Frequently Asked Questions

What Is the Kentucky Oaks Future Wager?

The Kentucky Oaks Future Wager is a pari-mutuel wager offered by Churchill Downs that allows racing fans to wager early on prospective entrants in Kentucky Oaks 134, which will be run on May 2, 2008. The minimum wager is $2 and the Kentucky Oaks Future Wager is a win wager only. All Kentucky Oaks Future wagers will be merged through the Kentucky hub located at Churchill Downs.

When Will The Wager Be Offered?

There will be three separate wagering pools for the Kentucky Oaks Future Wager in the months leading up to the race with the winner of each pool being determined by the official first place finisher in Kentucky Oaks 134 on May 5. Each of these pools will be open for a period of four days, running from Thursday at 12:00 p.m. (EST) to Sunday at 6:30 p.m. (EST). Pool 1 opens Thursday, February 7 and closes Sunday, February 10. Pool 2 opens March 6 and closes March 9. Pool 3, the final wagering pool, opens April 3 and closes April 6. Current odds and other merged pool information will be available Thursday-through-Saturday from 12:00 p.m. (EST) to 11:00 p.m. (EST) and Sunday from 12:00 p.m. (EST) until 6:30 p.m. (EST).

How Many Wagering Interests Will Be Included?

Each pool in the Kentucky Oaks Future Wager will include 24 wagering interests. Those interests will include 23 horses chosen by a three- member committee of racing analysts and handicappers and the 24th wagering interest will be a mutuel field that consists of all other three-year-old thoroughbreds. The horses do not have to be nominated to the Kentucky Oaks to be included in the Kentucky Oaks Future Wager's mutuel field. The horses included in each of the wagering pools will be listed alphabetically and will appear in the daily race program with morning line odds established by Churchill Downs and Kentucky Oaks handicapper Mike Battaglia.

How Will The Final Payout Be Determined?

The payout on the winning wagers in each of the three Kentucky Oaks Future Wager pools will be determined by the final odds at the time of closing of each of the respective pools.

What is the takeout on the Kentucky Oaks Future Wager?

The takeout on the Future Wager is 16%, the standard takeout on a win wager under Kentucky Racing Commission regulations.

When will patrons be eligible for refunds?

No refunds will be issued in any of the three wagering pools for the Kentucky Oaks Future Wager. All wagers are final once the patron has left the window. If Churchill Downs learns that a horse listed among the wagering interests in the Kentucky Oaks Future Wager pool will not be able to compete in the 2008 Kentucky Oaks, wagering on that horse will be suspended. Churchill Downs will make reasonable efforts to notify its patrons and participating tracks in that event and urges the participating tracks to do the same, but no refunds will be issued on the suspended number.

What If The Kentucky Oaks, For Whatever Reason, Is Not Run?

In the unlikely event that the 2008 Kentucky Oaks is not run or does not produce an official winner, all wagers on the Kentucky Oaks Future Wager will result in a refund.

When Will Final Payouts of the Kentucky Oaks Future Wager Be Made?

All calculations and payouts for the Kentucky Oaks Future Wagers are governed by Kentucky Racing Commission regulations. The winning payouts will be made within 24 hours of the posting of the official winner of the 2008 Kentucky Oaks.

When Will The Respective Field For the Future Wager Pool Be Determined?

The official fields for the Kentucky Oaks Future Wager pool will be released at the standard entry time of 48 hours before the start of wagering. At that time, past performance and program information will be made available through Brisnet. A preliminary field, complete with morning line, will be released to the public seven days prior to the establishment of the official field. If a horse suffers a career-ending or fatal injury or illness during that seven-day period, it will be removed from the seven-day preliminary field and replaced by another horse when the official field is announced 48 hours from the start of wagering.