Kentucky Oaks 2011: Traditions, Tips and Rules
Even with reserved-seating tickets in hand, there’s still plenty of planning to do to ensure you get the best Kentucky Oaks 2011 experience for your money. Newcomers should learn all the traditions and rules and take advice from veterans of the event in order to have the best Kentucky Oaks 2011 experience imaginable.
Traditions
The Kentucky Oaks is the third-most popular stakes race in North America, with attendance averaging over 100,000 in recent years. Held on the Friday before the Derby, the Oaks features a field of three-year-old fillies running a 1 1/8 mile track for a $500,000 purse and a garland of lilies.
Among the most important traditions to know is that the Oaks’ signature color is pink and the official cocktail is the Oaks Lily. Made with vodka, sweet and sour, cranberry juice and triple sec, this pink drink looks lovely topped with a cherry and an orange wedge.
What to Take, What to Leave Behind
Don’t forget to pack sunglasses, sunscreen, a camera, a box lunch (see dining options below), and cash for the betting window. Since the security rules for Oaks Day vary from other race days at Churchill Downs, go to the Kentucky Derby website to review the list of permitted and banned items.
Getting There
On Oaks Day the gates at Churchill Downs open at 8 a.m., with post time for the first race at 10:30 a.m. Head to the track in the morning hours and allow an extra hour for traffic and shuttles.
Remote parking from either Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium ($15) or the Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center ($8) is a fast and easy option, especially if you’re not familiar with the city’s streets and road closure system. Both locations are within walking distance of the track.
For another $15 to $20 roundtrip, catch a shuttle from the remote lots to Churchill Downs. Miller Transportation will offer shuttle service beginning at 7:30 a.m. and continuing until 8:30 p.m.
Dining Options
Dining options on Oaks Day are limited to concession-style foods such as hamburgers, chicken, fries and deli sandwiches. Visitors may carry “box” lunches into Churchill Downs if packaged in clear plastic bags or plastic containers— each a maximum size of 18” x 18” and a limit of two per person. Ice is not permitted, but frozen bottled water can be used to keep lunch items cool.
Posted on Apr 8, 2011 by Bobbi Buchanan
