# Oaks (English greyhound race)

The Oaks is an original classic greyhound racing competition.

## History

It was first run at White City Stadium from 1927 until 1958, and gained classic status in September 1939, becoming the seventh classic race but due to the war it was suspended until 1945. The race was held at Harringay Stadium from 1959 until 1987 and then to Wimbledon Stadium in 1988 until 2012.
In 2013 the Greyhound Racing Association (GRA) decided to move the event to sister track Belle Vue Stadium and just five years later, during 2018, it switched to Towcester following the decision by GRA to reduce their major race schedule. A sixth change of venue was necessary in 2018 following the sudden closure of Towcester, leading owner John Turner stepped in to save the event with a late scheduling being organised in December at Swindon Stadium.
In 2021, the race was switched from Swindon to Perry Barr due to the ongoing saga surrounding Swindon's redevelopment. The event stayed at Perry Barr and with the introduction of new sponsors in the form of Premier Greyhound Racing the prize money pot was increased significantly for the 2022 edition.
As from 2025 the event will be held in Wolverhampton.

## Venues and distances

* 1927–1927 (White City, 500 y)
* 1928–1958 (White City, 525 y)
* 1959–1974 (Harringay, 525 y)
* 1975–1987 (Harringay, 475 m)
* 1988–2012 (Wimbledon, 480 m)
* 2013–2017 (Belle Vue, 470 m)
* 2018–2018 (Swindon, 480 m)
* 2019–2020 (Swindon, 476 m)
* 2021–2024 (Perry Barr, 480 m)
* 2025–2025 (Wolverhampton, 480 m)

## Sponsors

* 1994–1994 (St Mary's Hospital, London)
* 2005–2014 (William Hill Bookmakers)
* 2015–2015 (ECC Timber)
* 2016–2016 (Racing Post GTV)
* 2017–2017 (Greyhound Media Group)
* 2018–2018 (John Turner)
* 2020–2020 (Property 192)
* 2021–2021 (Arena Racing Company)
* 2022–2025 (Premier Greyhound Racing)

