The Kentucky Oaks is one of the most famous races ran in the US.
Traditionally taking place one day prior to the Kentucky Derby, the Oaks regularly attracts crowds well in excess of 100,000. This makes it the third-highest attended race in North America, in front of the likes of the Belmont Stakes and races held at the Breeders' Cup.
The first running of the Kentucky Oaks took place all the way back in 1875 at Churchill Downs racecourse, where it remains to this day.
The Kentucky Oaks and Derby are the oldest continuing contested sporting events in American history.
When is the 2026 Kentucky Oaks?
The 2026 running of the Kentucky Oaks is set to take place in the early hours of Saturday 2nd May - for viewers in the UK.
Where is the Kentucky Oaks?
The Kentucky Oaks will be hosted at Churchill Downs, its home since the very its very first running all the way back in 1875.
Who is the most successful Kentucky Oaks trainer?
Legendary US trainers Woody Stephens and D Wayne Lukas are currently tied on five wins each.
Stephens - all Hall of Fame inductee in 1976 - won the race in 1959, 1960, 1963, 1978 & 1981.
An incredible 40 years separated D Wayne Lukas' first and last winners in the Kentucky Oaks, landing it for the final time courtesy of Secret Oath in 2022.
His most famous success came with Open Mind, who was the champion two-year-old and three-year-old filly in the US during the years of 1988 & 1989.
Todd Pletcher is on the verge of making it a three-way tie at the top with four different Kentucky Oaks winners to his name.
Who is the most successful Kentucky Oaks jockey?
Similarly to the trainers, there are two jockeys tied for the most wins in the race.
Eddie Arcaro, widely regarded as one of the greatest riders in the history of American racing, won the race on four occasions between 1951 and 1958.
He rode Real Delight to victory in 1952, famous for becoming just the second horse to win the early version of the Fillies' Triple Crown, a series that included the Kentucky Oaks, the Black-Eyed Susan and CCA Oaks.
Arcaro's tally can only be matched by the four wins chalked up by Manuel Ycaza in the decade following Arcaro's final success. His first win aboard Hidden Talent in 1959 was followed up by three more victories in 1960, 1963 & 1968.
Which horses have won the Kentucky Oaks most recently?
Here are the winners of the Kentucky Oaks since 2010.
YEAR | HORSE | JOCKEY | TRAINER |
2010 | Blind Luck | Rafael Bejarano | Jerry Holldendorfer |
2011 | Plum Pretty | Martin Garcia | Bob Baffert |
2012 | Believe You Can | Rosie Napravnik | J. Larry Jones |
2013 | Princess Of Sylmar | Mike E. Smith | Todd Pletcher |
2014 | Untapable | Rosie Napravnik | Steve Asmussen |
2015 | Lovely Maria | Kerwin Clark | J. Larry Jones |
2016 | Cathryn Sophia | Javier Castellano | John Servis |
2017 | Abel Tasman | Mike E. Smith | Bob Baffert |
2018 | Monomoy Girl | Florent Geroux | Brad Cox |
2019 | Serengeti Empress | Jose Ortiz | Tom Amoss |
2020 | Shedaresthedevil | Florent Geroux | Brad Cox |
2021 | Malathaat | John Velazquez | Todd Pletcher |
2022 | Secret Oath | Luis Saez | D. Wayne Lukas |
2023 | Pretty Mischievous | Tyler Gaffalione | Brendan Walsh |
2024 | Thorpedo Anna | Brian Hernandez | Kenny McPeek |
2025 | Good Cheer | Luis Saez | Brad Cox |
