Kentucky Oaks facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Kentucky Oaks

Grade I race
Lilies for the Fillies
Location	Churchill Downs Louisville, Kentucky, USA
Inaugurated	1875
Race type	Thoroughbred
Race information
Distance	1+1⁄8 miles
Surface	Dirt
Track	Left-handed
Qualification	3-year-old fillies
Weight	121 lb (55 kg)
Purse	$1.5 million 1st: $846,300

The Kentucky Oaks is a top-level horse race for three-year-old female Thoroughbred horses, called fillies. It happens every year in Louisville, Kentucky. The race is 1+1⁄8 miles (1,800 m) long and takes place at the famous Churchill Downs racetrack.

The Kentucky Oaks is held on the Friday right before the Kentucky Derby. The winning horse earns a huge prize of $846,300 from a total purse of $1.5 million. The winner also gets a beautiful blanket made of lilies. This has given the race the nickname "Lilies for the Fillies." A silver Kentucky Oaks Trophy is also given to the winner.

History of the Race

The first Kentucky Oaks was held on May 19, 1875. At that time, Churchill Downs was called the Louisville Jockey Club. The race was created by Meriwether Lewis Clark Jr., who also started the Kentucky Derby.

The Kentucky Oaks and the Kentucky Derby are the oldest sports events in American history that have been held every year without stopping. The idea for the Kentucky Oaks came from a British race called the Epsom Oaks, which started way back in 1779.

In the very first race, a horse named Vinaigrette won. The race was longer back then, at 1+1⁄2 miles (2.4 km), and the prize was $1,175. The Kentucky Oaks has been run every single year since then.

A Popular Event

The Kentucky Oaks is one of the most popular horse races in America. Since 2001, it has drawn crowds of about 100,000 people each year. Its attendance is usually the third-highest in North America for horse racing, behind only the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes.

The Filly's Triple Crown

The Kentucky Oaks is part of a special series of races for fillies. It is considered the counterpart to the Kentucky Derby. The other two big races for fillies are the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (like the Preakness) and the Acorn Stakes (like the Belmont Stakes). Together, these races are sometimes called the "Filly Triple Crown."

Helping a Good Cause

Since 2008, the day of the Kentucky Oaks has been used to raise awareness for breast cancer and ovarian cancer. People who attend the race are encouraged to wear pink to show their support.

A special event called the "Survivors Parade" also takes place. In this parade, survivors of breast and ovarian cancer walk on the track to celebrate their strength. The racetrack has partnered with charities like Susan G. Komen for the Cure and Stand Up to Cancer to raise money and support for cancer research.

Awards for the Winners

The winning filly of the Kentucky Oaks receives two special awards: the silver Kentucky Oaks Trophy and the famous Garland of Lilies.

The garland is a large blanket of flowers draped over the winning horse. The tradition of giving a garland started in 1916, but at first, it was made of roses. In 1991, the Star Gazer Lily became the official flower of the race. A company was asked to create a special, feminine garland just for the fillies. The first filly to receive the lily garland was Lite Light.

The beautiful garland is made of 133 lilies sewn onto a special fabric. It is a symbol of the race and a beautiful prize for the champion.

Changes in Race Distance

Over the years, the length of the Kentucky Oaks has changed several times. This shows how the race has evolved since it first began.

• 1875–1890: 1+1⁄2 miles
• 1891–1895: 1+1⁄4 miles
• 1896–1919: 1+1⁄16 miles
• 1920–1941: 1+1⁄8 miles
• 1942–1981: 1+1⁄16 miles
• 1982–Present: 1+1⁄8 miles

Race Records

Here are some of the amazing records set at the Kentucky Oaks over its long history.

Fastest Times

• For 1+1⁄8 miles: 1:48.28, set by Shedaresthedevil in 2020.
• For 1+1⁄16 miles: 1:43.6, set by Ari's Mona (1950) and Sweet Alliance (1977).

Biggest Win

• Largest Winning Margin: 20+1⁄4 lengths, by Rachel Alexandra in 2009. She won by a huge distance!

Biggest Upset

• Longest Shot to Win: 47/1 odds, by Lemons Forever in 2006. This means very few people expected her to win, making it a big surprise.

Most Wins

• Jockey: 4 wins, by Eddie Arcaro (1951, 1952, 1953, 1958) and Manuel Ycaza (1959, 1960, 1963, 1968).
• Trainer: 5 wins, by Woody Stephens and D. Wayne Lukas.
• Owner: 6 wins, by Calumet Farm.

Special Achievements

• Female Jockeys to Win: Rosie Napravnik won the race twice, in 2012 and 2014.
• Brothers to Win: The only brothers to both win the Kentucky Oaks as jockeys were Carl Goose (1913) and Roscoe Goose (1916).

The "Oaks/Derby Double"

Sometimes, a jockey, trainer, or owner wins the Kentucky Oaks on Friday and then wins the Kentucky Derby on Saturday. This amazing achievement is called an "Oaks/Derby Double." Here are some of the people who have done it:

*Until the 1950s, the Oaks was held several days or weeks after the Derby.

Recent Winners

See also

In Spanish: Kentucky Oaks para niños

• Kentucky Oaks top three finishers
• Road to the Kentucky Oaks
• American thoroughbred racing top attended events
• List of attractions and events in the Louisville metropolitan area
• Pink ribbon