Yorkshire Oaks Explained
| Class: | Group 1 |
| Horse Race: | Yorkshire Oaks |
| Location: | York Racecourse
York, England |
| Inaugurated: | 1849 |
| Race Type: | Flat |
| Sponsor: | Darley |
| Website: | York |
| Distance: | 1m 3f 188y (2,385 metres) |
| Surface: | Turf |
| Track: | Left-handed |
| Qualification: | Three-years-old and up
fillies & mares |
| Weight: | 9 st 0 lb (3yo);
9 st 9 lb (4yo+) |
| Purse: | £500,000 (2023)
1st: £283,550 |
|}The Yorkshire Oaks is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to fillies and mares aged three years or older. It is run at York over a distance of 1 mile 3 furlongs and 188 yards (2,385 metres), and it is scheduled to take place each year in August.
History
The event was established in 1849, and it was originally restricted to fillies aged three. The inaugural running was won by Ellen Middleton, owned by the 2nd Earl of Zetland.
The present system of race grading was introduced in 1971, and the Yorkshire Oaks was subsequently classed at Group 1 level. It was opened to older fillies and mares in 1991.
The race has been sponsored by Darley Stud since 2006, and it is currently held on the second day of York's four-day Ebor Festival meeting.
The Yorkshire Oaks often features horses which ran previously in The Oaks. The first to achieve victory in both races was Brown Duchess in 1861, and the most recent was Snowfall in 2021.
Records
Most successful horse (2 wins):
- Only Royale – 1993, 1994
- Islington – 2002, 2003
- Enable - 2017, 2019
Leading jockey (8 wins):
Leading trainer (9 wins):
- Mathew Dawson – Leonie (1868), Gertrude (1870), Spinaway (1875), Lady Golightly (1877), Jannette (1878), Wheel of Fortune (1879), Dutch Oven (1882), Britomartis (1883), Clochette (1884)
- Sir Michael Stoute – Fair Salinia (1978), Sally Brown (1985), Untold (1986), Hellenic (1990), Pure Grain (1995), Petrushka (2000), Islington (2002, 2003), Quiff (2004)
Leading owner (7 wins)(includes part ownership):
- 6th Viscount Falmouth – Gertrude (1870), Spinaway (1875), Lady Golightly (1877), Jannette (1878), Wheel of Fortune (1879), Dutch Oven (1882), Britomartis (1883)
- Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor – Alexandrova (2006), Peeping Fawn (2007), Tapestry (2014), Seventh Heaven (2016), Love (2020), Snowfall (2021), Warm Heart (2023)
Winners since 1946
Earlier winners
- 1849: Ellen Middleton
- 1850: Brightonia
- 1851: Vivandiere
- 1852: Adine
- 1853: Mayfair
- 1854: Virago
- 1855: Capucine
- 1856: Victoria
- 1857: Tasmania
- 1858: The Argosy
- 1859: Bilberry
- 1860: Stockade
- 1861: Brown Duchess
- 1862: Feu de Joie
- 1863: Miss Armstrong
- 1864: Gondola
- 1865: Klarinska
- 1866: Lady Vane
- 1867: Ines
- 1868: Leonie
- 1869: Toison d'Or
- 1870: Gertrude
- 1871: Rebecca
- 1872: Maid of Perth
- 1873: Marie Stuart
- 1874: The Pique
- 1875: Spinaway
- 1876: Zee
- 1877: Lady Golightly
- 1878: Jannette
- 1879: Wheel of Fortune
- 1880: Belfry
- 1881: Thebais
- 1882: Dutch Oven
- 1883: Britomartis
- 1884: Clochette
- 1885: St Helena
- 1886: Philosophy
- 1887: Reve d'Or
- 1888: Briar-root
- 1889: Antibes
- 1890: Ponza
- 1891: Charm
- 1892: Gantlet
- 1893: Siffleuse
- 1894: Spring Ray
- 1895: Nighean
- 1896: Helm
- 1897: Fortalice
- 1898: Fairmile
- 1899: Victoria May
- 1900: La Roche
- 1901: Santa Brigida
- 1902: Ice-maiden
- 1903: Hammerkop
- 1904: Bitters
- 1905: Costly Lady
- 1906: Catnap
- 1907: Order of Merit
- 1908: Siberia
- 1909: Collet Monte
- 1910: Winkipop
- 1911: Alice
- 1912–18: no race
- 1919: Mademoiselle Foch
- 1920: Inflorescence
- 1921: Love in Idleness
- 1922: Sister-in-Law
- 1923: Splendid Jay
- 1924: Blue Ice
- 1925: Brodick Bay
- 1926: Doushka
- 1927: Gioconda
- 1928: Rye Water
- 1929: Flittemere
- 1930: Glorious Devon
- 1931: Rackety Lassie
- 1932: Nash Light / Will o' the Wisp *
- 1933: Star of England
- 1934: Dalmary
- 1935: Trigo Verde
- 1936: Silversol
- 1937: Sculpture
- 1938: Joyce W
- 1939: Night Shift
- 1940–45: no race
- The 1932 race was a dead-heat and has joint winners.
See also
References
- Paris-Turf:
- Racing Post:
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- galopp-sieger.de – Yorkshire Oaks.
- ifhaonline.org – International Federation of Horseracing Authorities – Yorkshire Oaks (2019).
- pedigreequery.com – Yorkshire Oaks – York.
- Book: Abelson, Edward. John . Tyrrel. The Breedon Book of Horse Racing Records. Breedon Books. 1993. 1-873626-15-0. 150–152.