## Past winners

| Year | Winner | Breeding | Trainer | Time (sec) | SP | Notes |
| 1927 | Three of Spades | Mutts Brother - Elnora | Sid Jennings (Harringay) | 29.96 | 5/1 | |
| 1928 | Moselle | Lax Law - Fly Again | Jimmy Quinn (Private) | 30.50 | 1/2f | |
| 1929 | Bewitching Eve | Beaded Rock - Oriental Action | Richard Cooper (Clapton) | 30.33 | 3/1 | |
| 1930 | Faithful Kitty | Mutton Cutlet - Old Bridge Lass | Stan Biss (West Ham) | 30.02 | 4/6f | |
| 1931 | Drizzle | De Novo - Edna Best | Harry Woolner (White City) | 30.00 | 4/6f | |
| 1932 | Queen of the Suir | Mutton Cutlet - Burette | Stan Biss (West Ham) | 30.89 | 9/4 | |
| 1933 | Queen of the Suir | Mutton Cutlet - Burette | Stan Biss (West Ham) | 30.23 | 2/5f | |
| 1934 | Gallant Ruth | Mick the Miller - Melksham Damsel | Harry Buck (Harringay) | 30.22 | 10/11f | |
| 1935 | Kitshine | Macoma - Pleasant Note | Arthur'Doc'Callanan (Wembley) | 30.12 | 11/2 | |
| 1936 | Genial Radiance | Johnny Peters - Reymerston | Austin Hiscock (Belle Vue) | 29.86 | 4/6f | |
| 1937 | Brave Queen | Deemster - Burette | Stan Biss (West Ham) | 29.62 | 4/9f | |
| 1938 | Quarter Day | Lawyers Fee - House Keeper | Joe Harmon (Wimbledon) | 29.49 | 4/5f | |
| 1945 | Prancing Kitty | Tanist - Be Careful Kitty | Paddy Fortune (Wimbledon) | 29.54 | 13/8 | |
| 1946 | Dumbles Maid | Toward Point - Flash And Flare | Stan Biss (Clapton) | 29.42 | 13/8 | |
| 1947 | Rio Cepretta | Flying Dart - Rio Czarina | Stan Biss (Clapton) | 29.32 | 6/5f | |
| 1948 | Night Breeze | Mad Tanist - Charity Maid | Stan Biss (Clapton) | 29.19 | 4/1 | |
| 1949 | Still Drifting | Shannon Shore - Bilting Antointette | Sidney Probert (Wembley) | 29.48 | 11/2 | |
| 1950 | Caledonian Faith | Train - Caledonian Desire | Arthur Mountfield (Private) | 29.62 | 8/1 | |
| 1951 | Ballinasloe Mona | Rimmells Black - Girlie O'Connor | Jack Harvey (Wembley) | 29.28 | 6/4f | |
| 1952 | Flos Pet | Terrible Rebel - Drapers Assistant | Paddy Fortune (Wimbledon) | 29.60 | 8/1 | dead-heat |
| 1952 | Monachdy Girlie | Local Interprize - Golden Gleam | Jimmy Jowett (Clapton) | 29.60 | 10/1 | dead-heat |
| 1953 | Lizette | Master Captain - Dorothy Ann | Paddy Fortune (Wimbledon) | 29.18 | 6/4f | |
| 1954 | Ashcott Winsome | Chittering Choice - Winsome Complexion | Bert Heyes (White City) | 29.39 | 100/6 | |
| 1955 | Lizette | Master Captain - Dorothy Ann | Jack Harvey (Wembley) | 29.52 | 6/4 | |
| 1956 | First But Last | Cheerful Chariot - Here At Last | Jack Harvey (Wembley) | 29.08 | 2/7f | |
| 1957 | Dark Rose | Polonius - Exhibitionist | W.G.Brown (Private) | 29.02 | 4/6f | |
| 1958 | Antarctica | Fire Prince - Spitland Joy | Jimmy Jowett (Clapton) | 29.12 | 7/2 | |
| 1959 | Gurteen Scamp | Hi There – Dunmore Claudia | George Waterman (Wimbledon) | 29.90 | 11/2 | |
| 1960 | Wheatfield Countess | Hi There - Wheatfield Satellite | Stan Martin (Wimbledon) | 29.33 | 5/4f | |
| 1961 | Ballinasloe Blondie | Northern King - Ballinasloe Chicken | Jack Harvey (Wembley) | 29.58 | 2/7f | |
| 1962 | Ballinasloe Blondie | Northern King - Ballinasloe Chicken | Jack Harvey (Wembley) | 29.68 | 1/2f | |
