2012 Kentucky Oaks… Pink In, Komen Out. When asked if the recent controversy regarding the Susan G. Komen for the Cure’s decision to end grants to Planned Parenthood, John Asher, Vice President of Racing Communications at Churchill Downs said the Susan G. Komen for the Cure could not be the benefiting charity for the 2012 Kentucky Oaks fundraising. This was not a decision made because of recent events. Asher said that several months ago, Churchill and Komen ended the Kentucky Oaks Day relationship amicably and that in upcoming weeks a different charitable venture related to women’s health issues would be announced and that pink would remain the official Oaks color.  Almost all the members on our Kentucky Derby Tour packages wear pink (see photos at our website https://kentuckyderbytours.com/photo-gallery/)

The past three years, Churchill has committed $1 for each attendee Kentucky Oaks Day to the Komen organization and guaranteed a minimum donation of $100,000 each year. As in recent years, the 2012 Kentucky Oaks (for three year old fillies) is held on the day before the 2012 Kentucky Derby. The Kentucky Oaks is often called “the lilies for the fillies” as a blanket of  lilies are placed on the winner like the blanket of roses for the Kentucky Derby winner.

The following was written as an official comment from John Asher:

“Although it has not been publicly announced, the Kentucky Oaks fundraising partnership with Susan G. Komen for the Cure concluded in 2011 after a rewarding three-year run. We believe the partnership was good for both parties, and it generated $336,592 for breast cancer research and outreach during those three years.

The recent issue regarding Komen for the Cure had absolutely no impact on our relationship with the organization. We had communicated our desire to end that partnership months ago.

We decided to seek a new Kentucky Oaks fundraising partner after listening to many fans who reached out to suggest that cancer issues and health concerns for women exist well beyond the boundaries of Komen’s fundraising and research. Those fans appreciate what Komen has done to raise awareness of breast cancer and research-and-outreach dollars for that cause, but they suggested that cancer and health concerns for women that are part of our focus on Kentucky Oaks Day stretch well beyond Komen’s umbrella.

We will have a new Kentucky Oaks fundraising partner focused on women’s health issues in 2012. We expect that announcement is a few weeks down the road.

Our partnership with Horses and Hope, Kentucky First Lady Jane Beshear’s breast cancer outreach initiative in Kentucky’s horse industry, will continue. That Kentucky Oaks fundraising partnership has generated more than $90,000 in funding for Horses & Hope over the past three years.

And the Oaks Day “Pink Out” will continue! The “Pink Out” has quickly become a strong part of Kentucky Oaks tradition and pink will remain the official color of the Oaks.”