The Kentucky Oaks; America’s Most Lucrative Race for Fillies
The Kentucky Oaks is America’s premier and most lucrative race for Thoroughbred fillies three years old or older. This is a Grade 1 stakes race, staged annually in Louisville, Kentucky, United States. The race currently is run over a distance of 1800 metres at Churchill Downs, and the horses carry a weight of 55 kilograms. The Kentucky Oaks is held on the Friday before the Saturday of the Kentucky Derby each year.
The prize money is 600,000 dollars. One of the engaging tradition at the Kentucky Oaks is what is called “Lilies for the Fillies”, when the winner of the race is draped with a large garland of lilies, made from the Oaks official flower, which is the stargazer lily. A silver Kentucky Oaks Trophy is also presented to the winner.
Part of the “Triple Tiara” Races
During the Kentucky Oaks day, the historic race track at Churchill Downs is decorated with pink bunting, and the people attending are asked to incorporate pink into their outfits. This also incorporates part of the national campaign for breast cancer.
The Kentucky Oaks was first run in 1875, and the Oaks together with the Kentucky Derby are the oldest continuously contested sporting events in American history. They are also the only two horse races to be held at their original sites since their beginning. The Kentucky Oaks was modelled after the British Epsom Oaks. This is one of America’s most popular races, and attendance often tops 100,000. Attendance at this race only trails after the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes.
The Kentucky Oaks, the Black-eyed Susan Stakes and the Acorn Stakes form the Triple Tiara of Thoroughbred fillies’ races, and this forms the counterpart to the Triple Crown races.
Exciting World of Sports Betting
Equestrian events have been part of the sporting events of the world for centuries, and people have always been fascinated by the speed and strength of the animals. Winning a bet on the horses has also been part of the thrill of horse racing for many years, and now, with the introduction of the internet in the last couple of decades, betting has become within the reach of everyone who has an interest in horses.
All the top sports betting is now available online. The exciting world of sports betting awaits many new punters because of the range of sports the huge interest in these events is growing at an amazing rate. This is testimony to just how much sporting activities have been keeping the world entertained for centuries. The popular sports games that we all either take part in or watch, have given us many hours of enjoyment. Then, add to this the natural accompaniment of sports betting.
Most followers of horse racing are extremely knowledgeable about the sport, and online access now allows punters to find the latest data applicable to the race they are interested in. Most NZ betting sites, or sports books, supply a huge amount of details regarding the horses running, the jockeys, the condition of the race track, even the owners and trainers.
Top sports books offer excellent customer service, and the security they provide extends to financial transactions too. It means the punter can with safety place any wager he wishes and will be able to withdraw any possible winnings. Betting sites have developed into interactive resources that the punter can access with ever growing ease and confidence.