02-05-2025
More than a prelude: The Kentucky Oaks blends tradition, triumph and a touch of pink
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (FOX 56) — When it comes to Churchill Downs, Kentucky's famed 1.25-mile track, the Kentucky Derby is the event that garners most of the attention, but it's not the only prestigious race that happens there.
The Kentucky Oaks is an annual thoroughbred race on the Friday before the Derby.
Tradition is one of the things that makes the Kentucky Oaks what it is today. But to understand how these rich traditions came to be, we have to go all the way back to 1875.
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More than a prelude: The Kentucky Oaks blends tradition, triumph and a touch of pink
'The first winner was Vinaigrette. Early on in its tenure, I'd even say all the way until about the 1970s, the Kentucky Oaks was just kind of a race for three-year-old fillies; it was never a race that was sought after nationally for horses to, say, ship in from New York or California to win. That all changed in the 1980s,' said the senior director of communications and media services at Churchill Downs, Darren Rogers.
The Oaks and Derby are like the timeless legends of American sports, holding the title of the oldest continuously contested events in American history.
'Betting dollars back then on the day, you handled about $35 million,' Rogers explained. 'Now, we're challenging $80 million on Oaks Day. So, it's really grown tremendously in the last few years.'
Ever since 2001, around 100,000 fans have flocked to witness the magic of the Oaks.
But, beyond the thrill of the race, ever wondered why everyone's rocking that bold, fabulous pink?
'It's a nod to the official flower of the Kentucky Oaks, the Oaks Lily,' said Rogers. 'We love for people to incorporate pink into their wardrobe, and people have really done an outstanding job of doing that, and that's probably been a tradition for about the last 15 years or so.'
But the color pink isn't just a fashion statement.
'I think one of the most moving tributes on Oaks Day and a tradition that started back in 2009 is the Kentucky Oaks Survivor Parade, where we offer people the opportunity to share their stories of battling cancer and surviving the fight,' Rogers added.
Rogers knows the Kentucky Derby like the back of his hand, and he has a playful twist on the Kentucky Oaks, calling it the perfect appetizer to the main event of Derby Day.
'It's a test drive for all the preparations we've done,' he said. 'The energy is tremendous, and it's a great dress rehearsal for Derby.'
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The cherished heritage of Oaks Day connects generations of fans right back to the heart of the Kentucky Derby.
'It is very important to us. People love the traditions. From Derby Day, wearing the hats to drinking the mint juleps to singing My Old Kentucky Home, we really created these traditions for Oaks Day in recent years,' said Rogers.
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