The Delaware Oaks Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually in mid July at Delaware Park Racetrack in Stanton near Wilmington, Delaware.
Part of the Del Cap Festival Weekend that features other races over the two days including the Delaware Handicap, the Oaks is open to three-year-old fillies and is run over one and one-sixteenth miles on the dirt.
Currently, the Grade III race offers a purse of $300,000.
Historical notes The inaugural running of the Delaware Oaks took place on June 28, 1938, and was won by Isabel Dodge Sloane's filly Handcuff.
Coming off her June 6, 1941 win in the Top Flight Handicap at New York's Belmont Park, Tangled won the Oaks for the Greentree Stable of Helen Hay Whitney. Trained and ridden by future U.S. Racing Hall of Fame inductees John Gaver Sr. and Eddie Arcaro, the filly beat her closest rival by nine lengths while setting a new track record with a winning time of 1:49 4/5 for a mile and one-eighth on dirt.
United States Hall of Fame fillies Gallorette (1945), Dark Mirage (1968), Gallant Bloom (1969) and Desert Vixen (1973) have all won this race, as did the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame inductee Lauries Dancer in 1971.
Records Speed record: 1:41.79 @ 1 1–16 miles: Calamity Kate (2015) 1:48.20 @ 1 1–8 miles: Cum Laude Laurie (1977)
Most wins by a jockey: 4 - Eddie Arcaro (1940, 1941, 1945, 1955)
Most wins by a trainer: 4 - James E. Fitzsimmons (1939, 1942, 1946, 1955)
Most wins by an owner: 3 - Belair Stud Stable (1939, 1942, 1946) 3 - Christiana Stables (1947, 1972, 1974) 3 - King Ranch (1956, 1959, 1969)
Winners Year Winner Jockey Trainer Owner Dist. (Miles) Time Gr.2026Luv Your NeighborLuis SaezMichael StidhamLael Stables1 1-16 m1:44.05G32025Fondly Irad Ortiz Jr.H. Graham MotionEclipse Thoroughbred Partners & Madaket Stables 1 1–16 m1:45.61G32024Power Squeeze Javier CastellanoJorge DelgadoLea Farms 1 1–16 m1:45.65G32023Foggy Night Paco LopezRobert Reid Jr. Pine Brook Farm1 1–16 m1:45.07G32022Midnight StrollEric CanelJohn P. Terranova IIGatsas Stables, R. A. Hill Stable, & Steven Schoenfeld1 1–16 m1:44.31G32021Crazy BeautifulMike E. SmithKenneth McPeekPhoenix Thoroughbred III1 1–16 m1:46.33G32020Project WhiskeyFrankie PenningtonRobert E. Reid Jr.Cash Is King Stable LLC & LC Racing1 1–16 m1:44.04G32019JaywalkJoe BravoJohn C. ServisCash is King LLC & D. J. Stable LLC1 1–16 m1:43.21G32018Red RubyPaco LopezKellyn D. GorderSandra Sexton, Brandi Nicholson & Steven Nicholson1 1–16 m1:42.41G32017It Tiz WellDrayden Van DykeJerry HollendorferTommy Town Thoroughbreds LLC1 1–16 m1:43.55G32016Dark NileDaniel CentenoArnaud DelacourWinstar Farm1 1–16 m1:46.54G32015Calamity KateEdgar PradoKelly J. BreenLori & George Hall1 1–16 m1:41.79G32014Fortune PearlTrevor McCarthyH. Graham MotionZanim R. Meahjohn1 1–16 m1:44.69G22013Dancing AfleetJoshua NavarroTimothy F. RitcheyTim Ritchey Racing Stables & Beverly Frazier1 1–16 m1:44.59G22012Grace HallJavier CastellanoAnthony W. DutrowMichael Dubb, Bethlehem Stables (Mike Caruso), The Elkstone Group (Stuart Grant)1 1–16 m1:42.59G22011St. John's RiverJose LezcanoAndrew Leggio Jr.Dede McGehee1 1–16 m1:44.39G22010Blind LuckJoel RosarioJerry HollendorferJerry Hollendorfer, Mark Dedomenico, John Carver, Peter Abruzzo 1 1–16 m1:43.34G22009Careless JewelRobert LandryJosie CarrollDonver Stable (Donna & Verne Dubinsky)1 1–16 m1:42.95G22008Proud SpellGabriel SaezJ. Larry JonesBrereton C. Jones1 1–16 m1:43.34G22007Moon CatcherCarlos Marquez Jr.Timothy F. RitcheyCJZ Racing Stable & Timothy F. Ritchey1 1–16 m1:42:39G22006AdieuJohn VelazquezTodd A. PletcherMichael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier1 1–16 m1:43.72G22005R Lady JoyJose LezcanoKirk ZiadieRichard Averill1 1–16 m1:43.25G22004Yearly ReportJerry D. BaileyBob BaffertGolden Eagle Farm1 1–16 m1:43.80G22003Island FashionIggy PuglisiNick CananiEverest Stable (Jeffrey L. Nielsen)1 1–16 m1:44.95G32002Allamerican BertieLarry MelanconSteve