AS long as the criteria remains "graded stakes earnings" it really means nothing what grade they are as long as they're graded. All that matters with this announcement is the Southwest is now graded which pays dividends to the Oaklawn horses. For horses and trainers trying to get into the Ky Derby it is meaningless...the grade of the Ark Derby. I guess for breeding purposes if the Ark Derby becomes the only big race said horse wins it matters as he will not have his grade 1. That is the only "disadvantage" to the Ark Derby being a grade 1?? For me this actually makes the Ark Derby better keeping it a grade 2. But the fact the best horses in Arkansas the last 4 years were Curlin, Lawyer Ron, Afleet Alex and Smarty Jones tells me all I need to know. Regardless of what the races are graded, Oaklawn gets high quality horses pretty consistently on the Derby trail.

so why is it, if some of the best the last few years ran there, that there is still resistence to the ark getting gr 1? why should scat daddy (for example) be proclaimed as this huge gr 1 winner, but curlin can trumpet one less gr 1 win?
what criteria is used to determine that the 1 million dollar fla derby is a 1, but the ark (and only other prep to offer that size purse) is a 2? they said after smarty jones that they wouldn't move after just one year. afleet alex, curlin, lawyer ron, and two years later...and no change. except to the southwest-whoopie.

Why does anyone care about this?

I just guessing here because I certainly know nothing about how graded stakes committees operate, but I wonder if it might be that usually only a single quality contender emerges from the Arkansas Derby whereas other venues often have 2 and 3 or more to emerge from their preps . I think the Arkansas Derby is not viewed as a contentious race, but one that is often dominated by a single good horse. All that of course, doesn't take into account how good that single horse might be, but I guess nobody knows that until the triple crown races are actually run. I know there were plenty of doubters on this board this year about Curlin's abilities. I was a little skeptical about him myself.

Probably nobody does, but me and Danzig. We both live in Arkansas.

Graded races only matter when it comes to the horses stud value. Graded races for three years old prior to the Ky Derby is only for Graded earnings only. Who cares if those earnings come in a Grade I, II or III. However, I disagree with not having any Grade I races prior to the TC races. We should have Grade I races for horses who sprint or go on the turf. Why should Grade I races be only for horses who have plans on going in the Derby prior to the Derby.

I think we have way too many Graded races, but a different approach on when these graded races are contested could really enhance the racing year.

OMG!

Instead of a childike reply like "OMG." Why don't you post why you think my idea is not good. Maybe I will agree with you, maybe you will come up with something that I haven't thought of. If this is a bad idea then tell me so I can be more educated on the process. Don't just post a senseless "OMG."

Your post makes no sense Dude.

Ok, what about it doesnt make any sense?