On the Friday before the Kentucky Derby takes place, the celebrated Kentucky Oaks kicks off the big weekend. The Oaks is a Grade 1 stakes race with a purse totaling an impressive $1.25 million; the first-place finisher takes home $750,000.
It’s easy to see why the Kentucky Oaks draws so much attention from racing aficionados and sports bettors. In legal and regulated online Kentucky sportsbooks, you can wager on any of the races on Derby weekend, starting with Kentucky Oaks.
Below, we take a look at betting on the Kentucky Oaks horse race at the best Kentucky horse betting sites, including the latest odds, racing history and more.
2024 Kentucky Oaks odds
Looking to wager on the Kentucky Oaks? When the field of racers is released, you’ll find it right here along with all of the odds from top online sportsbooks in Kentucky. Click on any Kentucky Oaks 2024 odds and you’ll be taken to the corresponding betting site.
Kentucky Oaks bet types explained
The Kentucky Oaks (just like the Kentucky Derby and other horse races) can be bet on in a variety of ways. Here are some of the most popular horse wager types.
- Win: This is a straightforward bet on the horse that you believe will cross the finish line first.
- Place: Wager on a horse to finish in either first or second place.
- Show: Wager on a horse to finish in the top three positions.
- Exacta: With this bet, you need to select the first and second-place finishers of the race in the exact order.
- Trifecta: This is a bet on the first three horses to finish the race in the precise order.
- Superfecta: This is a wager on the first four horses to finish the race in the correct order.
Apart from these standard bets, there are other types of bets like Pick 3s and Pick 4s, which are more challenging to win, but they offer significant returns on small bets.
Always use bankroll management to make sure you’re betting only what you can afford to lose. And never, ever chase losses, no matter how much of a “sure bet” the next thing may appear.
Past winners of the Kentucky Oaks
The Oaks, raced over 1 and 1/8 miles with a purse of $1.25 million, draws in plenty of quality horses and jockeys. First run on May 19, 1875, this race consists of three-year-old fillies, making it one of the premier races for fillies in the country.
Below are the past 10 winners of the Oaks, along with their time.
| Year | Winner | Winning Time |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Pretty Mischievous | 1:49.77 |
| 2022 | Secret Oath | 1:49.44 |
| 2021 | Malathaat | 1:48.99 |
| 2020 | Shedaresthedevil | 1:48.28 |
| 2019 | Serengeti Express | 1:50.17 |
| 2018 | Monomoy Girl | 1:49.13 |
| 2017 | Abel Tasman | 1:51.62 |
| 2016 | Cathryn Sophia | 1:50.53 |
| 2015 | Lovely Maria | 1:50.45 |
| 2014 | Untapable | 1:48.68 |
Record-setting Kentucky Oaks
Here are some of the key records for the Kentucky Oaks:
- Speed record in the history of the race: 1:43.6 over 1-1/16 mile by Ari’s Mona (1950) and Sweet Alliance (1977)
- Speed record at current length: 1:48.28 over 1 and 1/8 miles by Shedaresthedevil (2020)
- Largest winning margin: 20-1/4 lengths by Rachel Alexandra (2009)
- Longest shot to win the Oaks: Lemons Forever (2006) at 47-1 odds
- Most wins by a jockey: Eddie Arcaro (last was in 1958) and Manuel Ycaza (last was 1968) at four each
- Female jockeys to win: Rosie Napravnik (2012, 2014)
- Most wins by a trainer: Woody Stephens (last was 1981) and D. Wayne Lukas (last was 2022) with five each
- Most wins by an owner: 6 by Calumet Farm (1943, 1949, 1952, 1953, 1956, 1979)
How do horses qualify for the Kentucky Oaks?
Horses that want to compete in the Kentucky Oaks need to go through a qualification process to ensure they have the talent and credentials. The qualification process for the Oaks is similar to that of the Kentucky Derby but with some differences.
To qualify for the Kentucky Oaks, horses must earn points in designated Oaks prep races. The designated races are held from September of the previous year to April of the current year. The points system works similarly to the Kentucky Derby’s, with the top four finishers in each designated race earning points on a sliding scale. The races with the most points available are typically the most prestigious and competitive ones.
The fillies with the most points at the end of the designated prep races qualify for the Kentucky Oaks. In the event of a tie in points, the filly with the highest earnings in graded stakes races will be given priority. The maximum number of horses allowed to start in the Oaks is 14.
Horses that do not accumulate enough points to qualify for the Oaks may still be considered for entry. The racing committee and Churchill Downs officials may invite fillies with exceptional performances or resumes to participate in the race. However, these invitations are rare and usually occur only when there is a lack of qualified entries.
How much is bet annually on the Kentucky Oaks?
The Kentucky Oaks is one of the most prestigious horse races in the world, and it attracts a significant amount of attention from horse racing fans and bettors. The amount bet annually on the Kentucky Oaks varies depending on various factors, such as the quality of the fillies and the overall state of the racing industry.
According to reports, the total amount wagered on the 2021 Kentucky Oaks was $16.2 million, which was a significant increase from the previous year’s $9.2 million. The Kentucky Oaks also set a new attendance record in 2019, with over 113,000 people in attendance.
More Horse Racing Odds
- Kentucky Derby betting odds
- Preakness Stakes betting odds
- Belmont Stakes betting odds
- Breeders’ Cup betting odds
Kentucky Oaks FAQ
When is the Kentucky Oaks in 2024?
Friday, May 3.
What’s the field size for the Kentucky Oaks?
The field size for the Kentucky Oaks is limited to 14 horses. If more than 14 fillies are entered in the race, the starting lineup is determined based on a point system that considers each horse’s earnings in graded stakes races, as well as their total points earned in designated Oaks prep races.
What is the prize pool for the Kentucky Oaks?
The Kentucky Oaks has a total purse of $1.25 million. The winner of the race receives $750,000, which is a significant achievement for the horse and its connections.
The remaining $500,000 of the purse is distributed among the other top finishers in the race, with the runner-up receiving $200,000, the third-place finisher receiving $100,000, and the fourth-place finisher receiving $50,000. The remaining horses in the race receive smaller payouts based on their finishing position.
What was the fastest time ever recorded at the Kentucky Oaks?
The fastest time ever recorded at the Kentucky Oaks is 1:48.28, which was set in 2020 by Shedaresthedevil.
