VRC Oaks Day 2024 will take place on Thursday, November 5. The day will be filled with elite racing, but the highlight is undoubtedly the $1,000,000 Group 1 Oaks. Known by many as the Kennedy Oaks, the race has a storied history. The latest crop of three-year-old fillies have a huge task to stay the 2,500-metre distance at Group 1 level. Oaks Day is also known as the ‘Ladies Day’ of the Melbourne Cup Carnival, and we have everything you need to know about the big day.
When is Oaks Day 2024?
Oaks Day 2024 is on Thursday, November 5. It’s the third day of the annual Melbourne Cup Carnival which takes place at Flemington Racecourse. The day of top-tier racing will be headlined by the Group 1 VRC Oaks contest over 2500 metres.
Why is Oaks Day Known Called Ladies Day?
Over 100 years ago, Victoria Racing Club’s first secretary reportedly said, ‘Attract the ladies, and the men are sure to follow’. Robert Cooper Bagot issued the members of the VRC, all men at the time, two free guest tickets for ladies at each race meeting.
Melbourne Cup Day became so popular and overcrowded in the late 1800s that newspapers advised women to attend Oaks Day instead. This advice laid the foundations for the tradition of Ladies Day that we know today.
Henry Byron Moore replaced Bagot at the VRC and is credited with fleshing out the Ladies Day concept. Moore recognised that many Oaks Day attendees were more focused on fashion than racing. He then adapted the lawns and paddocks at Felmington to allow racegoers to show off their best outfits.
In a move to attract more women to the Carnival, the VRC created the annual ‘Fashions on the Field’ festivities in the 1960s. The concept has helped Ladies Day become one of the most popular events on the Australian racing calendar.
2024 VRC Oaks Favourites
The feature race is where Oaks Day takes its name from. The VRC Oaks, commonly known as the Kennedy Oaks, is a Group 1 contest over 2500m. It’s one of the biggest races of the Carnival outside of the Melbourne Cup itself. While the field isn’t confirmed until days before the race, you’ll find a list of the current betting favourites for the 2024 VRC Oaks below.
| 2024 VRC Oaks Favourites | Betting sites | Click to sign up and bet |
|---|---|---|
| Show In May |  | VISIT SITE |
| Powers Of Opal |  | VISIT SITE |
| Hurry Curry | | VISIT SITE |
| Femminile | | VISIT SITE |
| Jennis Meadow | | VISIT SITE |
How to Bet on the VRC Oaks
Given the popularity of the Oaks, every bookmaker will offer odds for the race. Win, place and each-way bets are the most popular way to wager on the contest, but exotics such as Quinella’s, Exacta’s and Trifecta’s are another option.
You can use the links below to navigate to some of the top betting sites with odds for the 2024 VRC Oaks. Once you’ve picked your bookmaker, just head to their dedicated Horse Racing page.
VRC Oaks Betting Tips – How to Find the Winner
Here are a few factors you should consider when deciding which horse you want to back in the VRC Oaks:
- Ignore the barrier draw. The winning barrier has been an even spread over the past ten years, with the 2,500-metre trip giving the fillies plenty of time to sort themselves out.
- The most critical factor here is staying power. Three-year-old fillies are not the finished article, but looking at how they finish their races can tell you a lot about their ability.
- A quick scan of each horse’s breeding is also essential. Check for stamina on the dam’s side of the pedigree.
- The Ethereal Stakes, Wakeful Stakes and the Thousand Guineas are all good races that can be a preview for the Oaks.
VRC Oaks Race History
The VRC Oaks was first run in 1861, the same year as the Melbourne Cup itself. Initially a mile-and-half race, the race is now run over 2,500 meters.
The Oaks has had Group 1 status since 1979, making it one of the biggest races on the Australian equine calendar. In recent times, the race has been called the Kennedy Oaks due to sponsorship.
Several iconic horses have won the VRC Oaks. Some of the most notable winners include Mosheen, Magical Miss and Samantha Miss. The 2006 champion, Miss Finland, is arguably the best Oaks winner in recent years. She won multiple Group 1 races, including the 2007 Australia Guineas.
Zardozi won last year’s VRC Oaks, beating her rivals by two lengths. The James Cummings trained runner was guided home impressively by veteran jockey James McDonald.
The Oaks has long been the feature race of VRC Oaks Day. The total prize money pot of $1,000,000 makes the Oaks tied as the richest contest for three-year-old fillies on the racing calendar.
The day itself, often called Ladies Day, has been a major social highlight in Melbourne since the late 1800s. From the very beginning, it’s been a day that focuses on the fashion and fun off the track, not just the action on it.
VRC Oaks Recent Winners
| Year | Oaks Winner | Jockey | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Zardozi | James McDonald | James Cummings |
| 2022 | She’s Extreme | Tommy Berry | Anthony Cummings |
| 2021 | Willowy | Damien Oliver | James Cummings |
| 2020 | Personal | Damien Oliver | T Dabernig & B Hayes |
| 2019 | Miami Bound | Damien Oliver | Danny O’Brien |
| 2018 | Artistia | Damian Lane | M Ellerton & S Zahra |
| 2017 | Pinot | Stephen Baster | G Waterhouse & A Bott |
| 2016 | Lasqueti Spirit | Brenton Avdulla | L W Curtis |
| 2015 | Jameka | Damien Oliver | Ciaron Maher |
| 2014 | Set Square | Hugh Bowman | Ciaron Maher |
VRC Oaks Prize Money
The VRC Oaks is tied as the richest contest for three-year-old fillies on the Australian racing calendar. The total prize money pot of $1,000,000 makes the race a very attractive proposition for jockeys, trainers and connections. The table below lays out how the prize money get split between each runner.
| VRC Oaks Finish | Prize Money (AUD) |
|---|---|
| 1st | $600,000 |
| 2nd | $180,000 |
| 3rd | $90,000 |
| 4th | $45,000 |
| 5th | $25,000 |
| 6th | $20,000 |
| 7th | $20,000 |
| 8th | $20,000 |
Other Melbourne Cup Carnival Days
Most people focus solely on the big race, but the wider Melbourne Cup Carnival actually consists of four days of elite horse racing. Check out these pages for more information about the other days in the Melbourne Cup Carnival schedule:
VRC Oaks Day FAQs
Oaks Day is the third day of the annual Melbourne Cup Carnival at Flemington. The day gets its name from the feature race on the card, the VRC Oaks.
Zardozi won the 2023 VRC Oaks at Flemington. Jockey James McDonald guided the runner to an impressive two-length win.
Oaks Days 2024 at Flemington takes place on Thursday, November 7. The race times for Oaks Day have yet to be confirmed, but racing starts at 12:40pm and will conclude at 5:50pm.
You’ll need to dress according to the strict Flemington dress code to gain entry to the racetrack on Ladies Day. As long as you meet the rules, it’s about dressing to impress if you’re attending the Melbourne Cup Carnival. For many attendees, Oaks Day is just as much about the fashion as the horses.
No, while Oaks Day is part of the Melbourne Cup Carnival, the big race has it’s own dedicated day. Melbourne Cup day is usually two days before Oaks Day.
