Oak Grove, KY – Oak Grove Racing, Gaming & Hotel, Churchill Downs Incorporated’s premier harness facility, announced Wednesday (Nov. 5) the newly-established Road to the Oak Grove Trotting Derby and Road to the Oak Grove Trotting Oaks to enrich its recently announced signature stakes–the $500,000 Oak Grove Trotting Derby and $300,000 Oak Grove Trotting Oaks.
The Road to the Oak Grove Trotting Derby and Road to the Oak Grove Trotting Oaks have been established to reward exceptional 2-year-old trotting performances from the prior year. A series of designated Grand Circuit and Sire Stakes races will serve as automatic qualifying events.
Winners of these “win and you’re in” races will earn a fully paid, automatic spot in the corresponding elimination race for the 2026 inaugural events, with all pre-entry and starting fees covered by the race sponsors. The automatic qualifying races and the 2025 respective race winners to date are identified below.
Road to the Oak Grove Trotting Derby
| Oak Grove Trotting Derby Automatic Qualifying Races | 2025 Race Winner |
| Breeders Crown 2YO Trot | Spencer Hanover |
| Mohawk Million | Apex |
| Peter Haughton | Apex |
| William Wellwood | Ardonne |
| Valley Victory | TBD (November 15, 2025) |
| Kentucky Sire Stakes Championship Series | Endurance |
| Indiana Sire Stakes Championship | Premier Bluebird |
| Ohio Sire Stakes Championship (Scarlet) | Big Ranger |
| Oak Grove Trotting Derby Automatic Qualifying Races (cont.) | 2025 Race Winner |
| New Jersey Sire Stakes Championship | Apex |
| New York Sire Stakes Championship | AI |
| Pennsylvania Sire Stakes Championship | Dublin Hanover |
| Ontario Sire Stakes Championship (Gold) | Strobe Lite |
Road to the Oak Grove Trotting Oaks
| Oak Grove Trotting Oaks Automatic Qualifying Races | 2025 Race Winner |
| Breeders Crown 2YO Filly Trot | Storybook Love |
| Jim Doherty | Atlantic Summer |
| Peaceful Way | Sugar Packet |
| Kentuckiana Stallion Management | Nezuko Kamado S |
| Goldsmith Maid | TBD (November 15, 2025) |
| Kentucky Sire Stakes Championship Series | Country Glide |
| Indiana Sire Stakes Championship | Setyoursightshigh |
| Ohio Sire Stakes Championship (Scarlet) | For Dayze |
| New Jersey Sire Stakes Championship | Emmas Mystery CCL |
| New York Sire Stakes Championship | Sharp Seven |
| Pennsylvania Sire Stakes Championship | Ginger Tree Lex |
| Ontario Sire Stakes Championship (Gold) | Bingo Night |
*Any automatic slot winner that has won more than one qualifying race is limited to only one spot for the eliminations.
The elimination races, scheduled for Monday, May 4, 2026, will have 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 the championship finals will be limited to a maximum of nine, with all competitors starting on the gate.
The Oak Grove Trotting Derby and Oak Grove Trotting Oaks are open stakes events for all eligible 3-year-olds that have met all stakes conditions, including payment of all fees. For the inaugural 2026 event, the pre-entry and starting fees for each race will be as follows:
| Race | March 15, 2026 Fee | April 15, 2026 Fee | Elimination Starting Fee | Total Fees |
| Oak Grove Trotting Derby | $500 | $500 | $1,500 | $2,500 US |
| Oak Grove Trotting Oaks | $500 | $500 | $500 | $1,500 US |
| *no starting fee for Finals |
Additional details, including final race conditions, staking details, wagering menus, hospitality offerings and charitable beneficiaries, will be announced in the coming months.
About Oak Grove Racing, Gaming and Hotel
Oak Grove Racing, Gaming and Hotel is a premier harness racing and gaming destination in Oak Grove, Kentucky, dedicated to providing a world-class experience to guests and supporting the local community. Oak Grove’s annual 36-day race meet is conducted from mid-March through mid-July with average daily purses ranking among the leaders in North America.
About Churchill Downs, Incorporated
Churchill Downs Incorporated (“CDI”) (Nasdaq: CHDN) has been creating extraordinary entertainment experiences for over 150 years, beginning 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 historical racing entertainment venues, the growth of the TwinSpires horse racing online wagering business and the operation and development of regional casino gaming properties. www.churchilldownsincorporated.com
About the Kentucky Harness Association
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 that impact the industry on local, state, and national levels while continuing to promote the Kentucky harness racing and breeding industry. www.kentuckyharness.com
Contact: Kenny Jackson
(859) 621-6513
info@kentuckyharness.com