Oak Grove Racing, Gaming & Hotel released further details on Wednesday, Nov. 5 regarding its newly announced signature stakes, the $500,000 USD Oak Grove Trotting Derby and $300,000 USD Oak Grove Trotting Oaks.

The Oak Grove trotting stakes will be showcased during the Oak Grove Festival of Racing, a new marquee event debuting in May 2026. 

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.

Road to the Oak Grove Trotting Derby
Oak Grove Trotting Derby Automatic Qualifying Races - 2025 Race Winner
Breeders Crown Two-Year-Old Trot - Spencer Hanover
Mohawk Million - Apex
Peter Haughton - Apex
William Wellwood - Ardonne
Valley Victory - TBD (Nov. 15, 2025)
Kentucky Sire Stakes Championship Series - Endurance
Indiana Sire Stakes Championship - Premier Bluebird
Ohio Sire Stakes Championship (Scarlet) - Big Ranger
New Jersey Sire Stakes Championship - Apex
New York Sire Stakes Championship - AI
Pennsylvania Sire Stakes Championship - Dublin Hanover
Ontario Sires Stakes Championship (Gold) - Strobe Lite

Road to the Oak Grove Trotting Oaks
Oak Grove Trotting Oaks Automatic Qualifying Races - 2025 Race Winner
Breeders Crown Two-Year-Old Filly Trot - Storybook Love
Jim Doherty - Atlantic Summer
Peaceful Way - Sugar Packet
Kentuckiana Stallion Management - Nezuko Kamado S
Goldsmith Maid - TBD (Nov. 15, 2025)
Kentucky Sire Stakes Championship Series - Country Glide
Indiana Sire Stakes Championship - Setyoursightshigh
Ohio Sire Stakes Championship (Scarlet) - For Dayze
New Jersey Sire Stakes Championship - Emmas Mystery CCL
New York Sire Stakes Championship - Sharp Seven
Pennsylvania Sire Stakes Championship - Ginger Tree Lex
Ontario Sires Stakes Championship (Gold) - Bingo Night

Any automatic slot winner that has won more than one qualifying race is limited to only one spot for the eliminations.

The elimination races, scheduled for Monday, May 4, 2026, will have a purse of $50,000 USD for the Oak Grove Trotting Derby and $30,000 USD 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:

Stakes Payments
Race - March 15, 2026 Fee - April 15, 2026 Fee - Elimination Starting Fee - Total Fees
Oak Grove Trotting Derby - $500 USD - $500 USD - $1,500 USD - $2,500 USD
Oak Grove Trotting Oaks - $500 USD - $500 USD - $500 USD - $1,500 USD

There are no starting fee for the finals.

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

(With files from Oak Grove Racing, Gaming & Hotel)