KENTUCKY OAKS · UNITED STATES

Kentucky Oaks prize money

The Kentucky Oaks is worth $1,500,000 . That makes it the 51st richest of the 997 races on this site and the 16th richest in the United States.

Every figure here is the money the race announces, in the currency it announces it in. The currency control at the top swaps the whole page.

TOTAL PRIZE MONEY $1,500,000

WORLD RANK 51st

RUNNINGS HELD 161

FIRST RUN 1875

What the Kentucky Oaks is

Grade I · miles · Dirt · Churchill Downs

Flat racing

Racecourse: Churchill Downs
Country: United States
Grade: Grade I
Distance: miles
Surface: Dirt
Race type: Thoroughbred
Open to: 3-year-old fillies
Direction: Left-handed
First run: 1875

We hold the total fund for the Kentucky Oaks and no separate winner's cheque. What the winner takes is a rule the racecourse sets rather than a national one, and it varies race by race.

Run in 1:48.82 in 2026, the Kentucky Oaks pays $13,784 for every second of the race, which is 47th of the 611 races in horse racing prize money per second and 19th in the United States.

Every Kentucky Oaks winner

161 runnings, 1875 to 2026, newest first

161 with the rider named

Year	Winner	Jockey	Trainer	Owner
2026		José Ortiz
2026	Always a Runner1:48.82	José Ortiz	Chad C. Brown	Douglas Scharbauer and Three Chimneys Farm, LLC (Goncalo B. Torrealba)
2025	Good Cheer1:50.15	Luis Saez	Brad H. Cox	Godolphin
2024		Brian Hernandez Jr.	Kenneth G. McPeek
2024	Thorpedo Anna1:50.83	Brian Hernandez Jr.	Kenny McPeek	Brookdale Racing, Mark Edwards, Judy B. Hicks and Magdalena Racing (Sherri McPeek)
2023	Pretty Mischievous1:49.77	Tyler Gaffalione	Brendan Walsh	Godolphin
2022	Secret Oath1:49.44	Luis Saez	D. Wayne Lukas	Briland Farm
2021	Malathaat1:48.99	John R. Velazquez	Todd A. Pletcher	Shadwell Stable
2020	Shedaresthedevil1:48.28	Florent Geroux	Brad H. Cox	Flurry Racing Stables LLC, Qatar Racing Limited, Big Aut Farms
2019	Serengeti Empress1:50.17	José Ortiz	Tom Amoss	Joel Politi
2018	Monomoy Girl1:49.13	Florent Geroux	Brad H. Cox	Michael Dubb, Monomoy Stables (Sol Kumin), Elkstone Group, Bethlehem Stables (Michael Caruso)
2017	Abel Tasman1:51.62	Mike E. Smith	Bob Baffert	China Horse Club
2016	Cathryn Sophia1:50.53	Javier Castellano	John Servis	Cash Is King Stable
2015	Lovely Maria1:50.45	Kerwin Clark	J. Larry Jones	Brereton Jones
2014	Untapable1:48.68	Rosie Napravnik	Steven M. Asmussen	Winchell Thoroughbreds
2013	Princess of Sylmar1:49.17	Mike E. Smith	Todd A. Pletcher	King of Prussia Stables
2012	Believe You Can1:49.50	Rosie Napravnik	J. Larry Jones	Brereton C. Jones
2011	Plum Pretty1:49.50	Martin Garcia	Bob Baffert	Peachtree Stable
2010	Blind Luck1:50.70	Rafael Bejarano	Jerry Hollendorfer	Mark DeDomenico, John Carver, Peter Abruzzo & Jerry Hollendorfer
2009		Calvin Borel
2009	Rachel Alexandra1:48.87	Calvin Borel	Hal R. Wiggins	Dolphus C. Morrison & Michael Lauffer
2008	Proud Spell1:50.01	Gabriel Saez	J. Larry Jones	Brereton C. Jones
2007	Rags to Riches1:49.99	Garrett Gomez	Todd A. Pletcher	Derrick Smith & Michael Tabor
2006	Lemons Forever1:50.07	Mark Guidry	Dallas Stewart	Leon Willis, Terry Horton & Dallas Stewart
