diminished all handle categories since the program was completed during a date and time that Remington Park does not usually offer racing.

On-track season handle for Remington Park was $2,956,177, down just 4.2% from the $3,085,088 from 2023.

Total horsemen’s purses were nearly even compared to a year ago as $15,982,506 was on the line during competition, an average of $313,382 per race date. The total is just $13,214 below the overall mark distributed in 2023.

Average field size held at 8.6 per race, down slightly from 8.71 in 2023. There were 4,522 starters this season, 40 fewer than last year. Remington Park conducted 526 races, two more than the 524 of 2023. Overall, Remington Park held racing on 51 separate dates, compared to 48 a year ago.

Remington Park racing will resume August 16 with the beginning of the Thoroughbred Season.

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About Remington Park
Remington Park has provided more than $349 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.