The Victoria Racing Club Oaks (known as the Kennedy Oaks for sponsorship reasons), is a

Victoria Racing Club The Victoria Racing Club was founded in 1864. It was formed following the disbanding of the Victoria Turf Club and the Victoria Jockey Club. A legacy passed from the Victoria Turf Club was the annual "race that stops a nation", the Melbourne Cup, ...

(VRC)

Group 1 Group 1 may refer to: * Alkali metal, a chemical element classification for Alkali metal * Group 1 (racing), a historic (until 1981) classification for Touring car racing, applied to standard touring cars. Comparable to modern FIA Group N * Group On ...

Thoroughbred The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word ''thoroughbred'' is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed. Thoroughbreds are c ...

horse race Horse racing is an equestrian performance sport, typically involving two or more horses ridden by jockeys (or sometimes driven without riders) over a set distance for competition. It is one of the most ancient of all sports, as its basic p ...

for three-year-old

fillies A filly is a female horse that is too young to be called a mare. There are two specific definitions in use: *In most cases, a ''filly'' is a female horse under four years old. *In some nations, such as the United Kingdom and the United States, t ...

, run under set weights conditions, over 2,500 metres at

Flemington Racecourse Flemington Racecourse is a major horse racing venue located in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It is most notable for hosting the Melbourne Cup, which is the world's richest handicap and the world's richest 3200-metre horse race. The racecou ...

Melbourne Melbourne ( ; Boonwurrung/Woiwurrung: ''Narrm'' or ''Naarm'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Its name generally refers to a met ...

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

on the third day of the VRC Spring Carnival, the Thursday after the

Melbourne Cup The Melbourne Cup is a Thoroughbred horse race held in Melbourne, Australia. It is a 3200-metre race for three-year-olds and over, conducted by the Victoria Racing Club on the Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne, Victoria as part of the Melbou ...

in early November. Total prize money for the race is A$1,000,000

History

Record attendance for the race day was set in 2004 with 110,677 in attendance.

1952 Racebook

File:1952 VRC Oaks Stakes Racebook P1.jpg, Front page 1952 VRC Oaks Stakes racebook. File:1952 VRC Oaks Stakes Racebook P2.jpg, 1952 VRC Oaks Stakes raceday officials. File:1952 VRC Oaks Stakes Racebook P3.jpg, Starters and results of the 1952 VRC Oaks Stakes. File:1952 VRC Oaks Stakes Racebook P4.jpg, Starters and results of the 1952 Oaks Stakes showing the winner, Waterlady. File:1952 VRC Oaks Stakes Racebook P5.jpg, Back page showing railway arrangements and charges at the entrance gates.

Name

*1861–2006 - VRC Oaks *2007–2016 - Crown Oaks *2017 onwards - Kennedy Oaks

Distance

*1861–1971 - 1 miles (~2400 metres) *1972 – 2400 metres *1973 onwards - 2500 metres

Grade

*1855–1978 - Principal Race *1979 onwards - Group 1

Social attraction

Popularly known as Ladies Day or just Oaks Day (but in recent times also colloquially called Blokes Day), Kennedy Oaks Day has been an extraordinary phenomenon of racing. Despite being held on a work day (Melbourne Cup Day is the only public holiday during the racing carnival), Oaks Day boasts the fastest growing crowd records of any day in the Carnival; excluding the pandemic-impacted years of 2020 and 2021, every Oaks Day since 1994 has drawn a crowd of 50,000 or more. While the main draw card of the race day are the stars of the track, the other popular event on Crown Oaks Day is the annual "Fashions on the Field" celebrations. Introduced by the

in 1962 in an effort to woo more women to the track, Ladies day and the Fashions on the Field concept has grown considerably with each year and is now adopted at racetracks and smaller events all over the world.

Attendance

*2021 – 10,000 (restricted attendance due to the

COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identif ...

) *2020 – 0 (no attendance due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions) *2019 – 57,296 *2018 – 61,355 *2017 – 63,673 *2016 – 60,888 *2015 – 57,560 *2014 – 64,430 *2013 – 66,757 *2012 – 71,825 *2011 – 71,659 *2010 – 75,088 *2009 – 80,112 *2008 – 89,338 *2007 – 95,230 *2006 – 104,131 *2005 – 100,263 *2004 – 110,677 *2003 – 101,179 *2002 – 103,269 *2001 – 101,201 *2000 – 96,406 *1999 – 83,870 *1998 – 77,301 *1997 – 75,482 *1996 – 67,086 *1995 – 62,388 *1994 – 50,176 *1993 – 46,744 *1992 – 50,925 *1991 – 54,023 *1990 – 50,196 *1989 – 51,673 *1988 – 48,490 *1987 – 45,329 *1986 – 42,649 *1985 – 39,051 *1984 – 40,812 *1983 – 38,633 *1982 – 37,028 *1981 – 37,353 *1980 – 37,098

Winners

* 2022 - She's Extreme * 2021 - Willowy *2020 - Personal *2019 - Miami Bound *2018 - Aristia *2017 - Pinot *2016 - Lasqueti Spirit *2015 - Jameka *2014 - Set Square *2013 - Kirramosa *2012 - Dear Demi *2011 - Mosheen *2010 - Brazilian Pulse *2009 - Faint Perfume *2008 -

Samantha Miss Samantha Miss was an Australian Thoroughbred racemare that won three Group One races for earnings of A$1,750,760 and was later sold as broodmare for a record $3.85 million. She is a bay mare by the leading sire Redoute's Choice out of Milliye ...

