The Kentucky Oaks
is a Grade I stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbred fillies staged annually in Louisville, Kentucky, United States. The race currently covers 1? miles (1811 m) at Churchill Downs; the horses carry 121 pounds (54.9 kg). The Kentucky Oaks is held on the Friday before the Kentucky Derby each year. The winner gets a $500,000 dollar purse and a large garland of lilies, affectionately called the "Lillies for the Fillies." A silver Kentucky Oaks Trophy is presented to the winner.
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KENTUCKY OAKS TICKETS
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History
The first running of the Kentucky Oaks was on
May 19,
1875 when Churchill Downs was known as the Louisville Jockey Club.
[1] The race was founded by
Meriwether Lewis Clark, Jr. along with the
Kentucky Derby, the
Clark Handicap, and the
Falls City Handicap.
[2] The Oaks and the Derby are the oldest continuously contested sporting events in history, and the only horse races to be held at their original site since its conception.
The Kentucky Oaks was modeled after the British
Epsom Oaks. In the first race, the horse
Vinaigrette won the then 1½ mile race in a time of 2:39¾, winning a purse of $1,175. Since that race the Kentucky Oaks has been held each year.
The Kentucky Oaks is considered by some to be among the most popular horse races in American horse-racing society due to its high attendance. It attracts about 100,000 people in attendance a year since 2001's 127th running of the Kentucky Oaks.
[3] In 1980 it was about 50,000 people and by 1989, it had reached about 67,000 people.
The attendance at the Kentucky Oaks ranks third in the continent and usually surpasses the attendance of all other stakes races including the
Belmont Stakes and the
Breeders' Cup. The attendance of the Kentucky Oaks typically only trails the
Kentucky Derby and the
Preakness Stakes, for more information see
American Thoroughbred Racing top Attended Events.
The Kentucky Oaks, the
Black-Eyed Susan Stakes, and the
Acorn Stakes are the counterparts to the
Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing, held at
Churchill Downs,
Pimlico Race Course and
Belmont Park, respectively. The "Filly Triple Crown", known as the
Triple Tiara of Thoroughbred Racing, is a series of three races at the Belmont Park and
Saratoga Race Course. The
National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) has considered changing the Triple Tiara series to the three counterparts of the Triple Crown.
Changes in distance
The Kentucky Oaks has been run at four different distances:
- 1875-1890, the race was 1½ miles;
- 1891-1895, it was 1¼ miles;
- 1896-1919, it was 1 1/16 miles;
- 1920-1941, changed to 1? miles;
- 1942-1981, run at 1 /16 miles; and
- 1982, set at 1? miles, and it has been that distance since.
Records
Speed record:
The fastest time to finish the 1? mile race is 1:48.64 set in 2003 by
Bird Town. The fastest time for the 1½ mile race is 2:39 by the horses
Felicia set in 1877, tied by
Belle of Nelson in 1878 and tied again
Katie Creel in 1882. The 1¼ mile race record is held by
Selika set in 1894 at 2:15. The record for the 1 1/16 mile race is 1:43.6 set be
Ari’s Mona in 1950 and tied by
Sweet Alliance in 1977.
- 20 ¼ lengths - Rachel Alexandra (2009) [4]
Longest shot to win the Oaks:
- 47/1 - Lemons Forever (2006) [5]
Most wins by a jockey:
- 4 - Eddie Arcaro (1951, 1952, 1953, 1958)
- 4 - Manuel Ycaza (1959, 1960, 1963, 1968)
Most wins by a trainer:
- 4 - D. Wayne Lukas (1982, 1984, 1989, 1990)
Most wins by an owner:
- 6 - Calumet Farm (1943, 1949, 1952, 1953, 1956, 1979)
Winners
Year
| Winner
| Jockey
| Trainer
| Owner
| Time
|
| 2009
| Rachel Alexandra
| Calvin Borel
| Hal R. Wiggins
| D. Morrison/M. Lauffer
| 1:48.87
|
| 2008
| Proud Spell
| Gabriel Saez
| J. Larry Jones
| Brereton C. Jones
| 1:50.01
|
| 2007
| Rags to Riches
| Garrett Gomez
| Todd Pletcher
| D. Smith & M. Tabor
| 1:49.99
|
| 2006
| Lemons Forever
| Mark Guidry
| Dallas Stewart
| L. Willis/T. Horton/Stewart
| 1:50.07
|
| 2005
| Summerly
| Jerry Bailey
| Steve Asmussen
| Winchell Thoroughbreds
| 1:50.23
|
| 2004
| Ashado
| John Velazquez
| Todd Pletcher
| Starlight Stables et al.
