Oaks Day

Kennedy Oaks Day, also known as ‘Ladies Day’ is a popular thoroughbred horse race held yearly as part of the Spring Racing Carnival at Flemington Racecourse.

Formerly known as ‘Kennedy Oaks Day’, this race is always held on the Thursday after Cup Day on the 7th of November in 2024.

There are a number of race days that constitute the Spring Racing Carnival. The Melbourne Cup is the premier event of the Spring Racing Carnival. It is held on the first Tuesday in November each year and is considered so important that it has been designated a public holiday in Victoria. The other races are scheduled around the Melbourne Cup date accordingly.

Each year, 100,000 people flock to Flemington Racecourse for Oaks Day. The racing highlight is the $1 million Group 1 Kennedy Oaks, which will see the best three-year-old staying fillies battle for victory in the ultimate test of their staying credentials.

The tradition of Kennedy Oaks Day is beauty, femininity, style and grace. It’s a day that the racegoer can embrace wonderment and escape the normal of a weekday. The style is not just for females; the men also take it up a notch, making it one of the best days for men to dress up and explore fashion.

The Kennedy Oaks race day is a popular fashion event, where attendees dress in their Spring finest tailored suits for the men and colourful dresses, hats and fascinators for the ladies. There is a ‘Fashion on the Fields” event held during Oaks Day, where prizes worth thousands of dollars are up for grabs. There is no dress code for general admission, so you can dress in neat, casual attire if you wish. However, most racegoers do dress up in suits and summer dresses.

Food and drinks can be purchased at the race track; however, many racegoers bring their picnic to the venue. Betting is a popular pastime, so make sure to bring some extra cash to place a bet on Australia’s biggest races.

Public transport to Oaks Day is plentiful, with trains that run direct and trams stop only a short walk away. Special trains run directly to Flemington Racecourse on race days. Trains to Flemington Racecourse depart Flinders Street Station, Southern Cross Station and North Melbourne Station. You can also catch the #57 Maribyrnong tram from the Elizabeth Street/Flinders Street intersection and alight at Flemington Drive.

The official flower of Oaks Day is the pink rose, which can be purchased from flower sellers near the entrances upon arrival to Flemington.

There are no dress regulations for general admission ticket holders. However, wear your favourite casual or race-day attire for a fun day at the races.