2011 Graded Stakes: All Hail the BC
 

he American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association Dec. 2 released its listing of United States Graded Stakes for 2011, the results of its annual grading session conducted Dec. 1 in Lexington.

The committee reviewed 689 unrestricted U.S. stakes races with a purse of at least $75,000, and assigned graded status to 474 of them, 13 less than were graded in 2010. A total of five graded races were upgraded, including one new grade I race and four new grade II races. Five new grade III races were also identified, and eight races which carried graded status in 2010 are no longer eligible for grading.

GRADED STAKES CHANGES FOR 2011

Upgrades

Grade 2 to Grade 1
Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (T) - Churchill Downs*

Grade 3 to Grade 2
Presque Isle Downs Masters S. (T) - Presque Isle
With Anticipation S. (T) - Saratoga
Tampa Bay Derby - Tampa Bay Downs
Breeders’ Cup Marathon - Churchill Downs*

Ungraded to Grade 3
Jessamine S. - Keeneland
Marshua’s River S. (T) - Gulfstream Park
Charles Town Classic S. - Charles Town
Tampa Bay S. (T) - Tampa Bay Downs
Turf Monster S. (T) - Parx Racing

Downgrades

Grade 1 to Grade 2 (or ungraded)
Clement L. Hirsch Memorial Turf Championship S. (T) - Oak Tree
Pimlico Special** - Pimlico Racecourse

Grade 2 to Grade 3 (or ungraded)
Allaire DuPont Distaff H. - Pimlico
Lane’s End S. - Turfway Park
Lexington S. - Keeneland
Cornhusker H. - Prairie Meadows
San Francisco Mile H. (T) - Golden Gate Fields
Frank J. DeFrancis Memorial Dash** - Laurel Park
Dahlia H. (T)** - Hollywood Park

Grade 3 to ungraded
Florida Oaks - Tampa Bay Downs
Santa Paula S. - Santa Anita Park
Stage Door Betty H. - Calder Race Course
Lone Star Derby - Lone Star Park
Tropical Park Derby (T) - Calder Race Course
Chick Lang S. - Pimlico Racecourse
Memorial Day H. - Calder Race Course
Queens County H. - Aqueduct
Robert F. Carey Memorial H. (T) - Hawthorne Race Course
Kenny Noe Jr. H. - Calder Race Course
Massachusetts H.** - Suffolk Downs
Carleton F. Burke H. (T)** - Oak Tree
Sport Page H.** - Belmont Park
Hollywood Turf Express H. (T)** - Hollywood Park
Hawthorne H.** - Hollywood Park

*Scheduled for Churchill Downs in 2011; TBD for 2012 and beyond
**Ineligible for grading in 2011

Why am I finding it a little sad that both the Pimlico Special and the De Francis Dash are now ungraded?

I know pretty much nothing about Maryland or their tracks so sorry for the stupid question but is the Preakness the only G1 left out that way?

I believe that is correct, though I would have to imagine that both of those races are ungraded because, well, when was the last time they were actually run?

And Charles Town has its first graded race! That is serious stuff.

What possible reason could be given for upgrading the BC Marathon?

it makes as much sense as having the race in the first place.


the sport would be well served by getting rid of a lot of graded races. it would make the top level of the sport far more competitive.

None

Calder really took it in the shorts losing 4 graded races.... On the bright side, I'm thrilled to see the Tampa Bay Derby upgraded to G2...

During a year where Calder shippers did quite well.

The Marathon is a good idea... no, it will never become the next Derby, but having long distance races given some prominence is fine. And while it won't stop the Lookin at Lucky's from retiring at 3, it's at least an effort and an attempt... two things horse racing in general fails to do a lot of the time.

I am just waiting for the Blue Grass to finally be downgraded to a G2. I think I'll keep waiting on that one.

When I first heard about the Marathon - I remember telling someone 'great - a bad Euro will win it everytime it's on synthetic and a bad A. P. Indy will win it everytime it's on dirt'

So far - after 3 editions - two synthetic versions have gone to horrid Euro's and the lone dirt version has gone to a horrible A. P. Indy.

You're the bestest

It may be a good idea (I am not so sure) but there is absolutely no possible way that based on the three runnings to date that they have ever assembled a grade 2 field nor are the prospects any better for any quality starters with this new grading. It is just silly.

Paul

I do think it's a good idea... it's not going to change the world, but it's something.

As for the grading... don't get me started on the grading process. A lot of grades out there don't make a lot of sense...

I have no issue with distance racing. But there is no structure in American racing to support a marathon division. Until tracks are willing to write longer races and let them go with short fields there never will be an semblence of a marathon division.

The majority of tracks have a hard time filling maiden or allowance races longer than 1 1/16th on the dirt. You cant "grow" legit stakes horses without a solid base of races to develop in. Until the tracks are willing to use short fields then you simply wont get much horseman participation because most guys are too unfamilar with training horses to go longer distances and there arent that many American dirt pedigrees that want 1 1/2 and further. What will make them try is short fields. There won't be many of them to start with but unless they start at the lower levels, the marathon will simply continue to be filled with 2nd raters as Drugs said.

How that race was elevated after the three decidely subpar runnings is a mystery.

I am GUESSING that it has to do with minimum purse requirements, not quality of runners

I realize I just think it is ironic

It's amazing that only one (active) Grade I race saw its grade reduced.

Everyone talks about the need for a "Central Office" in racing, but what suggests that the new "Central" leaders are going to be much different from the type of people currently running organizations such as the NTRA or Breeders' Cup or populating committees such as the Graded Stakes committee.

I agree.