Kentucky Oaks 141

Kentucky Oaks 141

In most sports, boys and girls play separately, but in horse racing the girls often run in the same races as the boys. At Churchill Downs there is a special race for fillies only, which draws the second largest crowd to a race event each year.

The Kentucky Oaks is a race for three-year-old Thoroughbred fillies, or female horses. The fillies race the day before Derby and the winner is presented with a garland of Stargazer Lilies. The garland has exactly 133 lilies and was not used until 1991 for the 117th running of the Oaks. The winning horse's name is engraved on a trophy, and the owners receive a smaller version of that trophy, as well as a set of 12 sterling silver julep cups.

The Kentucky Derby Museum is open to the public Monday through Thursday Derby Week and closed Oaks and Derby for private events. The Museum opens to the public at 8 a.m. Sunday, May 3. Normal hours apply beginning Monday, May 4.

 

  • Admission gates (1, 3, 10 and 17) will be open on Oaks (May 1) at 8 a.m. (all times EDT). First post is scheduled for 10:30 a.m.
  • All patrons are subject to magnetic wand scans before entry to the track on both days. Read more about security information here.
  • Oaks and Derby patrons are advised to arrive early to accommodate search procedures at all admission gates.