2005	Summerly1:50.23	Jerry Bailey	Steven M. Asmussen	Winchell Thoroughbreds
2004	Ashado1:50.81	John Velazquez	Todd A. Pletcher	Starlight Stables
2003	Bird Town1:48.64	Edgar Prado	Nick Zito	Marylou Whitney Stables
2002	Farda Amiga1:50.41	Chris McCarron	Paulo Lobo	Jose De Camargo, Old Friends Inc. & Winner Silk Inc.
2001	Flute1:48.85	Jerry Bailey	Robert J. Frankel	Juddmonte Farms
2000	Secret Status1:50.30	Pat Day	Neil J. Howard	William S. Farish, James A.Elkins Jr., W. Temple Webber Jr.
1999	Silverbulletday1:49.92	Gary Stevens	Bob Baffert	Michael E. Pegram
1998	Keeper Hill1:52.06	David R. Flores	Robert J. Frankel	John A. Chandler
1997	Blushing K.D.1:50.29	Lonnie Meche	Sam David Jr.	James & Sue Burns
1996	Pike Place Dancer1:49.88	Corey Nakatani	Jerry Hollendorfer	Jerry Hollendorfer & George Todaro
1995	Gal In A Ruckus1:50.09	Herb McCauley	John T. Ward Jr.	John C. Oxley
1994	Sardula1:51.16	Ed Delahoussaye	Brian A. Mayberry	Ann & Jerry Moss
1993		Jerry Bailey
1993	Dispute1:52.47	Jerry Bailey	Claude R. McGaughey III	Ogden Mills Phipps
1992	Luv Me Luv Me Not1:51.41	Fabio Arguello Jr.	Glenn Wismer	Philip Maas
1991	Lite Light1:48.80	Corey Nakatani	Jerry Hollendorfer	Oaktown Stable
1990	Seaside Attraction1:52.80	Chris McCarron	D. Wayne Lukas	Overbrook Farm
1989	Open Mind1:50.60	Ángel Cordero Jr.	D. Wayne Lukas	Eugene V. Klein
1988	Goodbye Halo1:50.40	Pat Day	Charlie Whittingham	Arthur B. Hancock III & Alex Campbell Jr.
1987	Buryyourbelief1:50.40	José A. Santos	Laz Barrera	Dana S. Bray Jr.
1986	Tiffany Lass1:50.60	Gary Stevens	Laz Barrera	Aaron U. Jones
1985	Fran's Valentine1:50.00	Pat Valenzuela	Joseph Manzi	Earl Scheib
1984	Lucky Lucky Lucky1:51.80	Ángel Cordero Jr.	D. Wayne Lukas	Leslie Combs II & Equites St.
1983	Princess Rooney1:50.80	Jacinto Vásquez	Frank Gomez	Paula J. Tucker
1982	Blush With Pride1:50.20	Bill Shoemaker	D. Wayne Lukas	Stonereath Farms
1981	Heavenly Cause1:43.80	Laffit Pincay Jr.	Woody Stephens	Ryehill Farm
1980	Bold 'n Determined1:44.80	Ed Delahoussaye	Neil Drysdale	Saron Stable
1979	Davona Dale1:47.20	Jorge Velásquez	John M. Veitch	Calumet Farm
1978	White Star Line1:45.20	Eddie Maple	Woody Stephens	Newstead Farm
1977	Sweet Alliance1:43.60	Chris McCarron	Bud Delp	Windfields Farm
1976	Optimistic Gal1:44.60	Braulio Baeza	LeRoy Jolley	Diana M. Firestone
1975	Sun and Snow1:44.60	Garth Patterson	George T. Poole	Cornelius V. Whitney
1974	Quaze Quilt1:46.60	William Gavidia	Thomas W. Kelley	Fred W. Hooper
1973	Bag of Tunes1:44.20	Danny Gargan	George T. Poole	Cornelius V. Whitney
1972	Susan's Girl1:44.20	Victor Tejada	John W. Russell	Fred W. Hooper
1971	Silent Beauty1:44.20	Kenny Knapp	Richard J. Fischer	Leslie Combs II
1970	Lady Vi-E1:44.80	David Whited	John C. Oxley	A. H. & Albert M. Stall
1969	Hail to Patsy1:44.40	David Kassen	Loyd Gentry Jr.	Walter Kitchen
1968	Dark Mirage1:44.60	Manuel Ycaza	Everett W. King	Lloyd I. Miller
1967	Nancy Jr.1:44.00	Johnny Sellers	Stanley M. Rieser	Hidden Valley Farm
1966		Don Brumfield
1966	Native Street1:44.80	Don Brumfield	Les Lear	Aisco Stable