| 1963 | Cranog Bet | Knock Hill Chieftain - Don't Bet | Phil Rees Sr. (Private) | 29.31 | 7/2 | |
| 1964 | Cranog Bet | Knock Hill Chieftain - Don't Bet | Phil Rees Sr. (Private) | 29.02 | 4/9f | equalled track record |
| 1965 | Marjone | Crazy Parachute - Anjone | Mick O'Toole (Ireland) | 29.37 | 4/1 | |
| 1966 | Merry Emblem | Printers Prince - One For The Major | Matt Bruton (Ireland) | 29.58 | 7/4 | |
| 1967 | Solerina | Crazy Parachute - Primrose Princess | Janice Thistleton (Catford) | 29.50 | 12/1 | |
| 1968 | Shady Parachute | Crazy Parachute - Shady Contempora | Phil Rees Sr. (Wimbledon) | 29.38 | 1/2f | |
| 1969 | Shady Bracelet | Printers Prince - Shady Crocus | Peter Collett (Private) | 28.63 | 7/4f | |
| 1970 | Perth Pat | Maryville Hi - Hiver Swanky | Jim Morgan (Oxford) | 28.81 | 13/8f | |
| 1971 | Short Cake | The Grand Silver - She Is Landing | David Geggus (Walthamstow) | 28.98 | 5/1 | |
| 1972 | Decimal Queen | Dusty Trail - Roamin Beauty | Mick Hawkins (Private) | 28.60 | 6/4f | |
| 1973 | Miss Ross | Myross Again - Rich Life | Tom Johnston Jr. (Wembley) | 28.63 | 8/1 | |
| 1974 | Lady Devine | Supreme Fun - Funny Flash | Sid Ryall (Wembley) | 28.76 | 3/1 | |
| 1975 | Pineapple Grand | The Grand Silver - Pineapple Baby | Frank Baldwin (Perry Barr) | 28.85 | 8/11f | |
| 1976 | Ballinderry Moth | Kilbelin Style - Skipping Chick | Barney O'Connor (Walthamstow) | 28.60 | 4/6f | |
| 1977 | Switch Off | Westpark Mint - Kudas Pinch | Jim Singleton (Harringay) | 28.69 | 6/4f | |
| 1978 | Kilmagoura Mist | Yanka Boy - Kilmagoura Fair | Tom Johnston Jr. (Wembley) | 28.55 | 10/1 | |
| 1979 | Sunny Interval | Itsachampion - Cloheadon Pussy | Philip Rees Jr. (Wimbledon) | 28.77 | 12/1 | |
| 1980 | Devilish Dolores | Itsachampion - Dancing Dolores | Ernie Gaskin Sr. (Private) | 28.72 | 20/1 | |
| 1981 | Thanet Princess | Instant Gambler - Isle Of Thanet | Dick Hawkes (Walthamstow) | 28.82 | 11/2 | |
| 1982 | Duchess of Avon | Ballintee Star - Quarry Blaze | Adam Jackson (Wembley) | 28.72 | 1/1f | |
| 1983 | Major Grove | Knockrour Tiger - Sandras Melody | Eric Pateman (Wimbledon) | 28.59 | 6/1 | |
| 1984 | Sandy Sally | Sand Man - Ballyderg Moth | Jack Coker (Milton Keynes) | 28.69 | 9/2 | |
| 1985 | Spiral Super | Cooladine Super - Spiral Mint | George Curtis (Brighton) | 28.57 | 10/11f | |
| 1986 | Sullane Princess | Oran Jack - Muileann Amere | Peter Payne (Romford) | 28.79 | 20/1 | |
| 1987 | Lucky Empress | Citizen Supreme - Dark Empress | Allen Briggs (Private) | 28.43 | 2/1 | |
| 1988 | Wendys Dream | Tamarac - Up Town Girl | Tommy Foster (Wimbledon) | 28.81 | 4/5f | |
| 1989 | Nice and Lovely | Plunket Tim - Luisa Daniella | Derek Tidswell (Private) | 29.02 | 9/4 | |
| 1990 | Liberal Girl | Easy And Slow - Ballinvard Rose | Derek Knight (Brighton) | 28.95 | 5/1 | |
| 1991 | Simple Trend | Moral Support - Woodside Breeze | Ernie Gaskin Sr. (Walthamstow) | 29.06 | 2/1f | |
| 1992 | Skelligs Smurf | Skelligs Tiger - Speedy Smurf | Bob Gilling (Reading) | 29.71 | 11/8f | |
| 1993 | Pearls Girl | Flashy Sir - Desert Pearl | Sam Sykes (Wimbledon) | 28.55 | 8/11f | |
