The 2008 Kentucky Oaks - A Taste of the Classic English Races
The field is set for the 2008 Kentucky Oaks which will be a much awaited part of the two-week-long Kentucky Derby Festival. Recently the Kentucky Oaks has become nearly as popular as the Kentucky Derby, with spectators usually only second to the Derby Day. Its attendance exceeds the Preakness Stakes, the Belmont Stakes and the Breeders’ Cup.
The Kentucky Oaks dates back to the earliest days of Churchill Downs, which was known as the Louisville Jockey Club when it conducted its first race meet in 1875. The first running was held on May 19, 1875 as one of four stakes races developed for the track’s inaugural meet. The others were the Kentucky Derby, the Clark Handicap and the Falls City Handicap.
The Kentucky Oaks is renewed each year on the Friday before the Kentucky Derby, but it is much more than a sister race to the Run for the Roses.
The Kentucky Oaks, a Grade I stakes race for three-year-old thoroughbred fillies, takes place in Louisville, Kentucky. Currently the race is 1811 meres and is held at Churchill Downs. It is one of the most popular and highly-prized races in the USA.
Kentucky Oaks Past Winners
2002 - Farda Amiga
2003 - Bird Town
2004 - Ashado
2005 - Summerly
2006 - Lemons Forever
2007 - Rags to Riches
Different distances of the Kentucky Oaks
The race has been run for the following four distances till now:
1 1/2 miles (2414 meters) - 1875 to 1890
1 1/4 miles (2012 meters) - 1891 to 1895
1 1/16 miles (1710 meters) - 1896 to 1919 and 1942 to 1981
1 1/8 miles (1811 meters) - 1920 to 1941 and 1982 to present
2008 Kentucky Oaks
The 2008 Kentucky Oaks will be the 134th run of this traditional race. Favorite of most of the Oaks fans Rags to Riches is all set to defend her title and trot away with the winner’s title and a purse of more than US$500,000. The 2008 Kentucky Oaks will be held on Friday, May 2, 2008.
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