To honor the 100th Anniversary of Oaklawn Park, the racetrack presented the richest program in 2004 for three-year-olds in the nation, with over $6 million available for Triple Crown aspirants at Oaklawn during the 2004 meet.
Oaklawn doubleed the purse for the Arkansas Derby to $1 million, making it the richest race in Oaklawn's 100-year history. In addition, Oaklawn established an astounding $5 million bonus should any horse sweep its Rebel Stakes, the Arkansas Derby and the Kentucky Derby. No racetrack has ever offered such substantial bonus prize money in American racing history. The $5 million Oaklawn Centennial Bonus matches the amount of the Visa Triple Crown bonus.
Oaklawn Park, incorporated in 1904, has been a leader in the thoroughbred racing world from its outset. As an innovator, Oaklawn has brought such concepts as the Racing Festival of the South, Interstate Simulcasting and Instant Racing to national attention.
