Kentucky Oaks

Thoroughbread horse race for three-year-old fillies.

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. Its first running was held Wednesday, May 19, 1875 as one of four stakes races developed by founder M. Lewis Clark for the track's inaugural meet. The others were the Kentucky Derby, the Clark Handicap and the Falls City Handicap. The Oaks is renewed each year on the Friday before the Kentucky Derby, but it is much more than a sister race to the famed “Run for the Roses.”

The roster of horses that have won the 1 1/8-mile race in its first 125 years includes some of the greatest fillies in racing history. Three of those races - the Derby, the Oaks and the Clark - were modeled after Classic races in England. The Oaks was fashioned in the image of the English Oaks at Epsom Downs.

The distance of that first running of the Oaks was 1 ½ miles and A.B. Lewis & Company's Vinaigrette was the winner. She earned a winning purse of $1,175 and was timed over the 12-furlong distance in 2:39 ¾.

The victory by Vinaigrette launched a strong tradition for the Oaks, which - like the Derby - has been renewed each year without interruption since its inaugural running.

Year Winner

1875 Vinaigrette

1876 Necy Hale

1877 Felicia

1878 Belle of Nelson

1879 Liahtunah

1880 Longitude

1881 Lucy May

1882 Katie Creel

1883 Vera

1884 Modesty

1885 Lizzie Dwyer

1886 Pure Rye

1887 Florimore

1888 Ten Penny

1889 Jewel Ban

1890 English Lady

1891 Miss Hawkins

1892 Miss Dixie

1893 Monrovia

1894 Selika

1895 Voladora

1896 Souffle

1897 White Frost

1898 Crocket

1899 Rush

1900 Etta

1901 Lady Schorr

1902 Wainamoinen

1903 Lemco

1904 Audience

1905 Janeta

1906 King's Daughter

1907 Wing Ting

1908 Ellen-a-Dale

1909 Floreal

1910 Samaria

1911 Bettie Sue

1912 Flamma

1913 Cream

1914 Bronzewing

1915 Waterblossom

1916 Kathleen

1917 Sunbonnett

1918 Viva America

1919 Lillian Shaw

1920 Lorraine

1921 Nancy Lee

1922 Startle

1923 Untidy

1924 Princess Doreen

1925 Deeming

1926 Black Maria

1927 Mary Jane

1928 Easter Stockings

1929 Rose of Sharon

1930 Alcibiades

1931 Cousin Jo

1932 Suntica

1933 Barn Swallow

1934 Fiji

1935 Paradisical

1936 Two Bob

1937 Mars Shield

1938 Flying Lee

1939 Flying Lill

1940 Inscolassie

1941 Valdina Myth

1942 Miss Dogwood

1943 Nellie L.

1944 Canina

1945 Come and Go

1946 First Page

1947 Blue Grass

1948 Challe Anne

1949 Wistful

1950 Ari's Mona

1951 How

1952 Real Delight

1953 Bubbley

1954 Fascinator

1955 Lalun

1956 Princess Turia

1957 Lori-El

1958 Bug Brush

1959 (1) Wedlock (2) Hidden Talent

1960 Make Sail

1961 My Portrait

1962 Cicada

1963 Sally Ship

1964 Blue Norther

1965 Amerivan

1966 Native Street

1967 Nancy Jr.

1968 Dark Mirage

1969 Hail to Patsy

1970 Lady Vi-E

1971 Silent Beauty

1972 Susan's Girl

1973 Bag of Tunes

1974 Quaze Quilt

1975 Sun and Snow

1976 Optimistic Gal

1977 Sweet Alliance

1978 White Star Line

1979 Davona Dale

1980 Bold 'n Determined

1981 Heavenly Cause

1982 Blush With Pride

1983 Princess Rooney

1984 Lucky Lucky Lucky

1985 Fran's Valentine

1986 Tiffany Lass

1987 Buryyourbelief

1988 Goodbye Halo

1989 Open Mind

1990 Seaside Attraction

1991 Lite Light

1992 Luv Me Luv Me Not

1993 Dispute

1994 Sardula

1995 Gal In A Ruckus

1996 Pike Place Dancer

1997 Blushing K.D.

1998 Keeper Hill

1999 Silverbulletday

2000 Secret Status

2001 Flute

2002 Farda Amiga