| 1:50.81
|
| 2003
| Bird Town
| Edgar Prado
| Nick Zito
| Marylou Whitney Stables
| 1:48.64
|
| 2002
| Farda Amiga
| Chris McCarron
| Paulo Lobo
| J. De Camargo et al.
| 1:50.41
|
| 2001
| Flute
| Jerry Bailey
| Robert J. Frankel
| Juddmonte Farms
| 1:48.85
|
| 2000
| Secret Status
| Pat Day
| Neil J. Howard
| W.S. Farish et al.
| 1:50.30
|
| 1999
| Silverbulletday
| Gary Stevens
| Bob Baffert
| Michael E. Pegram
| 1:49.92
|
| 1998
| Keeper Hill
| David R. Flores
| Robert J. Frankel
| John A. Chandler
| 1:52.06
|
| 1997
| Blushing K.D.
| Lonnie Meche
| Sam David, Jr.
| James & Sue Burns
| 1:50.29
|
| 1996
| Pike Place Dancer
| Corey Nakatani
| Jerry Hollendorfer
| J. Hollendorfer/G. Todaro
| 1:49.88
|
| 1995
| Gal In A Ruckus
| Herb McCauley
| John T. Ward, Jr.
| John C. Oxley
| 1:50.09
|
| 1994
| Sardula
| Ed Delahoussaye
| Brian A. Mayberry
| Ann & Jerry Moss
| 1:51.16
|
| 1993
| Dispute
| Jerry Bailey
| C. R. McGaughey III
| Ogden Mills Phipps
| 1:52.47
|
| 1992
| Luv Me Luv Me Not
| Fabio Arguello, Jr.
| Glenn Wismer
| Philip Maas
| 1:51.41
|
| 1991
| Lite Light
| Corey Nakatani
| Jerry Hollendorfer
| Oaktown Stable
| 1:48.8
|
| 1990
| Seaside Attraction
| Chris McCarron
| D. Wayne Lukas
| Overbrook Farm
| 1:52.8
|
| 1989
| Open Mind
| Angel Cordero, Jr.
| D. Wayne Lukas
| Eugene V. Klein
| 1:50.6
|
| 1988
| Goodbye Halo
| Pat Day
| Charlie Whittingham
| Hancock III/A. Campbell, Jr.
| 1:50.4
|
| 1987
| Buryyourbelief
| Jose A. Santos
| Laz Barrera
| D. S. Bray, Jr.
| 1:50.4
|
| 1986
| Tiffany Lass
| Gary Stevens
| Laz Barrera
| Aaron U. Jones
| 1:50.6
|
| 1985
| Fran's Valentine
| Pat Valenzuela
| Joseph Manzi
| Earl Scheib
| 1:50.0
|
| 1984
| Lucky Lucky Lucky
| Angel Cordero, Jr.
| D. Wayne Lukas
| Leslie Combs II/Equites St.
| 1:51.8
|
| 1983
| Princess Rooney
| Jacinto Vasquez
| Frank Gomez
| Paula J. Tucker
| 1:50.8
|
| 1982
| Blush With Pride
| Bill Shoemaker
| D. Wayne Lukas
| Stonereath Farms
| 1:50.2
|
| 1981
| Heavenly Cause
| Laffit Pincay, Jr.
| Woody Stephens
| Ryehill Farm
| 1:43.8
|
| 1980
| Bold 'n Determined
| Ed Delahoussaye
| Neil Drysdale
| Saron Stable
| 1:44.8
|
| 1979
| Davona Dale
| Jorge Velasquez
| John M. Veitch
| Calumet Farm
| 1:47.2
|
| 1978
| White Star Line
| Eddie Maple
| Woody Stephens
| Newstead Farm
| 1:45.2
|
| 1977
| Sweet Alliance
| Chris McCarron
| Bud Delp
| Windfields Farm
| 1:43.6
|
| 1976
| Optimistic Gal
| Braulio Baeza
| LeRoy Jolley
| Diana M. Firestone
| 1:44.6
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| 1975
| Sun and Snow
| Garth Patterson
| George T. Poole
| C. V. Whitney Stables
| 1:44.6
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| 1974
| Quaze Quilt
| William Gavidia
| Thomas W. Kelley
| Fred W. Hooper
| 1:46.6
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| 1973
| Bag of Tunes
| D. Gargan
| George T. Poole
| C. V. Whitney Stables
| 1:44.2
|
| 1972
| Susan's Girl
| Victor Tejada
| John W. Russell
| Fred W. Hooper
| 1:44.2
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| 1971
| Silent Beauty
| Kenny Knapp
| R. I. Fischer
| Leslie Combs ?
