Agraded stakes raceis athoroughbred horse racein theUnited Statesthat meets the criteria of the American Graded Stakes Committee of theThoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association(TOBA). A specific grade level (I, II, III or listed) is then assigned to the race, based on statistical analysis of the quality of the field in previous years, provided the race meets the minimum purse criteria for the grade in question. In Canada, a similar grading system is maintained by theJockey Club of Canada.Graded stakes races are similar toGroup racesinEuropebut the grading is more dynamic in North America.
A high grading can also be used by racetracks to promote the race in question. When determiningEclipse Awardwinners, racing journalists will consider the number and grade of a horse's stakes wins during the year.
In general,stakes racerefers to the stake, or entry fee, owners must pay, which generally forms part of the prize money offered to the top finishers. Not all stakes races are eligible for grading. Notably, races that are restricted to horses bred in a specific state (e.g., theTiznow Stakesfor California-breds) or country (e.g., the races that make up theCanadian Triple Crown,all restricted to Canadian-breds) are excluded, regardless of the purse or quality of field. Conversely, some races that are not technically stakes races (usually invitational races where entry fees are not required by the racetrack) may be eligible for grading if they meet the quality standards.
History
editEuropean authorities implemented the Pattern race system in 1972 and requested that North America implement a similar method, leading to the development of the graded stakes system by TOBA in 1973. The first list of North American Graded Stakes was published in 1974. The original purpose of grading was to identify the most competitive races, which helps horsemen make comparisons of the relative quality of bloodstock for breeding and sales purposes.[1]
When the race-grading program was being set up for its 1973 introduction by the American Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association it was done so as to match the data formatting in use by the British system being Grade I, Grade II, Grade III.[2]However, the advent of theInternetmeant that format would eventually be mostly abandoned in favor of G1, G2, G3. Used by TOBA itself, and most significantly byEquibase Company LLCthat is the official supplier of racing information and statistics toAmerica's Best Racing,Breeders' Cup,Daily Racing Form,NTRA,The Jockey Club,TRA,TVG,andXpressbet.[3]A notable exception to the change in format being the threeNew York Racing Associationtracks.[4]
Fasig-Tiptobegan including grading information in 1975,Keeneland Associationin 1976, andDaily Racing Formin 1978. In 1998, Canada began to grade Canadian races independently.[1]
Listed stakes were first added as a level in 2013.[5]
Criteria
editThe American Graded Stakes Committee grades only races that:[1]
- Have a purse of at least $75,000 for a listed race, $100,000 for Grade III, $200,000 for Grade II, and $300,000 for Grade I.
- Have been run for two years under fundamentally the same conditions. For example, the race's distance may be slightly altered, but age and sex conditions may not be.
- Restrict entries only by age and sex. For example, a race may be restricted to three-year-old fillies and be eligible for grading, but a race restricted by where a horse is bred is not eligible for grading.
- Have preference conditions written to industry standards that seek to give preference to the best horses.
- Have post-race drug testing managed by a governmental authority.
- Follow rules for androgenic-anabolic steroids and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, allowing onlyBoldenone,Nandrolone,Stanozolol,andtestosterone.(This is a minimum standard; some racing jurisdictions have even higher restrictions on medications)
In 2008, the committee began requiring that toe grabs on thehorseshoe,designed to improve traction, be no longer than 2 millimeters. This was in response to studies bySusan Stovershowing that such toe grabs substantially increase the risk of catastrophic racing injuries.[6][7]Recently, racing officials have also banned the use offurosemide(Lasix) in all Black Type races, which include graded and listed stakes races.[8]
A newly established race may inherit the graded status of a discontinued race if it is held at the same facility under essentially identical conditions as the discontinued race. For example, the inaugural running of thePegasus World Cupin January 2017 was Grade I, inheriting the status of the discontinuedDonn Handicap.[9]
Levels
editThere are four grade levels, from Listed at the bottom to Grade I at the top. The latter are higher-class races for bigger prizes for horses of the same age group (2, 3 or 3 and up) and may further be restricted by sex. The weight conditions of the races may vary provided they meet the committee's standards to ensure competitiveness. Many grade I races are "weight-for-age",with weights adjusted only according to age and sex, and also there are" set weights "where all horses carry the same weight (usually applicable when all horses are of the same age and sex). Furthermore, there are" conditions "races, in which horses carry weights that are set by conditions, such as having won a certain number of races, or races of a certain value. Finally, some graded stakes are"handicaps",in which an official handicapper assigns weights to each horse in an attempt to equalize the competition.