FlintKlein family (Richard, Bertram, Elaine)1 1–16 m1:43.81G32001ZonkMichael McCarthyJohn ServisFox Hill Farms (Rick Porter)1 1–16 m1:45.27G32000SincerelyMichael McCarthyH. Graham MotionR. Larry Johnson1 1–16 m1:43.83G31999Brushed HaloryEddie Martin Jr.Josie CarrollJames & Alice Sapara 1 1–16 m1:43.42G31998Nickel ClassicCalvin BorelMark DannerCalvin L. Johnston1 1–16 m1:42.811997Runup The ColorsPat DayNeil J. HowardWilliam S. Farish III1 1–16 m1:44.271996Like a HawkRobert E. ColtonJohn R. S. FisherErdenheim Farm1 m (t)1:37.011983 - 1995Race not held1982Lady EleanorRick WilsonBruce N. LevineRobert Levine1 1–8 m1:50.20G21981Up The FlagpoleKenneth D. BlackDel W. Carroll Jr.William S. Farish III1 1–8 m1:49.40G21980Bishop's RingMario PinoCharles PeoplesBayard Sharp1 1–8 m1:48.60G11979It's In The AirBill ShoemakerLaz BarreraHarbor View Farm1 1–8 m1:49.40G11978White Star LineJeffrey FellWoody StephensNewstead Farms1 1–8 m1:52.60G11977Cum Laude LaurieJorge VelasquezLou RondinelloDaniel M. Galbreath1 1–8 m1:48.20G11976Pacific PrincessEddie MapleRoger LaurinWindfields Farm1 1–8 m1:49.60G11975Let Me LingerCarlos BarreraEdward J. YowellOak Crest Stable1 1–8 m1:51.40G11974PlantainGregg McCarronHenry S. ClarkChristiana Stables1 1–8 m1:50.40G11973Desert VixenJorge VelasquezThomas F. Root Sr.Harry T. Mangurian Jr.1 1–8 m1:49.20G11972Light HeartedEldon NelsonHenry S. ClarkChristiana Stables1 1–8 m1:49.601971Lauries DancerSandy HawleyJames C. BentleyHelen G. Stollery1 1–8 m1:50.801970Virginia CrackerRobert HowardGlenn L. BallengerGordon Grayson1 1–8 m1:49.801969Gallant BloomJohn L. RotzMax HirschKing Ranch1 1–8 m1:51.201968Dark MirageManuel YcazaEverett W. KingLloyd I. Miller1 1–8 m1:50.401967LewistonGarth PattersonOscar WhiteWalter M. Jeffords Jr.1 1–8 m1:51.401966Lady PittWalter BlumStephen A. DiMauroGolden Triangle Stable (Thomas A. Eazor)1 1–8 m1:49.801965JuanitaBuck ThornburgOscar WhiteWalter M. Jeffords Jr.1 1–8 m1:48.801964Miss CavandishHoward GrantRoger LaurinHarry S. Nichols1 1–8 m1:51.001963Spicy LivingJimmy CombestJimmy RoweEleanora Sears1 1–8 m1:50.201962North South GalLeroy MoyersW. Clayton PrickettAlfred G. Groleau1 1–8 m1:52.001961PrimonettaBill ShoemakerJames P. ConwayDarby Dan Farm1 1–8 m1:48.801960Rash StatementCharlie BurrAllen R. HultzHal Price Headley1 1–8 m1:50.601959ResacaWilliam BolandMax HirschKing Ranch1 1–8 m1:51.601958Big EffortPete AndersonJ. Elliott BurchBrookmeade Stable1 1–8 m1:52.201957BayouBill HartackMoody JolleyClaiborne Farm1 1–8 m1:51.601956Dotted LineDave GormanMax HirschKing Ranch1 1–8 m1:51.001955High VoltageEddie ArcaroJames E. FitzsimmonsWheatley Stable1 1–8 m1:50.601954ParloJack WestropeRichard E. HandlenFoxcatcher Farm1 1–8 m1:51.401953Cerise ReineDouglas DodsonThomas J. KellyAda L. Rice1 1–8 m1:50.601952Big MoNick ShukGeorge M. OdomCircle M Farm (Edward S. Moore)1 1–8 m1:52.001951Kiss Me KateWarren MehrtensOscar WhiteWalter M. Jeffords Sr.1 1–8 m1:50.401950Next MoveEric GuerinWilliam C. WinfreyAlfred G. Vanderbilt Jr.1 1–8 m1:49.401949NasopharJimmy LynchSylvester E. VeitchCornelius Vanderbilt Whitney1 1–8 m1:50.001948Miss RequestCharles LeBlancJames P. ConwayFlorence Whitaker1 1–8 m1:50.401947CamargoM. N. GonzalezHenry S. ClarkChristiana Stables1 1–8 m1:52.801946Bonnie BerylJames StoutJames E. FitzsimmonsBelair Stud Stable1 1–8 m1:51.001945GalloretteEddie ArcaroEdward A. ChristmasWilliam L. Brann1 1–8 m1:51.001944Plucky MaudRobert PermaneOleg T. DubassoffLazy F Ranch1 1–8 m1:50.601943 Race not held due to Federal government Wartime restrictions1942VagrancyTommy MalleyJames E. FitzsimmonsBelair Stud Stable1 1–8 m1:54.001941TangledEddie ArcaroJohn M. Gaver Sr.Greentree Stable1 1–8 m1:49.801940PiquetEddie ArcaroJohn M. Gaver Sr.Greentree Stable1 1–8 m1:52.401939Wise LadyHilton DabsonJames E. FitzsimmonsBelair Stud Stable1 1–8 m1:53.601938HandcuffJack WestropeHugh L. FontaineBrookmeade Stable1 1–8 m1:53.00
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