From the 24 ‘win and you’re in’ races, 22 unique winners have now been determined, and each winner will earn a fully paid, automatic spot in the corresponding elimination race for the 2026 Oak Grove Trotting Derby and Oak Grove Trotting Oaks (with all pre-entry and starting costs covered by the race sponsors). The 2025 automatic qualifying races and respective race winners are listed below. These impressive two-year-old champions have combined earnings of more than $8.5 million this racing season.
Road to the Oak Grove Trotting Derby
Road to the Oak Grove Trotting Oaks
*Any automatic slot winner who has won more than one qualifying race will be limited to only one spot for the eliminations.
The elimination races, scheduled for Monday, May 4, 2026, will feature a purse of $50,000 for the Oak Grove Trotting Derby and $30,000 for the Oak Grove Trotting Oaks. Both the elimination races and championship finals will be limited to a maximum of nine, with all competitors starting at the gate.
The Oak Grove Trotting Derby and Oak Grove Trotting Oaks are open events to all eligible three-year-olds who have met all entry requirements, including payment of all fees. For the first event of 2026, the pre-entry and starting fees for each race are as follows:
Additional details, including final race terms, wagering details, wagering menus, hospitality offers and charity beneficiaries, will be announced in the coming months.
Oak Grove Racing, Gaming and Hotel is a premier running and gaming destination in Oak Grove, Kentucky, dedicated to providing guests with a world-class experience and supporting the local community. Oak Grove’s annual 36-day race meeting is held from mid-March to mid-July, with the average daily purse ranking among the leaders in North America.
Churchill Downs Incorporated (“CDI”) (Nasdaq: CHDN) has been creating extraordinary entertainment experiences for more than 150 years, starting with the company’s most iconic and enduring asset, the Kentucky Derby. Headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, CDI has expanded through the development of live and historic racing entertainment venues, the growth of the TwinSpires online horse racing betting business, and the operation and development of regional casino gambling. www.
The Kentucky Harness Association exists to promote, support and facilitate growth in the harness industry in Kentucky and to promote and encourage cooperative efforts among racetracks, owners, breeders, trainers and drivers, fans and other industry participants for the overall benefit of the industry. The KHA strives to increase visibility on issues affecting the industry at the local, state and national levels while continuing to promote the harness racing and breeding industry in Kentucky. www.kentuckyharness.com
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