All Grade I races must have a purse of at least $300,000, but not all races with such high purses are Grade I. For example, a racetrack may offer a high purse to attract better fields so the race will be upgraded in future years. The grade level is assigned by looking at data that indicates quality of the field for the last five years.[1]In order to achieve or maintain a Grade I, it is necessary to attract a competitive field over a number of years.
For graded turf races, track conditions (normally excessive rain) may sometimes force the race to be run on the main (dirt) track. If this happens, the race is automatically downgraded by one grade level for that running only. The Committee then reviews the race within five days and may restore the original grade. For example, a Grade I turf race that is switched to the dirt will be recorded as a Grade II race, unless the committee feels the quality of the race was sufficient to warrant Grade I.[1]
In the United States and Canada, a graded race can be dormant for one year without losing its grade.
U.S. graded stakes races
editGrade I changes since 2010
editThe following races have been downgraded from Grade I status since 2010:
- Beldame StakesatBelmont Park(2019)[10]
- Blue Grass StakesatKeeneland(2017)[11]The race was upgraded to a Grade 1 again in 2022.
- Beverly D. StakesatColonial Downs(2024)[12]
- Carter HandicapatAqueduct(2024)[12]
- Chandelier StakesatSanta Anita Park(2020)
- Charles Whittingham Memorial StakesatHollywood Park(2013)[13]
- Cigar Mile Handicapat Aqueduct (2023)[14]
- Clark StakesatChurchill Downs(2023)[14]
- Eddie Read StakesatDel Mar(2016)[15]
- Flower Bowl StakesatSaratoga(2022)[16]
- Gazelle Stakesat Aqueduct (2013)[13]
- Hollywood Gold Cup Stakesat Santa Anita Park (2024)[12]
- Hollywood Turf Cup Stakesat Hollywood Park (2012)[17]
- Hopeful Stakesat Saratoga (2012)[13]The race was upgraded to a Grade 1 again in 2013.
- Las Virgenes Stakesat Santa Anita Park (2016)[15]
- Los Alamitos FuturityatLos Alamitos(2019)[10]
- Man o' War Stakesat Belmont Park (2024)[12]
- Mother Goose Stakesat Belmont Park (2017)[11]
- Pat O'Brien Stakesat Del Mar (2012)[17]
- Pimlico SpecialatPimlico(2011)[18]
- Prioress Stakesat Saratoga (2014)[19]
- Princess Rooney HandicapatCalder(2014)[19]
- Rodeo Drive Stakesat Santa Anita Park (2023)[14]
- Ruffian Handicapat Saratoga (2012)[17]
- Santa Anita Sprint Championshipat Santa Anita Park (2020)
- Santa Anita OaksAt Santa Anita Park (2020)
- Santa Margarita Invitational Handicapat Santa Anita Park (2019)[10]
- Santa Monica Stakesat Santa Anita Park (2013)[13]
- Secretariat StakesatArlington Park(2022)[16]
- Starlet Stakesat Los Alamitos Race Course (2023)[14]
- Stephen Foster Handicapat Churchill Downs (2019)[10]The race was upgraded to a Grade 1 again in 2023.
- Triple Bend Invitational Handicapat Santa Anita Park (2019)[10]
- United Nations StakesatMonmouth Park(2024)[12]
- Vosburgh Stakesat Belmont Park (2020)
- Wood Memorialat Aqueduct (2017)[11]
- Woodward Stakesat Belmont Park (2023)[14]
- Zenyatta Stakesat Santa Anita Park (2019)[10]
TheDonn Handicapwas discontinued after its 2016 edition; its Grade I status was transferred to thePegasus World Cup,which held its first edition in 2017
The following races have been upgraded to Grade I status since 2010:
- Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf(2012)[17]
- Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf(2011)[18]
- Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint(2022)[16]
- Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint(2012)[17]
- Churchill Downs Stakes(2019)[10]
- Cotillion StakesatParx Racing(2012)[17][13]
- Delaware HandicapatDelaware Park(2013)[20]The race was downgraded to a Grade 2 again in 2018.
