Automatic qualifying series for Oak Grove Trotting Derby & Oaks

OAK GROVE, KY (November 5, 2025) – Oak Grove Racing, Gaming & Hotel, Churchill Downs Incorporated’s premier harness facility, announced today 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 two-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.

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 three-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:

Additional details, including final race conditions, staking details, wagering menus, hospitality offerings and charitable beneficiaries, will be announced in the coming months.

from Oak Grove Racing Publicity