Kentucky Oaks, top thoroughbred filly racing event, moving to prime-time TV slot

Janet Patton, Lexington Herald-Leader on Jul 24, 2025

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LEXINGTON, Ky. — Next year’s Kentucky Oaks will be run in prime time for the first time ever, according to an announcement by Churchill Downs and NBC.

The race, which is the top competition for 3-year-old thoroughbred fillies, will move to 8 p.m. on May 1 on NBC and Peacock.

“By moving the Kentucky Oaks to prime time, we’re giving one of horse racing’s most treasured traditions the national stage it deserves,” said Churchill Downs Inc. CEO Bill Carstanjen in the news release. “This decision is rooted in our commitment to growing the sport, reaching new audiences and creating unforgettable experiences for our fans.”

The Kentucky Oaks, which also features fashion and women’s health advocacy, is traditionally run the day before the Kentucky Derby, which is the top thoroughbred race for all 3-year-olds and can include fillies and colts.

“We are excited to present the Kentucky Oaks in prime time for the first time ever,” said Jon Miller, president, acquisitions and partnerships of NBC Sports. “With the Oaks on Friday night leading into the Kentucky Derby on the first Saturday in May, we can’t wait to get back to Churchill Downs for another historic weekend of racing.”

No time has been announced yet for the Kentucky Derby, which will be May 2. This year’s event was the most-watched “Run for the Roses” since 1989, with an audience of 21.8 million viewers on NBC and Peacock at its peak.

Churchill Downs released second-quarter earnings Wednesday after the market closed that showed, despite record viewership and betting, not everything was rosy: Overall earnings were essentially flat for the quarter, and wagering growth was partially offset by lower Derby Week ticketing revenue and higher pari-mutuel taxes.

Churchill Downs executives discussed the earnings in a conference call with investors Thursday morning.

In that call, Carstanjen said that highlighting the Oaks before a national audience will open up new sponsorship opportunities, which have become an increasingly large part of overall Derby revenue.

“A chance to build that brand with the national broadcasting platform is really, really important for driving wagering, for driving sponsorship opportunities, for driving sponsorship awareness,” he said. “We want to drive handle, we want to drive national awareness, we want to drive sponsorship opportunities, and we think it’s a great springboard to remind people that the Kentucky Derby is the next day, so come see the Oaks Friday night on NBC, and it feeds right into the next day when we have the Kentucky Derby.”