Fair Grounds Oaks

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Fair Grounds Oaks

The Fair Grounds Oaks is a Grade II Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old fillies. It’s run at Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans, Louisiana, on a dirt track that runs left-handed. The distance is 1 1/16 miles, and the race takes place in March, typically on Louisiana Derby day. The purse is $400,000 (since 2019).

The race began in 1966. Over the years it has seen changes in scheduling and distance, but it has been run in March at 1 1/16 miles for many years. It was upgraded to Grade III in 1982 and is now a Grade II event. Coca-Cola sponsored the race in 1989 and 1990. The 2006 race was canceled after Hurricane Katrina damaged the track.

The Fair Grounds Oaks is an important prep race for the Triple Tiara, including the Kentucky Oaks. Many winners have gone on to win or contend in the Kentucky Oaks.