*2007 - Arapaho Miss *2006 -

Miss Finland Miss Suomi ( Finnish for ''Miss Finland'') is a national beauty pageant in Finland. The pageant was founded in 1931, where the winners were sent to Miss Universe. History Miss Suomi was held for the first time in 1931. Between 1952 and 1955 t ...

*2005 - Serenade Rose *2004 - Hollow Bullet *2003 - Special Harmony *2002 - Bulla Borghese *2001 - Magical Miss *2000 - Lovelorn *1999 - Tributes *1998 - Grand Archway *1997 - Kensington Palace *1996 - My Brightia *1995 - Saleous *1994 - Northwood Plume *1993 - Arborea *1992 - Slight Chance *1991 - Richfield Lady *1990 - Weekend Delight *1989 - Tristanagh *1988 -

Research Research is "creativity, creative and systematic work undertaken to increase the stock of knowledge". It involves the collection, organization and analysis of evidence to increase understanding of a topic, characterized by a particular att ...

*1987 - Sandy's Pleasure *1986 - Diamond Shower *1985 - My Tristram's Belle *1984 - Spirit Of Kingston *1983 - Taj Eclipse *1982 - Rom's Stiletto *1981 - Rose Of Kingston *1980 - November Rain *1979 - Brava Jeannie *1978 - Scomeld *1977 - Show Ego *1976 -

Surround Surround sound is a technique for enriching the fidelity and depth of sound reproduction by using multiple audio channels from speakers that surround the listener (surround channels). Its first application was in movie theaters. Prior to sur ...

*1975 - Denise's Joy *1974 - Leica Show *1973 - Bonnybel *1972 - Toltrice *1971 - Kiss Me Cait *1970 - Sanderae *1969 - Goliette *1968 - Double Steel *1967 - Chosen Lady *1966 - Farmer's Daughter *1965 - Gipsy Queen *1964 -

Light Fingers Light Fingers (1961−1988) was a New Zealand bred thoroughbred racehorse who won the Melbourne Cup in 1965. In 2017 Light Fingers was inducted to the Australian Racing Hall of Fame. Background The lightly built chestnut was by the highly succes ...

*1963 - Jingle Bells *1962 - Arctic Star *1961 - Indian Summer *1960 - Lady Sybil *1959 - Mintaway *1958 - Chicola *1957 - Amarco *1956 - Innesfell *1955 -

Evening Peal Evening Peal was a notable Australian thoroughbred racehorse who won the 1956 Melbourne Cup, being ridden by George Podmore. Having run second in the Caulfield Cup to the New Zealand champion Redcraze she was sent out a 15/1 chance. With a ...

*1954 - Lady Mogambo *1953 - Waltzing Lady *1952 - Waterlady *1951 - Lady Havers *1950 - True Course *1949 - Chicquita *1948 - Grey Nurse *1947 - Nizam's Ring *1946 - Sweet Chime *1945 - Cherie Marie *1944 - Provoke *1943 - Three Wheeler *1942 - East End *1941 - Primavera *1940 - Session *1939 - Triode *1938 - French Gem *1937 - Prairie Moon *1936 - Siren *1935 - Nalda *1934 - Alinura *1933 - Golden Hair *1932 - Protea *1931 - Gallantic *1930 - Barbette *1929 - Lineage *1928 - Opera Queen *1927 - Ninbela *1926 - Lanson *1925 - Redshank *1924 - Miss Disraeli *1923 - Frances Tressady *1922 - Scarlet *1921 - Furious *1920 - Mufti *1919 - Hyades *1918 - Stagegirl *1917 - Folly Queen *1916 - Thana *1915 - Rosanna *1914 - Carlita *1913 - Mint Sauce *1912 - Moe *1911 - Wilari *1910 - Styria *1909 - Lady San *1908 - Nushka *1907 - Lady Rylstone *1906 - Yabba Gabba *1905 - Lady Wallace *1904 - Red Streak *1903 - Sweet Nell *1902 - Fishery *1901 - Beanba *1900 - Haulette *1899 - Nitre *1898 - Symmetry *1897 - Eleusive *1896 - Thunder Queen *1895 - Auraria *1894 - Regina *1893 - The Dauphine *1892 - Etra Weenie *1891 - Tiraillerie *1890 - Litigant *1889 - Spice *1888 - Pearlshell *1887 - Dainty *1886 - The Nun *1885 - Uralla *1884 - Venetia *1883 - Quality *1882 - Vaucluse *1881 - Royal Maid *1880 - Sapphire *1879 - Petrea *1878 - Melita *1877 - Pardon *1876 - Briseis *1875 - Maid Of All Work *1874 - Gaslight *1873 - Rose D'amour *1872 - Sunshine *1871 - Formosa *1870 - Florence *1869 - Kestrel *1868 - My Dream *1867 - Sylvia *1866 - Sea Gull *1865 - Lady Heron *1864 - Illumination *1863 - Aruma *1862 - Modesty *1861 - Palestine

References

{{VRC Race Days and Events Group 1 stakes races in Australia Flat horse races for three-year-old fillies Flemington Racecourse