Lancashire Oaks

The Lancashire Oaks is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbred fillies and mares aged three years or older. It is run at Haydock Park over a distance of 1 mile, 3 furlongs and 200 yards (2,396 metres), and it is scheduled to take place each year in early July.

History

The earliest recorded version of the race was run at Liverpool in the nineteenth century and was won in 1857 by the Epsom Derby winner Blink Bonny. The event was re-established in 1939, and it was run at Manchester Racecourse over 1 mile and 3 furlongs. It was abandoned throughout World War II, with no running from 1940 to 1946. In the early part of its history it was restricted to three-year-old fillies.

The original venue of the Lancashire Oaks closed in November 1963, and the race resumed at Haydock Park in 1965. The present system of race grading was introduced in 1971, and the event was subsequently given Group 3 status.

The Lancashire Oaks was opened to older fillies and mares in 1991. It was promoted to Group 2 level in 2004.

Records

Most successful horse (2 wins):

• Barshiba – 2009, 2010

Leading jockey (6 wins):

• Doug Smith – Smoke Screen (1947), Noble Lassie (1959), Chota Hazri (1960), Irristable (1961), French Cream (1962), Royal Flirt (1966)

Leading trainer (7 wins):

• Henry Cecil – Sing Softly (1982), Sandy Island (1984), Patricia (1991), Rainbow Lake (1993), State Crystal (1994), Catchascatchcan (1998), Sacred Song (2001)

Winners since 1978

^a The 2007 running took place at Newmarket over 1 mile and 4 furlongs.

Earlier winners

See also

• Horseracing in Great Britain
• List of British flat horse races

References

• Racing Post:
  • 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997
  • 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007
  • 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013

• galopp-sieger.de – Lancashire Oaks.
• horseracingintfed.com – International Federation of Horseracing Authorities – Lancashire Oaks (2011).
• pedigreequery.com – Lancashire Oaks – Haydock Park.
• Abelson, Edward; John Tyrrel (1993). The Breedon Book of Horse Racing Records. Breedon Books. pp. 109–110. ISBN 1-873626-15-0.  Cite uses deprecated parameters (help)