From races to a wine festival: Everything you need to know about Sunday's Oklahoma Derby
Turns out Kentucky isn't the only state that knows how to throw a derby party.
Remington Park, 1 Remington Place, will host its annual Oklahoma Derby Day Hat and Bowtie Contest, and the Derby Day Wine Festival leading up to the 35th running of the Grade 3, $400,000 Oklahoma Derby on Sunday.
The day’s racing schedule and festivities begin at 3 p.m and includes eight stakes races with purses totaling more than $1 million.
“The Oklahoma Derby and our Derby Day festivities appeal to both passionate horse racing fans and those who might only come to Remington Park a couple of times a year,” Remington Park Executive Vice President Matt Vance said. “As we celebrate the 35th anniversary of our first race at Remington Park, the Derby and the Remington Park Oaks both are established graded-stakes races that attract elite 3-year-old thoroughbreds from across the sport, along with well-known trainers and jockeys, for what always is a tremendous day of competition and entertainment.”
Yes, you'll want to dress up for the Oklahoma Derby
Racing fans at least 18 years old are encouraged to don their finest Derby attire and compete in the Hat & Bowtie Contest, which takes place from 3 to 5 p.m. on Remington Park’s Track Level North. Awards will be given in in four categories — Most Elegant, Most Creative, Best Bowtie and Best Couple — for $3,600 in prizes. Every contestant will receive a commemorative photo.
Right next to the Hat & Bowtie Competition, those 21 and up can join the Derby Day Wine Festival from 3 to 7 p.m. Six of Oklahoma’s finest wineries will be in attendance, including Backroad Vineyard of Okay, OkeOzark Winery of Salina, Rocky Top Winery of Allen, Tidewater Winery of Drumright and Wildhorse Canyon Farms of Luther.
More: Remington Park celebrates 35th anniversary of horse racing in Oklahoma City
Guests can sip wine and listen to live music while watching the races. Tickets are $25 and include tastings and a collectible souvenir stainless steel wine tumbler. Tickets can be purchased online or at the door.
This is the first year the park has ventured into online ticket sales, and they are going even better than expected, said Alexis Zeigler, sponsorship sales manager at Remington Park .
"The amount that we have raised so far, without even being in person selling tickets, has already been more than what we had last year," Zeigler said.
The event is a fundraiser, with a portion of proceeds benefitting Remington Park partner charities. Remington Park supports a number of Oklahoma charities including Breast Cancer Survivors Oklahoma, Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund, Pivot, Positive Tomorrows, Warriors for Freedom Foundation, Wovenlife, Oklahoma Race Horse Retirement programs including Horse and Hound and the Oklahoma Thoroughbred Retirement Program, and many more.
"This started because of them. We needed to raise more funds for them because things are getting harder and everyone is deserving and everybody needs something," Zeigler said.
The Oklahoma Derby, the Grade 3, $200,000 Remington Park Oaks, the $150,000 David M. Vance Sprint and the $100,000 Remington Green all serve as prep races for the prestigious Breeders’ Cup, coming up Nov. 3-4 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. It’s not uncommon for horses that have run in the three Triple Crown races — the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes — to compete in the Oklahoma Derby.For more information about Oklahoma Derby Day, or to purchase wine festival tickets, go to www.remingtonpark.com/oklahoma-derby.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Remington Park's 35th Oklahoma Derby on track for record fundraising
