The Oaks is an original classic greyhound racing competition held at Dunstall Park Greyhound Stadium.

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 Abbey 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.

Since 2025 the event has been held at Dunstall Park Greyhound Stadium in Wolverhampton.

Venues and distances

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)

Winners YearWinnerBreedingTrainerTime (sec)SPNotes/ref1927 Three of Spades Mutts Brother - ElnoraSid Jennings (Harringay) 29.96 5/11928 Moselle Lax Law - Fly AgainJimmy Quinn (Private) 30.50 1/2f1929 Bewitching Eve Beaded Rock - Oriental ActionRichard Cooper (Clapton) 30.33 3/11930 Faithful Kitty Mutton Cutlet - Old Bridge Lass Stan Biss (West Ham) 30.02 4/6f1931 Drizzle De Novo - Edna BestHarry Woolner (White City) 30.00 4/6f1932 Queen of the Suir Mutton Cutlet - BuretteStan Biss (West Ham) 30.89 9/41933 Queen of the Suir Mutton Cutlet - BuretteStan Biss (West Ham) 30.23 2/5f1934 Gallant Ruth Mick the Miller - Melksham DamselHarry Buck (Harringay) 30.22 10/11f1935 Kitshine Macoma - Pleasant NoteArthur'Doc'Callanan (Wembley) 30.12 11/21936 Genial Radiance Johnny Peters - ReymerstonAustin Hiscock (Belle Vue) 29.86 4/6f1937 Brave Queen Deemster - BuretteStan Biss (West Ham) 29.62 4/9f1938 Quarter Day Lawyers Fee - House KeeperJoe Harmon (Wimbledon) 29.49 4/5f1945 Prancing Kitty Tanist - Be Careful KittyPaddy Fortune (Wimbledon) 29.54 13/81946 Dumbles Maid Toward Point - Flash And FlareStan Biss (Clapton) 29.42 13/81947 Rio Cepretta Flying Dart - Rio CzarinaStan Biss (Clapton) 29.32 6/5f1948 Night Breeze Mad Tanist - Charity MaidStan Biss (Clapton) 29.19 4/11949 Still Drifting Shannon Shore - Bilting AntointetteSidney Probert (Wembley) 29.48 11/21950 Caledonian Faith Train - Caledonian DesireArthur Mountfield (Private) 29.62 8/11951 Ballinasloe Mona Rimmells Black - Girlie O'Connor Jack Harvey (Wembley) 29.28 6/4f1952 Flos Pet Terrible Rebel - Drapers AssistantPaddy Fortune (Wimbledon) 29.60 8/1dead-heat1952 Monachdy Girlie Local Interprize - Golden Gleam Jimmy Jowett (Clapton) 29.60 10/1dead-heat1953 Lizette Master Captain - Dorothy AnnPaddy Fortune (Wimbledon) 29.18 6/4f1954 Ashcott Winsome Chittering Choice - Winsome ComplexionBert Heyes (White City) 29.39 100/61955 Lizette Master Captain - Dorothy AnnJack Harvey (Wembley) 29.52 6/41956 First But Last Cheerful Chariot - Here At LastJack Harvey (Wembley) 29.08 2/7f1957 Dark Rose Polonius - ExhibitionistW.G.Brown (Private) 29.02 4/6f1958 Antarctica Fire Prince - Spitland Joy Jimmy Jowett (Clapton) 29.12 7/21959 Gurteen Scamp Hi There – Dunmore ClaudiaGeorge Waterman (Wimbledon) 29.90 11/21960 Wheatfield Countess Hi There - Wheatfield SatelliteStan Martin (Wimbledon) 29.33 5/4f1961 Ballinasloe Blondie Northern King - Ballinasloe ChickenJack Harvey (Wembley) 29.58 2/7f1962 Ballinasloe Blondie Northern King - Ballinasloe ChickenJack Harvey (Wembley) 29.68 1/2f1963 Cranog Bet Knock Hill Chieftain - Don't Bet Phil Rees Sr. (Private) 29.31 7/21964 Cranog Bet Knock Hill Chieftain - Don't BetPhil Rees Sr. (Private) 29.02 4/9fequalled track record1965 Marjone Crazy Parachute - AnjoneMick O'Toole (Ireland) 29.37 4/11966 Merry Emblem Printers Prince - One For The MajorMatt Bruton (Ireland) 29.58 7/41967 Solerina Crazy Parachute - Primrose PrincessJanice Thistleton (Catford) 29.50 12/11968 Shady Parachute Crazy Parachute - Shady Contempora Phil Rees Sr. (Wimbledon) 29.38 1/2f1969 Shady Bracelet Printers Prince - Shady CrocusPeter Collett (Private) 28.63 7/4f1970 Perth Pat Maryville Hi - Hiver Swanky Jim Morgan (Oxford) 28.81 13/8f1971 Short Cake The Grand Silver - She Is LandingDavid Geggus (Walthamstow) 28.98 5/11972 Decimal Queen Dusty Trail - Roamin BeautyMick Hawkins (Private) 28.60 6/4f1973 Miss Ross Myross Again - Rich Life Tom Johnston Jr. (Wembley) 28.63 8/11974 Lady Devine Supreme Fun - Funny FlashSid Ryall (Wembley) 28.76 