( L - R ) Sherone Simpson, Yendi Phillipps - File photos

The Bigga Jamaica Oaks will be run at Caymanas Park on April 25 and, in keeping with its Oaks Day is Ladies Day theme, 16 young women who have distinguished themselves in various fields, including sports and entertainment, will be honoured at the track.

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.

Outstanding women

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

Among the young women (ages 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. She is the only sports personality on the list, which also includes noted entertainers Etana, Queen Ifrica, Michelle 'D'Angel' Downer, Timber-Lee Heaven, Carol 'Quizz' Sigurdson along with Tami Chynn and Tessanne Chin. 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, media personality Khadine 'Miss Kitty' Hylton and the sisters Vanessa and Lana Chung, both of whom have distinguished themselves academically by attending university in their early teens.

Rematch

Meanwhile, the 70th running of the mile and quarter Jamaica Oaks for native bred three-year-old fillies, with a purse of $2.7 million, will highlight the day's racing. This, the season's third classic, will feature a rematch between the April 4 One Thousand Guineas winner SAINT CECELIA and the runner-up MISS RUTH. Trained by Spencer Chung, SAINT CECELIA will again be ridden by former champion jockey Shane Ellis for owners Stephen and Valentine Chung.

The Oaks will be sponsored for the second straight year by the Wisynco Group, through its Bigga brand of soft drinks. Wisynco has contributed $1 million to the day's racing - $700,000 going directly to the purse of the Bigga Oaks.