Top class-horse racing combines with style on Investec Ladies’ Day at Epsom Downs, with the best three-year-old fillies taking to the turf in the Oaks, the third British Classic of the season. The 2019 race takes place on Friday May 31, with a start time of 1630 BST.
The race dates back to 1779, with Bridget winning the inaugural running under Dick Goodisson, who rode the first three winners of the race.
The 12-furlong race is the second part of the Fillies’ Triple Crown, following the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket and preceding the St Leger at Doncaster. This unique achievement hasn’t been attempted in recent years, with Oh So Sharp - trained by the late Sir Henry Cecil - the last horse to complete the treble back in 1985.
Aidan O’Brien and John Gosden between them have won the last five runnings of the race, but both have some way to go to catch Robert Robson, who trained the winner of the Oaks no less than 13 times.
The Ballydoyle trainer won the 2018 edition with Forever Together beating the Prix Marcel Boussac winner Wild Illusion into second and stablemate Bye Bye Baby back in third.
Horses who win the Oaks often attempt to win the Irish equivalent at the Curragh, with Enable most recently completing the Oaks double in 2017.
Earlier on the card, the Coronation Cup sees the older horses race over the Oaks (and Derby) distance, with Gosden’s Cracksman narrowly defeating Salouen in the 2018 race. This year, Gosden again has a leading contender in Lah Ti Dar (7/2) but O’Brien’s Kew Gardens currently heads the market at 2/1.