Kentucky Oaks facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Kentucky Oaks

Grade 1 race
Lillies 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 Grade I stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbred fillies staged annually in Louisville, Kentucky, United States. The race currently covers 1+1⁄8 miles (1,800 m) at Churchill Downs; the horses carry 121 pounds (55 kg). The Kentucky Oaks is held on the Friday before the Kentucky Derby each year. The winner gets $846,300 of the $1,500,000 purse, and a large garland blanket of lilies, resulting in the nickname "Lillies for the Fillies." A silver Kentucky Oaks Trophy is presented to the winner.

History

The first running of the Kentucky Oaks was on May 19, 1875, when Churchill Downs was known as the Louisville Jockey Club. The race was founded by Meriwether Lewis Clark Jr. along with the Kentucky Derby, the Clark Handicap, and the Falls City Handicap.

The Kentucky Oaks and the Kentucky Derby are the oldest continuously contested sporting events in American history. The Kentucky Oaks was modeled after the British Epsom Oaks, which has been run annually at Epsom Downs, Epsom, in Surrey since 1779. In the first race, the horse Vinaigrette won the then 1+1⁄2 miles (2.4 km) mile race in a time of 2:39+3⁄4, winning a purse of $1,175. Since that race, the Kentucky Oaks has been held each year.

In 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Kentucky Oaks was rescheduled from May 1 to September 4.

The Kentucky Oaks is considered by some to be among the most popular horse races in American horse-racing society due to its high attendance. It has attracted about 100,000 people in attendance each year since 2001's 127th running of the Kentucky Oaks. In 1980, attendance reached about 50,000 people and by 1989, it had increased to about 67,000. The attendance at the Kentucky Oaks ranks third in North America and usually surpasses the attendance of all other stakes races including the Belmont Stakes and the Breeders' Cup. The attendance of the Kentucky Oaks typically trails only the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes; for more information see American thoroughbred racing top attended events.

The Kentucky Oaks, the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes, and the Acorn Stakes are the counterparts to the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing, held at Churchill Downs, Pimlico Race Course and Belmont Park, respectively. The "Filly Triple Crown", known as the Triple Tiara of Thoroughbred Racing, is a series of three races at the Belmont Park and Saratoga Race Course. The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) has considered changing the Triple Tiara series to the three counterparts of the Triple Crown.

Charitable initiative

On Kentucky Oaks Day, Churchill Downs Racetrack is a vision in pink as more than 100,000 guests are asked to incorporate pink into their attire in an effort to drive national attention to the fight against breast cancer.

Changes in distance

The Kentucky Oaks has been run at four different distances:

• 1875–1890, the race was 1+1⁄2 miles;
• 1891–1895, it was 1+1⁄4 miles;
• 1896–1919, it was 1+1⁄16 miles;
• 1920–1941, changed to 1+1⁄8 miles;
• 1942–1981, run at 1+1⁄16 miles; and
• 1982, set at 1+1⁄8 miles, and it has been that distance since.

Records

Speed record

• 1+1⁄8 mile 1:48.28 – Shedaresthedevil (2020)
• 1+1⁄2 mile 2:39 – Felicia (1877), Belle of Nelson (1878) and Katie Creel (1882).
• 1+1⁄4 mile 2:15 – Selika (1894)
• 1+1⁄16 mile 1:43.6 – Ari's Mona (1950) and Sweet Alliance (1977).

Largest winning margin

• 20+1⁄4 lengths – Rachel Alexandra (2009)

Longest shot to win the Oaks

• 47/1 – Lemons Forever (2006)

Most wins by a jockey

• 4 – Eddie Arcaro (1951, 1952, 1953, 1958)
• 4 – Manuel Ycaza (1959, 1960, 1963, 1968)

Female jockeys to win

• Rosie Napravnik (2012, 2014)

Most wins by a trainer

• 5 – Woody Stephens (1959, 1960, 1963, 1978, 1981)
• 5 – D. Wayne Lukas (1982, 1984, 1989, 1990, 2022)

Most wins by an owner

• 6 – Calumet Farm (1943, 1949, 1952, 1953, 1956, 1979)

Only brothers to both win the Kentucky Oaks

• Carl Seay Goose "Ganz" (1913) – Roscoe Tarleton Goose (1916)

Carl used the original German spelling of "Goose", which one of a few spellings was "Ganz", but also Gantz, Gans, and so on.

The Goose brothers are cousins of Meriwether Lewis Clark Jr., the founder of the Louisville Jockey Club.

Winners

See also

In Spanish: Kentucky Oaks para niños

• List of attractions and events in the Louisville metropolitan area
• Road to the Kentucky Oaks
• Pink ribbon