2009 Graded Stakes

[Travis Stone]

Horse racing is probably the only sport which rates their events before the participants are known or the event is held.

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by Travis Stone

Horse racing is probably the only sport which rates their events before the participants are known or the event is held.

You're kidding....right?

Every professional sport does the same thing.

[Travis Stone]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

You're kidding....right?

Every professional sport does the same thing.

My point is that we call this race a top race, and that race a mediocre race, before we even know who is running. Aside from the marketing usage, I don't understand what value it adds? And on the flip-side, would it be so bad to have a number assigned down the road where breeders could use it more accurately?

[SniperSB23]

Originally Posted by Travis Stone

My point is that we call this race a top race, and that race a mediocre race, before we even know who is running. Aside from the marketing usage, I don't understand what value it adds? And on the flip-side, would it be so bad to have a number assigned down the road where breeders could use it more accurately?

Yes, it would. Then you'd have the connections of Curlin announce he was going to one race and everyone ducking him for another. The other race gets assigned a G1 cause of a deep field and Curlin's race becomes a G3 because it turns into a walkover. By assigning the Grade ahead of time those people can choose to duck Curlin in the G1 but may have to run in a G2 or G3 to do so.

[blackthroatedwind]

Breeder's are looking for accuracy? Who knew.

There are two groups....people who look at things accurately ( bettors ) and people who....well you know.

[Travis Stone]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

There are two groups....people who look at things accurately ( bettors )

Some bettors... hopefully not the majority though.

[blackthroatedwind]

Right. I mean, it's not like I was including Fischer.