Kentucky Oaks Purse Raised to $1 Million

For the first time since 1996 when it was hiked to its current level of $500,000, the purse for the GI Kentucky Oaks will be raised to $1 million for the 2011 renewal to be contested Friday, May 6 beneath the Twin Spires at Churchill Downs. “There is no weekend in American racing like Kentucky Oaks and Derby Weekend, and it is exciting to raise the purse for the Oaks to a level that reflects its status and importance as a sports and entertainment event,” said Kevin Flanery, president of Churchill Downs Racetrack. The race has produced the last three Eclipse Award-winning three-year-old fillies in Rags To Riches (A.P. Indy, 2007), Proud Spell (Proud Citizen, 2008) and Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra (Medaglia d'Oro, 2009). Blind Luck (Pollard's Vision) is favored to run that streak to four when this year's champions are revealed Monday night in Miami.