The Kentucky Oaks: 150 Years of Running for the Lilies

The Kentucky Oaks is America's most prestigious race for three-year-old fillies and the second-oldest continuously run horse race in North America. Avalyn Hunter's book, "The Kentucky Oaks: 150 Years of Running for the Lilies," explores the history of the race and its significance for women's participation in Thoroughbred racing.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 288 pages
Publication date: 30 April 2024
Publisher: The University Press of Kentucky

The Kentucky Derby holds a revered place in the national and international consciousness, but other equally significant and historic races deserve more attention. One such race is the Kentucky Oaks, inaugurated on May 19, 1875, just two days after the first Kentucky Derby, and held annually at Churchill Downs since then. It is America's most prestigious race for three-year-old fillies and the second-oldest continuously run horse race in North America. The Oaks has traditionally been cherished by horsemen as a test for the future mothers of the Thoroughbred, but in recent years, it has also become a major charity and fashion gala. However, despite its significance, popular and academic historians have largely overlooked the Oaks. In The Kentucky Oaks: 150 Years of Running for the Lilies, author Avalyn Hunter sets out to recover the history of one of the most watched and highly attended events in Thoroughbred racing. Hunter traces the evolution of the Kentucky Oaks through the stories of the men, women, and fillies that have made the Kentucky Oaks a symbol for women's growing participation in the sport at all levels.

Weight: 426g
Dimension: 152 x 229 x 19 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781985900349