3/11975 Pineapple Grand The Grand Silver - Pineapple BabyFrank Baldwin (Perry Barr) 28.85 8/11f1976 Ballinderry Moth Kilbelin Style - Skipping ChickBarney O'Connor (Walthamstow) 28.60 4/6f1977 Switch Off Westpark Mint - Kudas PinchJim Singleton (Harringay) 28.69 6/4f1978 Kilmagoura Mist Yanka Boy - Kilmagoura Fair Tom Johnston Jr. (Wembley) 28.55 10/11979 Sunny Interval Itsachampion - Cloheadon PussyPhilip Rees Jr. (Wimbledon) 28.77 12/11980 Devilish Dolores Itsachampion - Dancing Dolores Ernie Gaskin Sr. (Private) 28.72 20/11981 Thanet Princess Instant Gambler - Isle Of ThanetDick Hawkes (Walthamstow) 28.82 11/21982 Duchess of Avon Ballintee Star - Quarry Blaze Adam Jackson (Wembley) 28.72 1/1f1983 Major Grove Knockrour Tiger - Sandras MelodyEric Pateman (Wimbledon) 28.59 6/11984 Sandy Sally Sand Man - Ballyderg MothJack Coker (Milton Keynes) 28.69 9/21985 Spiral Super Cooladine Super - Spiral MintGeorge Curtis (Brighton) 28.57 10/11f1986 Sullane Princess Oran Jack - Muileann AmerePeter Payne (Romford) 28.79 20/11987 Lucky Empress Citizen Supreme - Dark EmpressAllen Briggs (Private) 28.43 2/11988 Wendys Dream Tamarac - Up Town GirlTommy Foster (Wimbledon) 28.81 4/5f1989 Nice and Lovely Plunket Tim - Luisa DaniellaDerek Tidswell (Private) 29.02 9/41990 Liberal Girl Easy And Slow - Ballinvard RoseDerek Knight (Brighton) 28.95 5/11991 Simple Trend Moral Support - Woodside Breeze Ernie Gaskin Sr. (Walthamstow) 29.06 2/1f1992 Skelligs Smurf Skelligs Tiger - Speedy SmurfBob Gilling (Reading) 29.71 11/8f1993 Pearls Girl Flashy Sir - Desert PearlSam Sykes (Wimbledon) 28.55 8/11f1994 Westmead Chick I'm Slippy - Westmead Move Nick Savva (Walthamstow) 28.60 8/11f1995 Saddlers Return April Trio - Velvet Coat Ernie Gaskin Sr. (Walthamstow) 28.76 3/11996 Annies Bullet Slippys Quest - O'Hickey Kylie Nick Savva (Walthamstow) 28.76 7/4jf1997 Flashy Get Murlens Slippy - Flashy Fiona Ernie Gaskin Sr. (Walthamstow) 28.75 14/11998 Sarah Dee Arrigle Buddy - Castlegannon Pop Nick Savva (Walthamstow) 28.82 6/4f1999 Springtime Vintage Prince - MeantimeGer Watson (Ireland) 28.97 4/9f2000 Ragga Juju Justright Melody - Cent Her ForwardJoanne Page (Milton Keynes) 29.29 7/12001 Talktothehand Top Honcho - Merry BluebellJimmy Gibson (Belle Vue) 29.06 6/4jf2002 Purley Queen Frisby Flashing - Traceys WhisperNorah McEllistrim (Wimbledon) 29.14 8/12003 Cooly Pantera Spiral Nikita - Direen Havana Brian Clemenson (Hove) 29.18 11/8f2004 Tidyplayroom Smooth Rumble - Toss StellaDerek Knight (Hove) 29.27 5/–12005 Droopys Stacey Droopys Kewell – Droopy RobertaIan Reilly (Ireland) 29.10 4/6f2006 Dilemmas Flight Droopys Vieri – Early Flight Nick Savva (Private) 28.96 7/12007 Blonde Jeannie Daves Mentor – Easy and Breezy John Mullins (Private) 28.76 2/12008 Meenala Amy Droopys Shearer – Lassana JennyKim Billingham (Monmore) 28.99 10/12009 Shaws Dilemma Droopys Vieri – Saffron BorderLiz McNair (Private) 28.52 5/22010 Freedom Emma Brett Lee – Miss FrecklesRichard Yeates (Oxford) 28.68 5/22011 Silverview Perky Head Bound - Owens RoverCharlie Lister OBE (Private) 28.40 1/1f2012 Droopys Hope Ace Hi Rumble – Droopys DarjinaLiz McNair (Private) 28.83 2/12013 Droopys Danneel Rumble Impact – Droopys Bubble Kevin Hutton (Swindon) 27.97 7/4f2014 Cashen Maureen Cashen Legend – Leigh Fantastic Mark Wallis (Towcester) 27.99 4/6f2015 Domino Storm Makeshift – Swift Erin Mark Wallis (Towcester) 27.59 5/22016 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 AbigailAngie Kibble (Swindon)28.41 25/1 2021Billys DivaGood News – Jaytee SaharaMarie Kennedy (Ireland)28.882/1f2022Slick SakinaDroopys Sydney – Droopys RingPatrick Janssens (Towcester)27.8511/8fTrack record2023No RushKing Elvis – Vahsel BayCarol Weatherall (Monmore)28.1815/8f2024Druids Say GoDroopys Sydney – Druids Diana Patrick Janssens (Towcester)27.824/11f 2025Butlers LaneJacob Tashadelek – Coolavanny ModelBarry Denby (Nottingham)27.957/2

References