Churchill Downs announced Wednesday that submissions to participate in the 2023 Kentucky Oaks Survivors Parade will open on Saturday, Jan. 21. This year's Survivors Parade will honor 149 Breast and Ovarian cancer survivors and fighters with tickets for the selected recipient and a guest to attend the 149th Longines Kentucky Oaks on Friday, May 5, 2023, and include an unforgettable march on the historic track at Churchill Downs.
Those who have overcome or are battling a breast or ovarian cancer diagnosis who have never participated in the Oaks Survivors Parade are encouraged to submit their story at www.kentuckyderby.com/survivors between Jan. 21 and Feb. 22, 2023. Those who wish to nominate a potential participant for consideration are encouraged to share the submission link directly with the candidate so that they may submit the relevant qualifying information.
For the 15th Survivors Parade, Churchill Downs will feature and support Derby Divas through the Norton Cancer Institute Breast Health Program and Horses and Hope through Kentucky Cancer Program. Both organizations provide critical services that help deliver care to underserved women across the region, including those on the backside of racetracks across the state, who lack access to breast health screenings and services. The Kentucky Oaks charitable initiative has raised approximately $1 million to drive breast and ovarian health awareness and life-saving interventions over the past 14 years.
For the first time, the 2023 Survivors Parade participants will be chosen randomly rather than by public vote to optimize equal opportunity and consideration. This year's submission process will be the first open to the public in two years since the Survivors Parade was held in a virtual format for 2020 and 2021 in adherence of COVID-19 safety protocols. Last year, the survivors selected in 2020 were enthusiastically welcomed to Churchill Downs for one of the most moving, memorable and long-awaited tributes yet.
To celebrate the Road to the Kentucky Oaks qualifying races, Survivors Parade submissions will open on Saturday, Jan. 21, to align with the Silverbulletday at Fair Grounds Race Course and the selected participants will be notified on Saturday, Feb. 25, on the day of the Cincinnati Trophy Stakes at Turfway Park Racing & Gaming. In addition to a call for submissions, fans are encouraged to join the effort to raise money to support breast and ovarian health by donating to the Kentucky Oaks charitable partners at www.kentuckyderby.com/survivors.
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