Oaks Day is Ladies Day at Caymanas Park tomorrow and, in keeping with the theme, 16 young women who have distinguished themselves in various fields, including sports and entertainment, will be honoured at the track.

The day's racing will be highlighted by the 70th running of the Bigga Jamaica Oaks to be contested by nine native-bred three-year-old fillies over 2000 metres. Among the starters are the recent 1000 Guineas winner SAINT CECELIA and the runner-up MISS RUTH.

The Oaks will be sponsored for the second straight year by the Wisynco Group under its Bigga soft drinks banner.

Purse contribution

The company has contributed $1 million to the day's racing - $700,000 going directly to the purse of the Oaks and $300,000 to supplement purses of six other races on the card.

Over the years, select women who have excelled in various professional fields have been honoured by the sponsors in association with Caymanas Track Limited (CTL) on Oaks Day.

Last year, it was women in the diplomatic field. In 2007 it was women in sports, education in 2006, while women in the performing and fine arts were honoured in 2005. Outstanding women in the media and also in the nursing profession have been honoured since 2001 as well.

Among the young women (age ranging from 18 to 30) to be honoured is 100 metres silver medallist in the 2008 Beijing Olympics and sprint relay gold medallist from the Athens Olympics, Sherone Simpson - the only sports personality on the list, which also includes noted entertainers Etana, Queen Ifrica, Michelle 'D'Angel' Downer, Carol 'Quizz' Sigurdson, along with Tami Chynn and Tessanne Chin.

More honourees

The list is completed by Miss Jamaica World 2007 Yendi Phillipps, dance teacher Sodanne Browne, fashion designer Melissa Dunkley, dancer/choreographer Neila Ebanks, former senator, Deika Morrison, marketing executive Naomi Garrick, music video director Renai Marshall, and the sisters Vanessa and Lana Chung, both of whom have distinguished themselves academically by attending university in their early teens.

Supporting feature on the well-supported 11-race programme is the 3-y-o and up graded stakes for the Lady Geeta Trophy over 1200 metres to be contested by only four starters, including the impressive five-year-old mare OUTSTANDING, who is unbeaten in two trophy races this season.

There will also be a Gimmick race (for humans) on which betting will be conducted, while the popular Kiddies' Stables will be activated on the day.

- O.C.