What is the Kentucky Oaks? Everything to know about major race before Kentucky Derby

USA Today

02-05-2025

What is the Kentucky Oaks? Everything to know about major race before Kentucky Derby
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Churchill Downs track announcer Travis Stone shares Kentucky Oaks pick
Churchill Downs track announcer Travis Stone makes his prediction for which horse will win the 2025 Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs.
Before the Kentucky Derby, another one of horse racing's oldest races provides fireworks at Churchill Downs the day prior.
Celebrating its 151st run, the Kentucky Oaks will once again serve as the opening act to the Run for the Roses in Louisville, Kentucky, with a post time of 5:51 p.m. ET on Friday, May 2.
The Kentucky Oaks is scheduled to be the 11th race Friday at Churchill Downs.
Thorpedo Anna won the Kentucky Oaks last year. Its trainer, Kenny McPeek, followed that victory up by winning the Kentucky Derby with Mystik Dan — making him the first trainer since 1952 and the fourth overall to win both races in the same year.
One potential contender in this year's Kentucky Oaks is Good Cheer, which is running out of the No. 11 post position and enters Friday's race undefeated in six starts. Horsing Nation's Ed DeRosa is calling Simply Joking a potential dark horse candidate because of Simply Joking's speed.
Here's what you need to know about the Kentucky Oaks:
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What is the Kentucky Oaks?
The Kentucky Oaks is the sister version of the Kentucky Derby, as it is comprised of only 3-year-old fillies.
It always takes place the day before the Kentucky Derby runs at Churchill Downs, and has a purse of $1.5 million, per the Kentucky Derby website. The winner of the Kentucky Oaks is given "the iconic 'Lilies for the Fillies' garland" in the winners' circle after the race.
The 2025 Kentucky Oaks is the 151st running of the event, making it one of the longest-running sporting events in the United States.
REQUIRED READING: What are the horses' numbers in the 2025 Kentucky Derby?
Who competes in the Kentucky Oaks?
The Kentucky Oaks is for 3-year-old fillies.
The field for the Kentucky Oaks is a bit smaller than the Kentucky Derby's and consists of 14 horses.
How long is the Kentucky Oaks?
One major difference between the Kentucky Oaks and the Kentucky Derby is the distance of the two races. The Kentucky Oaks is 1⅛ miles long, while the Kentucky Derby is 1¼ miles long.
Kentucky Oaks post positions
Here are the post positions for the 2025 Kentucky Oaks:
Early On Simply Joking Fondly Drexel Hill Quickick Ballerina D'Oro La Cara Five G Tenma Take Charge Milady Good Cheer Anna's Promise Bless The Broken Quietside
REQUIRED READING: Kentucky Derby winners: History of winning horses at Churchill Downs since 1875
Kentucky Oaks odds
Ordering based on post positions. Odds as of Thursday, May 1
Here's the odds for the Kentucky Oaks, according to the Kentucky Derby website:
Early On | Morning line odds: 30-1 Simply Joking | Morning line odds: 10-1 Fondly | Morning line odds: 30-1 Drexel Hill | Morning line odds: 30-1 Quickick | Morning line odds: 30-1 Ballerina D'Oro | Morning line odds: 10-1 La Cara | Morning line odds: 6-1 Five G | Morning line odds: 12-1 Tenma | Morning line odds: 12-1 Take Charge Milady | Morning line odds: 12-1 Good Cheer | Morning line odds: 6-5 Anna's Promise | Morning line odds: 30-1 Bless The Broken | Morning line odds: 30-1 Quietside | Morning line odds: 8-1
Kentucky Oaks 2025: TV, time, streaming options
Date: Friday, May 2
Friday, May 2 Time: 5:51 p.m. ET
5:51 p.m. ET Location: Churchill Downs (Louisville, Kentucky)
Churchill Downs (Louisville, Kentucky) TV channel: USA Network
USA Network Streaming options: Peacock | Fubo (free trial)
The 2025 Kentucky Oaks has a post time of 5:51 p.m. ET on Friday, May 2 at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. It is scheduled to be the 11th race of the day at Churchill Downs.
USA Network will nationally broadcast Friday's run of the Kentucky Oaks. Streaming options include Peacock, NBC's subscription streaming service, and Fubo, which carries NBC and offers a free trial to new subscribers.