1965	Amerivan1:44.40	Ron Turcotte	Mary D. Keim	Mary D. Keim
1964	Blue Norther1:44.20	Bill Shoemaker	Wally Dunn	Mrs. William R. Hawn
1963	Sally Ship1:44.80	Manuel Ycaza	Woody Stephens	Cain Hoy Stable
1962	Cicada1:44.60	Bill Shoemaker	Casey Hayes	Meadow Stable
1961	My Portrait1:47.00	Braulio Baeza	Charles R. Parke	Fred W. Hooper
1960	Make Sail1:44.20	Manuel Ycaza	Woody Stephens	Cain Hoy Stable
1959	Wedlock1:45.00	John L. Rotz	Paul Shawhan	Paul Shawhan
1958	Bug Brush1:44.80	Eddie Arcaro	Sylvester Veitch	Cornelius V. Whitney
1957	Lori-El1:44.80	Lois C. Cook	Mike R. Soto	Al Berke & Mike R. Soto
1956	Princess Turia1:44.80	Bill Hartack	Horace A. Jones	Calumet Farm
1955	Lalun1:46.00	Henry E. Moreno	Loyd Gentry Jr.	Cain Hoy Stable
1954	Fascinator1:45.00	Anthony DeSpirito	Edward A. Neloy	Maine Chance Farm
1953	Bubbley1:45.60	Eddie Arcaro	Horace A. Jones	Calumet Farm
1952		Eddie Arcaro	Ben Jones	Calumet Farm
1952	Real Delight1:45.40	Eddie Arcaro	Horace A. Jones	Calumet Farm
1951	How1:45.60	Eddie Arcaro	Horatio Luro	Herman Delman
1950		Bill Boland
1950	Ari's Mona1:43.60	William Boland	John C. Hauer	John C. Hauer
1949	Wistful1:47.40	Gordon Glisson	Ben A. Jones	Calumet Farm
1948	Challe Anne1:48.60	Willie Garner	Walter U. Ridenour	F. L. Flanders
1947	Blue Grass1:51.60	Johnny Longden	Willie Crump	Arthur B. Hancock Jr.
1946	First Page1:51.40	James R. Layton	C. A. Bidencope	H. G. Jones
1945	Come and Go1:49.80	Charles L. Martin	J. Price Sallee	Thomas Piatt
1944	Canina1:48.60	John H. Adams	Frank E. Childs	Abe Hirschberg
1943	Nellie L.1:48.60	Wendell Eads	Ben A. Jones	Calumet Farm
1942	Miss Dogwood1:47.00	John H. Adams	John M. Goode	Brownell Combs
1941	Valdina Myth1:52.60	George King	John J. Flanigan	Valdina Farms
1940	Inscolassie1:54.40	Bobby Vedder	Ross O. Higdon	Woolford Farm
1939	Flying Lill1:51.00	Carroll Bierman	Clifford Porter	Mrs. C. H. Cleary
1938	Flying Lee1:52.80	Leon Haas	Duval A. Headley	Hal Price Headley
1937	Mars Shield1:53.40	Alfred Robertson	Robert V. McGarvey	Ethel V. Mars
1936	Two Bob1:52.60	Raymond Workman	James W. Healy	Cornelius V. Whitney
1935	Paradisical1:51.20	Glenn Fowler	Al Miller	Isaac J. Collins
1934	Fiji1:51.60	Gilbert Elston	Thomas B. Young	Young Bros.
1933		Don Meade	Herbert J. Thompson	Edward R. Bradley
1933	Barn Swallow1:51.20	Don Meade	Herbert J. Thompson	Edward R. Bradley
1932	Suntica1:52.20	Anthony Pascuma	Jack Whyte	Willis Sharpe Kilmer
1931	Cousin Jo1:53.00	Eugene James	William Reed	Charles Nuckols Sr.
1930	Alcibiades1:52.60	Robert Finnerty	Walter W. Taylor	Hal Price Headley
1929	Rose of Sharon1:51.00	Willie Crump	Daniel E. Stewart	Johnson N. Camden Jr.
1928	Easter Stockings1:51.60	Willie Crump	Kay Spence	Audley Farm Stable
1927	Mary Jane1:53.40	Danny Connelly	S. Sewell Combs	Gallaher & Combs
1926	Black Maria1:55.40	Arthur Mortensen	William H. Karrick	William R. Coe
1925	Deeming1:54.00	James McCoy	C. B. Dailey	C. B. Dailey
1924	Princess Doreen1:51.80	Harry Stutts	S. Miller Henderson	Audley Farm Stable
1923	Untidy1:53.00	John Corcoran	James G. Rowe Jr.	Helen Hay Whitney
1922	Startle1:52.60	Danny Connelly	John I. Smith	Herbert H. Hewitt
