Arkansas Derby Grade???

[Danzig]

i'd rather see the ark derby upgraded, than to see some races with real historical value be downgraded. the bluegrass stakes may have lost a step, BUT, the grading has to do with more than having a contribution to the tc races. it's all other racing all year. and of course, many horses who didn't do so well, or placed in the classics, go on to win meaningful races later on..bluegrass cat for example, finished fourth in the bluegrass stakes, who placed in the derby and preakness, and then had further success in the fall, winning the haskell and then placing to bernardini in the travers stakes before retiring....strong contender also ran in that race, later returning to beat lawyer ron in the super derby.

i do think that there are too many graded races...i can see an argument being made that many gr 1's should be a 2, and only those true top races keep the top status. regardless, the ark derby should be on a level with the fla derby, the wood memorial, etc.