| 1994 | Westmead Chick | I'm Slippy - Westmead Move | Nick Savva (Walthamstow) | 28.60 | 8/11f | |
| 1995 | Saddlers Return | April Trio - Velvet Coat | Ernie Gaskin Sr. (Walthamstow) | 28.76 | 3/1 | |
| 1996 | Annies Bullet | Slippys Quest - O'Hickey Kylie | Nick Savva (Walthamstow) | 28.76 | 7/4jf | |
| 1997 | Flashy Get | Murlens Slippy - Flashy Fiona | Ernie Gaskin Sr. (Walthamstow) | 28.75 | 14/1 | |
| 1998 | Sarah Dee | Arrigle Buddy - Castlegannon Pop | Nick Savva (Walthamstow) | 28.82 | 6/4f | |
| 1999 | Springtime | Vintage Prince - Meantime | Ger Watson (Ireland) | 28.97 | 4/9f | |
| 2000 | Ragga Juju | Justright Melody - Cent Her Forward | Joanne Page (Milton Keynes) | 29.29 | 7/1 | |
| 2001 | Talktothehand | Top Honcho - Merry Bluebell | Jimmy Gibson (Belle Vue) | 29.06 | 6/4jf | |
| 2002 | Purley Queen | Frisby Flashing - Traceys Whisper | Norah McEllistrim (Wimbledon) | 29.14 | 8/1 | |
| 2003 | Cooly Pantera | Spiral Nikita - Direen Havana | Brian Clemenson (Hove) | 29.18 | 11/8f | |
| 2004 | Tidyplayroom | Smooth Rumble - Toss Stella | Derek Knight (Hove) | 29.27 | 5/–1 | |
| 2005 | Droopys Stacey | Droopys Kewell – Droopy Roberta | Ian Reilly (Ireland) | 29.10 | 4/6f | |
| 2006 | Dilemmas Flight | Droopys Vieri – Early Flight | Nick Savva (Private) | 28.96 | 7/1 | |
| 2007 | Blonde Jeannie | Daves Mentor – Easy and Breezy | John Mullins (Private) | 28.76 | 2/1 | |
| 2008 | Meenala Amy | Droopys Shearer – Lassana Jenny | Kim Billingham (Monmore) | 28.99 | 10/1 | |
| 2009 | Shaws Dilemma | Droopys Vieri – Saffron Border | Liz McNair (Private) | 28.52 | 5/2 | |
| 2010 | Freedom Emma | Brett Lee – Miss Freckles | Richard Yeates (Oxford) | 28.68 | 5/2 | |
| 2011 | Silverview Perky | Head Bound - Owens Rover | Charlie Lister OBE (Private) | 28.40 | 1/1f | |
| 2012 | Droopys Hope | Ace Hi Rumble – Droopys Darjina | Liz McNair (Private) | 28.83 | 2/1 | |
| 2013 | Droopys Danneel | Rumble Impact – Droopys Bubble | Kevin Hutton (Swindon) | 27.97 | 7/4f | |
| 2014 | Cashen Maureen | Cashen Legend – Leigh Fantastic | Mark Wallis (Towcester) | 27.99 | 4/6f | |
| 2015 | Domino Storm | Makeshift – Swift Erin | Mark Wallis (Towcester) | 27.59 | 5/2 | |
| 2016 | Forest Twilight | Ace Hi Rumble - Forest May | Hayley Keightley (Private) | 27.79 | 6/4f | |
| 2017 | Wuheida | Head Bound - Droopys Thrill | Phil Simmonds (Romford) | 28.74 | 11/4 | |
| 2018 | Ravenswood Flo | Laughil Blake - Ravenswood May | Kevin Hutton (Monmore) | 3/1 | |
| 2019 | Bull Run Byte | Romeo Recruit –Tullowmac Java | Kevin Hutton (Monmore) | 28.29 | 7/4 | |
| 2020 | Ballymac Trend | Ballymac Best – Motobar Abigail | Angie Kibble (Swindon) | 28.41 | 25/1 | |
| 2021 | Billys Diva | Good News – Jaytee Sahara | Marie Kennedy (Ireland) | 28.88 | 2/1f | |
| 2022 | Slick Sakina | Droopys Sydney – Droopys Ring | Patrick Janssens (Towcester) | 27.85 | 11/8f | Track record |
| 2023 | No Rush | King Elvis – Vahsel Bay | Carol Weatherall (Monmore) | 28.18 | 15/8f | |
| 2024 | Druids Say Go | Droopys Sydney – Druids Diana | Patrick Janssens (Towcester) | 27.82 | 4/11f | |