1921	Nancy Lee1:50.40	Linus McAtee	John H. McCormack	Philip Allen Clark
1920	Lorraine1:58.40	Danny Connelly	J. Cal Milam	Johnson N. Camden Jr.
1919	Lillian Shaw1:45.00	T. Murray	John H. McCormack	J. R. Livingston
1918	Viva America1:46.80	W. Warrington	W. N. Potts	C. T. Worthington
1917	Sunbonnet1:46.80	Johnny Loftus	Walter B. Jennings	A. Kingsley Macomber
1916	Kathleen1:47.40	Roscoe Goose	Peter Coyne	George J. Long
1915	Waterblossom1:46.60	Eddie Martin	George Denny	Thomas C. McDowell
1914	Bronzewing1:45.60	William Obert	Daniel Lehan	Alex P. Humphrey Jr.
1913	Cream1:47.60	Carl Ganz	Auval John Baker	Charles C. Van Meter
1912	Flamma1:51.20	James Butwell	J. Duffy	E. F. Condran
1911	Bettie Sue1:48.00	Ted Rice	D. Huestis	A. Brown
1910	Samaria1:50.20	Richard Scoville	William McDaniel	J. P. Ross & Co.
1909	Floreal1:49.20	Sam Heidel	William H. Fizer	William H. Fizer
1908	Ellen-a-Dale1:46.60	Vincent Powers	George Denny	Thomas C. McDowell
1907	Wing Ting1:50.20	James Lee	Joseph S. Hawkins	Joseph S. Hawkins
1906	King's Daughter1:47.80	E. Robinson	Thomas C. McDowell	Thomas C. McDowell
1905	Janeta1:49.75	Dale Austin	R. L. Rogers	Cassin & Rogers
1904	Audience1:51.00	Almer Helgesen	Kimball Patterson	Samuel S. Brown
1903	Lemco1:49.75	John Reiff	Frank Kelly	Edward Corrigan
1902	Wainamoinen1:51.25	M. Coburn	T. Hart Talbot	Talbot Bros.
1901	Lady Schorr1:53.00	John Woods	John F. Schorr	John F. Schorr
1900	Etta1:48.00	Monk Overton	Edward D. Brown	Ed Brown & Co.
1899	Rush1:52.50	Joseph Hill	Thomas C. McDowell	Thomas C. McDowell
1898	Crocket1:51.50	Joseph Hill	Louis Cahn	Julius C. Cahn
1897	White Frost1:49.00	Tommy Burns	L. C. Davis	E. S. Gardner & Son
1896	Soufflé1:54.50	Charles A. Thorpe	James W. Healy	James M. Murphy
1895	Voladora2:16.75	Alonzo Clayton	Not found	Pastime Stable
1894	Selika2:15.00	Alonzo Clayton	John H. Morris	Bashford Manor Stable
1893	Monrovia2:16.00	J. Reagan	Edward D. Brown	Edward D. Brown
1892	Miss Dixie2:14.50	Harry Ray	Michael T. Danaher	Col. James E. Pepper
1891	Miss Hawkins2:18.25	Tommy Britton	T. Hart Talbot	Talbot Bros.
1890	English Lady2:42.50	Hollis	Hiram J. Scoggan	Scoggan Bros.
1889	Jewel Ban2:41.00	John Stoval	W. Clay	John T. Clay
1888	Tenpenny2:42.00	Andrew McCarthy Jr.	Not found	M. Welsh
1887	Florimore2:40.75	Johnston	D. W. Kelly	Thomas H. Stevens
1886	Pure Rye2:41.00	Edward Garrison	Not found	Melbourne Stable
1885	Lizzie Dwyer2:40.75	Patrick Fuller	\|Edward C. Corrigan	Edward C. Corrigan
1884		Isaac Murphy
1884	Modesty2:48.25	Isaac Murphy	Edward C. Corrigan	Edward C. Corrigan
1883	Vera2:39.75	John Stoval	J. Pate	Robert C. Pate
1882	Katie Creel2:39.00	John Stoval	C. A. Johnson	Johnson & Co.
1881	Lucy May2:41.00	Wolfe	Not found	R. F. Johnson
1880	Longitude2:41.75	Jim McLaughlin	Not found	J. G. Malone
1879	Liahtunah2:40.25	Hightower	Not found	James A. Grinstead
1878	Belle of Nelson2:39.00	Booth	Not found	Mattingly & Co.
1877	Felicia2:39.00	W. James	Not found	J. W. Reynolds
1876	Neecy Hale2:42.50	W. James	Not found	Frank B. Harper
1875	Vinaigrette2:39.75	J. Houston	Not found	A. B. Lewis & Co.

