148th Longines Kentucky Oaks Sets Record Handle as Secret Oath Claims the Lilies

May 07, 2022 Churchill Downs Communications

Churchill Downs Incorporated (“CDI”) (Nasdaq: CHDN) announced today a new handle record for the Longines Kentucky Oaks (Grade 1) at Churchill Downs Racetrack (“Churchill Downs”) as Secret Oath captured the Lilies in the 148th running of America’s premier race for 3-year old fillies in a field of 14 under cloudy skies and good track conditions. Despite a threat of widespread scattered thunderstorms, 100,188 spectators gathered under the historic Twin Spires to watch Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas win his 5th Kentucky Oaks. 

Wagering from all-sources on the full Kentucky Oaks day race card totaled $74.6 million, up 37% compared to 2021 and up 24% compared to the previous record in 2019. All-sources wagering on the Kentucky Oaks race was $24.3 million up 40% compared to 2021 and up 25% from the previous record in 2019. 

Secret Oath, owned and bred by Briland Farm and trained by Lukas, rallied wide around the final turn, storming home to win the Longines Kentucky Oaks by 2 lengths at odds of 4-1 and with a final time of 1.49.44. This win marks the first for jockey Luis Saez. Secret Oath is a daughter of Arrogate out of Absinthe Minded and now has lifetime earnings of $1.4 million. 

“Today we celebrate Secret Oath and her connections,” said Churchill Downs President Mike Anderson. “The 148th Kentucky Oaks will be remembered as a triumphant return to a full-capacity crowd. We thank the fans, sponsors, horsemen, horseplayers and all participants who contributed to today’s record- breaking success.” 

CDI continued the tradition of using Kentucky Oaks as a platform to raise money for women’s health initiatives, and welcomed breast and ovarian cancer survivors who had waited to walk in the Survivors Parade presented by Kroger. The 148 survivors were joined by charitable partners and volunteers from Norton Healthcare and Kentucky Cancer Program’s Horses and Hope, to take an in-person walk on Churchill Downs’ newly-installed Turf Course. 

About Churchill Downs Incorporated 

Churchill Downs Incorporated is an industry-leading racing, online wagering and gaming entertainment company anchored by our iconic flagship event, the Kentucky Derby. We own and operate three gaming entertainment venues with approximately 3,050 historical racing machines in Kentucky. We also own and operate TwinSpires, one of the largest and most profitable online wagering platforms for horse racing in 

the U.S. and we have nine retail sportsbooks. We are also a leader in brick-and-mortar casino gaming in eight states with approximately 11,000 slot machines and video lottery terminals and 200 table games. Additional information about Churchill Downs Incorporated can be found online at www.churchilldownsincorporated.com.