| 1:44.2
|
| 1970
| Lady Vi-E
| David Whited
| John Oxley
| A. H. & A. M. Stall
| 1:44.8
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| 1969
| Hail to Patsy
| David Kassen
| Loyd Gentry, Jr.
| Walter Kitchen
| 1:44.4
|
| 1968
| Dark Mirage
| Manuel Ycaza
| Everett W. King
| Lloyd I. Miller
| 1:44.6
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| 1967
| Nancy Jr.
| Johnny Sellers
| Stanley M. Rieser
| Hidden Valley Farm
| 1:44.0
|
| 1966
| Native Street
| Don Brumfield
| Les Lear
| Aisco Stable
| 1:44.8
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| 1965
| Amerivan
| Ron Turcotte
| Mary D. Keim
| Mary D. Keim
| 1:44.4
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| 1964
| Blue Norther
| Bill Shoemaker
| Wally Dunn
| Mrs. William R. Hawn
| 1:44.2
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| 1963
| Sally Ship
| Manuel Ycaza
| Woody Stephens
| Cain Hoy Stable
| 1:44.8
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| 1962
| Cicada
| Bill Shoemaker
| Casey Hayes
| Meadow Stable
| 1:44.6
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| 1961
| My Portrait
| Braulio Baeza
| Chuck R. Parke
| Fred W. Hooper
| 1:47.0
|
| 1960
| Make Sail
| Manuel Ycaza
| Woody Stephens
| Cain Hoy Stable
| 1:44.2
|
| 1959
| Wedlock
| John L. Rotz
| Paul Shawhan
| Paul Shawhan
| 1:45.0
|
| 1959
| Hidden Talent
| Manuel Ycaza
| Woody Stephens
| Cain Hoy Stable
| 1:44.4
|
| 1958
| Bug Brush
| Eddie Arcaro
| Sylvester Veitch
| C. V. Whitney Stables
| 1:44.8
|
| 1957
| Lori-El
| Lois C. Cook
| Mike R. Soto
| Al Berke & M. R. Soto
| 1:44.8
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| 1956
| Princess Turia
| Bill Hartack
| Horace A. Jones
| Calumet Farm
| 1:44.8
|
| 1955
| Lalun
| Henry Moreno
| Loyd Gentry, Jr.
| Cain Hoy Stable
| 1:46.0
|
| 1954
| Fascinator
| Anthony DeSpirito
| Edward A. Neloy
| Maine Chance Farm
| 1:45.0
|
| 1953
| Bubbley
| Eddie Arcaro
| Horace A. Jones
| Calumet Farm
| 1:45.6
|
| 1952
| Real Delight
| Eddie Arcaro
| Horace A. Jones
| Calumet Farm
| 1:45.4
|
| 1951
| How
| Eddie Arcaro
| Horatio Luro
| H. B. Delman
| 1:45.6
|
| 1950
| Ari's Mona
| William Boland
| J. C. Hauer
| J. C. Hauer
| 1:43.6
|
| 1949
| Wistful III
| Gordon Glisson
| Ben A. Jones
| Calumet Farm
| 1:47.4
|
| 1948
| Challe Anne
| Willie Garner
| W. U. Ridenour
| F. L. Flanders
| 1:48.6
|
| 1947
| Blue Grass
| Johnny Longden
| Willie Crump
| Arthur B. Hancock, Jr.
| 1:51.6
|
| 1946
| First Page
| J. R. Layton
| C. A. Bidencope
| H. G. Jones
| 1:51.4
|
| 1945
| Come and Go
| C. L. Martin
| J. P. Sallee
| Thomas Piatt
| 1:49.8
|
| 1944
| Canina
| John H. Adams
| Frank E. Childs
| Abe Hirschberg
| 1:48.6
|
| 1943
| Nellie L.