161 of the 161 runnings name the rider, 155 name the trainer and 154 name the owner, who is the one of the three the prize money actually belongs to.

Who wins the Kentucky Oaks more than once

The fact the table above holds and cannot show

No horse has won the Kentucky Oaks twice in the 161 runnings on this page.

Most wins by a trainer

Not found 10

D. Wayne Lukas 5

Todd A. Pletcher 4

Woody Stephens 4

Brad H. Cox 3

Bob Baffert 3

J. Larry Jones 3

Jerry Hollendorfer 3

Races worth about the same

Either side of the Kentucky Oaks in the world money order

51st of 997

#	Race	Country	Prize money	As published
41	Stephen Foster StakesChurchill Downs	United States	$2,000,000$2.0m	$2,000,000
42	Epsom DerbyEpsom Downs	Great Britain	$1,995,000$2.0m	£1,500,000
43	All-Star MileFlemington Racecourse, Caulfield Racecourse and The Valley	Australia	$1,759,259$1.8m	AU$2,500,000
44	Kentucky Downs Ladies Sprint StakesKentucky Downs	United States	$1,750,000$1.7m	$1,750,000
45	Prix du Jockey ClubChantilly Racecourse	France	$1,705,128$1.7m	€1,500,000
46	Hong Kong Champions & Chater CupSha Tin Racecourse	Hong Kong	$1,642,550$1.6m	HK$13,000,000
47	Centenary Sprint CupSha Tin Racecourse	Hong Kong	$1,516,200$1.5m	HK$12,000,000
48	Hong Kong Gold CupSha Tin Racecourse	Hong Kong	$1,516,200$1.5m	HK$12,000,000
49	Hong Kong Stewards' CupSha Tin Racecourse	Hong Kong	$1,516,200$1.5m	HK$12,000,000
50	Queen's Silver Jubilee CupSha Tin Racecourse	Hong Kong	$1,516,200$1.5m	HK$12,000,000
52	Turf Classic StakesChurchill Downs	United States	$1,500,000$1.5m	$1,500,000
53	Australian DerbyRandwick Racecourse	Australia	$1,407,407$1.4m	AU$2,000,000
54	Blue Diamond StakesCaulfield Racecourse	Australia	$1,407,407$1.4m	AU$2,000,000
55	Coolmore Stud StakesFlemington Racecourse	Australia	$1,407,407$1.4m	AU$2,000,000
56	Hill StakesRandwick Racecourse,	Australia	$1,407,407$1.4m	AU$2,000,000
57	Newmarket HandicapFlemington Racecourse	Australia	$1,407,407$1.4m	AU$2,000,000
58	Spring Champion StakesRandwick Racecourse,	Australia	$1,407,407$1.4m	AU$2,000,000
59	Sydney StakesRandwick Racecourse, Sydney, Australia	Australia	$1,407,407$1.4m	AU$2,000,000
60	Victoria DerbyFlemington Racecourse	Australia	$1,407,407$1.4m	AU$2,000,000
62	Grand NationalAintree Racecourse	Great Britain	$1,330,000$1.3m	£1,000,000

The 20 races closest to the Kentucky Oaks in what they pay, above and below it. Follow the ranking all the way up on the richest races in the world.

The rest of the money in the United States

196 races, 16th of them is this one

Race	Racecourse	Grade	Prize money
Breeders' Cup Sprint	North America	Grade I	$2,000,000$2.0m
Preakness Stakes	Pimlico Race Course	Grade I	$2,000,000$2.0m
Stephen Foster Stakes	Churchill Downs	Grade I	$2,000,000$2.0m
Kentucky Downs Ladies Sprint Stakes	Kentucky Downs	Grade I	$1,750,000$1.7m
Turf Classic Stakes	Churchill Downs	Grade I	$1,500,000$1.5m
Apple Blossom Handicap	Oaklawn Park	Grade I	$1,250,000
Arkansas Derby	Oaklawn Park Race Track,	Grade I	$1,250,000
Blue Grass Stakes	Keeneland Race Course, Lexington, Kentucky, USA	Grade I	$1,250,000

Every race in the United States we hold a purse for is on the United States prize money list.

Frequently asked questions

What is the total Kentucky Oaks prize money?

$1,500,000.

Where does the Kentucky Oaks rank among the richest races in the world?

51st of 997. 50 races pay more, the nearest of them Stephen Foster Stakes. In the United States it is 16th of 196.

Which jockey has won the Kentucky Oaks most often?

Eddie Arcaro, with 5 wins between 1951 and 1958.

When was the Kentucky Oaks first run?

1875. This page holds 161 runnings, from 1875 to 2026.

How far is the Kentucky Oaks?

miles, on dirt, at Churchill Downs.

Where to next

The rest of the racing money

Racing by country

the United States