Kentucky Oaks brings out 'pinch me' moments for Churchill Downs crowd

Yahoo Sports1h ago38 min readOriginal source →

TL;DR

The Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs is set for April 30, featuring 13 races culminating at 8:40 p.m. Fans like William and Dorothy Kania traveled from Northern Indiana to enjoy the event and share betting tips.

Key points

Kentucky Oaks set for April 30 at Churchill Downs
Event features 13 races throughout the day
William and Dorothy Kania traveled from Northern Indiana
Kentucky Oaks race starts at 8:40 p.m.
Advice given to bet on horses that ran well previously

Mentioned in this story

Churchill DownsLouisvilleWilliam KaniaDorothy Kania

Kentucky Oaks

Heading into Kentucky Derby Weekend, William and Dorothy Kania made the trip to Louisville from Northern Indiana with a plan.

They made the nearly five-hour trip from around Gary to the Wyndham East in Jeffersontown on April 30 and had burgers at Brass Social — “it was fantastic,” William Kania said in a May 1 interview at Churchill Downs. After that, it was time to rest up and get ready for a weekend at the races.

“Don’t be afraid to bet horses that ran good in their last race,” he advised first-timers. “The true handicappers will say, ‘Oh, that’s too easy.’ The horses that run good, they keep running good.”

The couple had their eye on Percy’s Bar in the Kentucky Oaks, the annual showcase for fillies run the day before the Kentucky Derby that was set to take place later that evening. A full card of 13 races was scheduled throughout the day, with the Oaks set to cap off the night at 8:40 p.m.

Whitney Ensor kisses her husband Howard Ensor while attending the 152nd running of the Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs on Friday, May 1, 2026. The Ensor's got engaged at the Kentucky Derby.