| Wendell Eads
| Ben A. Jones
| Calumet Farm
| 1:48.6
|
| 1942
| Miss Dogwood
| John H. Adams
| J. M. Goode
| Brownell Combs
| 1:47.0
|
| 1941
| Valdina Myth
| George King
| J. J. Flanigan
| Valdina Farm
| 1:52.6
|
| 1940
| Inscolassie
| Bobby Vedder
| R. O. Hugdon
| Woolford Farm
| 1:54.4
|
| 1939
| Flying Lill
| Carroll Bierman
| Clifford Porter
| Mrs. C. H. Cleary
| 1:51.0
|
| 1938
| Flying Lee
| Leon Haas
| Duval A. Headley
| Hal Price Headley
| 1:52.8
|
| 1937
| Mars Shield
| Alfred Robertson
| Robert McGarvey
| Ethel Mars
| 1:53.4
|
| 1936
| Two Bob
| Raymond Workman
| James W. Healy
| C. V. Whitney Stables
| 1:52.6
|
| 1935
| Paradisical
| Glenn Fowler
| Al Miller
| I. J. Collins
| 1:51.2
|
| 1934
| Fiji
| Gilbert Elston
| T. B. Young
| Young Bros.
| 1:51.6
|
| 1933
| Barn Swallow
| Don Meade
| Herbert J. Thompson
| Edward R. Bradley
| 1:51.2
|
| 1932
| Suntica
| Anthony Pascuma
| Jack Whyte
| Willis Sharpe Kilmer
| 1:52.2
|
| 1931
| Cousin Jo
| Eugene James
| Wm. Reed
| Charles Nuckols
| 1:53.0
|
| 1930
| Alcibiades
| Robert Finnerty
| Walter W. Taylor
| Hal Price Headley
| 1:52.6
|
| 1929
| Rose of Sharon
| Willie Crump
| Dan E. Stewart
| Johnson N. Camden, Jr.
| 1:51.0
|
| 1928
| Easter Stockings
| Willie Crump
| Kay Spence
| Audley Farm Stable
| 1:51.6
|
| 1927
| Mary Jane
| Danny Connelly
| S. S. Combs
| Gallaher & Combs
| 1:53.4
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| 1926
| Black Maria
| Arthur Mortensen
| William H. Karrick
| William R. Coe
| 1:55.4
|
| 1925
| Deeming
| James McCoy
| C. B. Dailey
| C. B. Dailey
| 1:54.0
|
| 1924
| Princess Doreen
| Harry Stutts
| S. Miller Henderson
| Audley Farm Stable
| 1:51.8
|
| 1923
| Untidy
| John Corcoran
| Scott P. Harlan
| Helen Hay Whitney
| 1:53.0
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| 1922
| Startle
| Danny Connelly
| J. I. Smith
| H. H. Hewitt
| 1:52.6
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| 1921
| Nancy Lee
| Linus McAtee
| John H. McCormack
| P. A. Clark
| 1:50.4
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| 1920
| Lorraine
| Danny Connelly
| J. C. Milam
| J. N. Camden
| 1:58.4
|
| 1919
| Lillian Shaw
| T. Murray
| John H. McCormack
| J. R. Livingston
| 1:45.0
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| 1918
| Viva America
| W. Warrington
| W. N. Potts
| C. T. Worthington
| 1:46.8
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| 1917
| Sunbonnet
| Johnny Loftus
| Walter B. Jennings
| A. Kingsley Macomber
| 1:46.8
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| 1916
| Kathleen
| Roscoe Goose
| Pete Coyne
| George J. Long
| 1:47.4
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| 1915
| Waterblossom
| E. Martin
| George Denny
| Thomas McDowell
| 1:46.6
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| 1914
| Bronzewing
| W. Obert
| D. Lehan
| A. P. Humphrey
| 1:45.6
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| 1913
| Cream
| Carl Ganz
| A. Baker
| C. C. Van Meter
| 1:47.6
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| 1912
| Flamma
| James Butwell
| J. Duffy
| E. F. Condran
| 1:51.2
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| 1911
| Bettie Sue
| Ted Rice
| D. Huestis
| A. Brown
| 1:48.0
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| 1910
| Samaria
| Richard Scoville
| W. McDaniel
| J. P. Ross & Co.
