Epsom Oaks Race Cards

The Oaks was the second classic race to be added to the Racing Calendar.   The first Classic race over a mile and a half was the St Leger.  Instigated by Anthony St Leger, (prounced Sellinger) a great sportsman. A field of six went to the post in 1776. It never looked back and Laura Mongan won the St Leger 10th September 2016 with Harbour Law and George Baker up. The first time an Epsom trained horse has won that great race. 

The Oaks was so called after the house that Lord Derby purchased from General Burgoyne, and married there with a great fete. The house was at Woodmanstern not far from Epsom. Lord Derby’s passion was horse racing and Lord Derby and Charles Bunbury decided on another classic to follow the St Leger and came up with a race for fillies only over a mile and a half. There are many stories about why it was called after the Oaks house. A coin toss might have had something to do with it. Legends are legends. However it remains today a wonderful testing race for fillies on the rolling Epsom Downs.