Road to the Kentucky Oaks

The Road to the Kentucky Oaks is a points system to qualify for the Kentucky Oaks, one of the most important races for three-year-old fillies and held the day before the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. It features roughly 30 stakes races for Thoroughbred fillies between September (when the horses are age two) and April (when they are three) – the number and specific races have varied slightly over the years. The point system replaces the previous qualifying system which was based on graded stakes earnings.

If more than 14 horses wish to enter the Kentucky Oaks, positions will be reserved for the top 14 point earners from the Road to the Kentucky Oaks qualifying series. If any of the top 14 does not enter the Oaks, their position is given to the next ranked horses on the list. Up to 18 horses may enter the race, with the bottom four point-earners listed as "also eligible". If any of the top 14 is scratched after entries are taken but before betting begins, the next ranked horse on the also eligible list will be eligible to run. If two or more horses have the same number of points, the tiebreaker to get into the race will be earnings in non-restricted stakes races, whether or not they are graded. In the event of a tie, those horses will divide equally the points they would have received jointly had one beaten the other.

The series is divided into two phases, the Kentucky Oaks Prep Season and the Kentucky Oaks Championship Series. The prep season consists of races of one mile or longer that are run between September (when the fillies are age two) and February (when the fillies are age three). Points are awarded to the top 4 finishers in each race on a 10-4-2-1 scale. The championship season consists of two legs and a "wild card" round. The first leg includes minor prep races with a 50-20-10-5 scale. The second leg includes major prep races, often Grade I, with a 100-40-20-10 scale. The "wild card" consists of one race and has a 10-4-2-1 scale. Fillies who earn points as part of the Road to the Kentucky Derby will be credited with them as part of the Road to the Kentucky Oaks. However, points on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks are not credited towards qualifying for the Derby.

To be eligible to run in the Kentucky Oaks, a filly must earn sufficient points via the Road to the Kentucky Oaks and the owner must pay certain fees: specifically, a nomination fee, an entry fee and a starter fee. For example, in 2016 the nomination fee was $200 which was to be paid by February 20, 2016. If the February date was missed, a late nomination fee of $1,500 could be paid by April 13, 2016. In addition, owners with qualifying horses were required to pay $5,000 to enter the Oaks and an additional $5,000 to start. If a qualifying horse was not nominated in either February or April, it could be supplemented to the Oaks for $30,000.

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