A crowd of 116,046, up 11 percent over last year and the new all time
attendance record, watched BLIND LUCK (Pollard’s Vision) battle down the stretch
to defeat Evening Jewel (Northern Afleet) in the 136th running of the Kentucky
Oaks (G1) at Churchill Downs on Friday.
All-sources wagering on the Kentucky Oaks for three-year-old-fillies was
$10.6 million, a 55 percent increase over the 2009 total. All-sources wagering
on the 2010 Kentucky Oaks Day card was $36.0 million, a 20 percent increase over
the 2009 total, and the all-time record.
The 136th Kentucky Oaks race was broadcast on national television in a
special one-hour program on NBC’s sister cable network, Bravo. Last year, the
Kentucky Oaks was broadcast on Bravo for the first time and the telecast saw an
increase in the female portion of the viewing audience from 21 percent to 49
percent. This year’s telecast featured exclusive, behind-the-scenes racing
features, as well as the food, fashion and celebrity experience associated with
Kentucky Oaks Day.
The 136th Kentucky Oaks incorporated a day of special events to raise funds
for Susan G. Komen for the Cure and First Lady Jane Beshear’s initiative,
“Horses & Hope,” which included an unforgettable Survivors Parade and an
impressive ‘pink out’ among race fans. Churchill Downs is donating $1 for every
person who attended the Kentucky Oaks to Susan G. Komen for the Cure and is also
donating $1 from the sale of each Oak Lily drink sold, the official drink of the
Kentucky Oaks.
The Survivors Parade was comprised of 136 breast cancer survivors who led the
procession of the Kentucky Oaks fillies from the backside of the track to the
saddling paddock before the start of their race. The Survivors walked to the
music of Candy Coburn, who serenaded them with her hit song “Pink Warrior.”
“We are very pleased by the overwhelming response of our fans today,” track
president Kevin Flanery said. “We have been working hard over the last couple of
years to redefine our product, to change what racing means to the general public
and to attract new fans to racing so it’s gratifying to see the kind of progress
we saw at last night’s sold-out inaugural ‘Taste of Derby’ event, and at today’s
136th Kentucky Oaks. The early evidence suggests we can grow racing’s fan base
and revenue streams if we focus on delivering a unique and quality entertainment
experience that customers really want.
“The efforts of our racing office and horsemen to put on a great race card
resulted in record all sources handle for the day, and the stretch battle
between Evening Jewel and the Oaks winner Blind Luck is an instant classic.
Clearly our efforts to broaden the Kentucky Oaks Day experience paid off as a
record crowd of 116,048 saw Blind Luck’s thrilling victory.
Churchill Downs returned $29.4 million to bettors, which amounts to 82
percent of total wagering.