| 1:50.2
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| 1909
| Floreal
| Heidel
| W. H. Fizer
| W. H. Fizer
| 1:49.2
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| 1908
| Ellen-a-Dale
| Vincent Powers
| George Denny
| Thomas McDowell
| 1:46.6
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| 1907
| Wing Ting
| J. Lee
| J. S. Hawkins
| J. S. Hawkins
| 1:50.2
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| 1906
| King's Daughter
| E. Robinson
| Thomas McDowell
| Thomas McDowell
| 1:47.8
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| 1905
| Janeta
| D. Austin
| R. L. Rogers
| Cassin & Rogers
| 1:49¾
|
| 1904
| Audience
| G. Helgeson
| Sam S. Brown
| H. C. Riddle
| 1:51
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| 1903
| Lemco
| J. Reiff
| F. Kelly
| Edward Corrigan
| 1:49¾
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| 1902
| Wainamoinen
| M. Coburn
| H. J. Talbot
| Talbot Bros.
| 1:51¼
|
| 1901
| Lady Schorr
| J. Woods
| John F. Schorr
| John W. Schorr
| 1:53
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| 1900
| Etta
| Monk Overton
| Edward D. Brown
| Ed Brown & Co.
| 1:48
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| 1899
| Rush
| J. Hill
| Thomas McDowell
| Thomas McDowell
| 1:52½
|
| 1898
| Crocket
| J. Hill
| L. Cahn
| J. C. Cahn
| 1:51½
|
| 1897
| White Frost
| Thomas H. Burns
| L. C. Davis
| E. S. Gardner & Son
| 1:49
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| 1896
| Soufflé
| C. Thorpe
| J. Healy
| J. M. Murphy
| 1:54½
|
| 1895
| Voladora
| Alonzo Clayton
| Not found
| Pastime Stable
| 2:16¾
|
| 1894
| Selika
| Alonzo Clayton
| John H. Morris
| Bashford Manor Stable
| 2:15
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| 1893
| Monrovia
| J. Reagan
| Edward D. Brown
| Edward D. Brown
| 2:16
|
| 1892
| Miss Dixie
| H. Ray
| M. Danaher
| Col. J. E. Pepper
| 2:14¼
|
| 1891
| Miss Hawkins
| T. Britton
| H. J. Talbot
| Talbot Bros.
| 2:18¼
|
| 1890
| English Lady
| Hollis
| Not found
| Scoggan Bros.
| 2:42½
|
| 1889
| Jewel Ban
| John Stoval
| W. Clay
| John T. Clay
| 2:41
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| 1888
| Ten Penny
| Andrew McCarthy, Jr.
| Not found
| M. Welsh
| 2:42
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| 1887
| Florimore
| Johnston
| D. W. Kelly
| T. H. Stevens
| 2:40¾
|
| 1886
| Pure Rye
| Edward Garrison
| Not found
| Melbourne Stable
| 2:41
|
| 1885
| Lizzie Dwyer
| Fuller
| Edward Corrigan
| Edward Corrigan
| 2:40¾
|
| 1884
| Modesty
| Isaac Murphy
| Edward Corrigan
| Edward Corrigan
| 2:48¼
|
| 1883
| Vera
| John Stoval
| J. Pate
| R. C. Pate
| 2:39¾
|
| 1882
| Katie Creel
| John Stoval
| C. A. Johnson
| Johnson & Co.
| 2:39
|
| 1881
| Lucy May
| Wolfe
| Not found
| R. F. Johnson
| 2:41
|
| 1880
| Longitude
| Jim McLaughlin
| Not found
| J. G. Malone
| 2:41¾
|
| 1879
| Liahtunah
| Hightower
| Not found
| J. A. Grinstead
| 2:40¼
|
| 1878
| Belle of Nelson
| Booth
| Not found
| Mattingly & Co.
| 2:39
|
| 1877
| Felicia
| W. James
| Not found
| J. W. Reynolds
| 2:39
|
| 1876
| Necy Hale
| W. James
| Not found
| F. B. Harper
| 2:42½
|
| 1875
| Vinaigrette
| J. Houston
| Not found
| A. B. Lewis & Co.
| 2:39¾
|
Notes
- In 1924, Glide finished first but was disqualified for fouling.
- In 1959 the race was run in two divisions.
See also
- Kentucky Oaks "top three finishers" and starters
- Kentucky Derby
- Black-Eyed Susan Stakes
- Acorn Stakes
- List of graded stakes at Churchill Downs