- Fourstardave Handicapat Saratoga (2016)[15]
- Franklin-Simpson StakesatKentucky Downs(2024)[12]
- Jaipur Invitational Stakesat Belmont Park (2019)[10]
- Jenny Wiley Stakesat Keeneland (2012)[17]
- La Troienne Stakesat Churchill Downs (2014)[19]
- New York Stakesat Belmont Park (2022)[16]
- Saratoga Derby Invitational Stakesat Saratoga (2021)[21]
- Pennsylvania Derbyat Parx Racing (2017)[11]
- Woody Stephens Stakesat Belmont Park (2019)[10]
- Blue Grass Stakesat Keeneland (2019)[22]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^abcde"Graded Stakes".toba.org.Retrieved7 January2024.
- ^"Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association Graded Stakes History".TOBA.Retrieved13 August2024.
- ^"Equibase Company LLC".equibase.Retrieved13 August2024.
- ^"Saratoga - Stakes Schedule Summer 2024".NYRA.Retrieved19 July2024.
- ^Mitchell, Eric (2016-08-03)."Part 1: Evolution of Black Type".bloodhorse.Retrieved2024-01-07.
- ^"Graded Stakes Tied to Adoption of Rules".bloodhorse.Retrieved13 August2016.
- ^"Committee Calls for Ban on Certain Toe Grabs".bloodhorse.Retrieved14 August2016.
- ^"Phase-Out of Lasix in Graded Stakes Discussed".bloodhorse.Retrieved25 June2016.
- ^"Pegasus World Cup to Carry Grade I Status".bloodhorse.The Blood-Horse. July 22, 2016.RetrievedAugust 26,2016.
- ^abcdefghi"Graded and Listed Races for 2019 Released".BloodHorse.Retrieved1 December2018.
- ^abcd"Blue Grass, Wood Memorial Downgraded".BloodHorse.Retrieved2 December2016.
- ^abcdefRelease, Press (2023-12-16)."TOBA Announces U.S. Graded, Listed Stakes For 2024; Five Races Lose Grade 1 Status".Paulick Report | Shining Light on the Horse Industry.Retrieved2024-01-07.
- ^abcde"Delaware Handicap, Hopeful Now Grade I".bloodhorse.Retrieved25 June2016.
- ^abcdeRelease, Press (2022-12-16)."Five Grade 1 Races Downgraded For 2023; Stephen Foster Renews Grade 1 Status".Paulick Report | Shining Light on the Horse Industry.Retrieved2024-01-07.
- ^abc"TOBA Announces U.S. Graded and Listed Stakes".bloodhorse.Retrieved25 June2016.
- ^abcdRelease, Press (2022-01-28)."Blue Grass Stakes Resumes Grade 1 Status; Secretariat, Flower Bowl Downgraded For 2022".Paulick Report | Shining Light on the Horse Industry.Retrieved2024-01-07.
- ^abcdefg"Four New Grade I Stakes for 2012".bloodhorse.Retrieved25 June2016.
- ^ab"2011 Graded Stakes: 13 Fewer Than '10".bloodhorse.Retrieved25 June2016.
- ^abc"Eight Stakes Elevated in Status for 2014".bloodhorse.Retrieved25 June2016.
- ^"AGSC Announces U.S. Graded and Listed Stakes for 2018".BloodHorse.Retrieved11 April2018.
- ^TOBA (2020-12-18)."TOBA Announces U.S. Graded and Listed Stakes for 2021".Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association.Retrieved2024-01-07.
- ^"Blue Grass Stakes Resumes Grade 1 Status; Secretariat, Flower Bowl Downgraded For 2022".paulickreport.28 January 2022.Retrieved10 May2022.