Five New Grade I Races in 2007; Two Others Drop to Grade II

Originally Posted by SniperSB23

A stakes is ineligible for graded status if it is restricted to state breds.

Yeah you are right. I have no idea what I was thinking. I totally lost it there for a moment.

I always think that the Excelsior is a State Bred only race. My apologies.

Originally Posted by eurobounce

I always think that the Excelsior is a State Bred only race. My apologies.

Its pretty common knowledge that races with any restrictions can not be graded. Not just state bred races, but races like stakes that are written for horses who have never won a stakes race.

Originally Posted by oracle80

Its pretty common knowledge that races with any restrictions can not be graded. Not just state bred races, but races like stakes that are written for horses who have never won a stakes race.

Gotcha...thanks for the explanation.

[slotdirt]

Last year's Arkansas Derby has turned out quite a few good runners. Aside from Flower Alley and Afleet Alex, you have quite a few other nice horses including Rush Bay and Wild Desert.

[blackthroatedwind]

I can understand the argument that preps shouldn't be Grade 1s, and all these races are preps for the TC, but it doesn't make sense for other preps to be Grade 1s and the Arkansas Derby to be left out. I am guessing there was a dearth of good horses in that race for years and only recently has it had a resurgence and perhaps if it is strong again this year they will change it.

Personally I couldn't care less....though if a turf sprint ever becomes a Grade 1 I give up. Grade 1s are at least supposed to be for good horses.

[slotdirt]

Concern won the Arkansas Derby in like 1994.

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

I can understand the argument that preps shouldn't be Grade 1s, and all these races are preps for the TC, but it doesn't make sense for other preps to be Grade 1s and the Arkansas Derby to be left out. I am guessing there was a dearth of good horses in that race for years and only recently has it had a resurgence and perhaps if it is strong again this year they will change it.

Personally I couldn't care less....though if a turf sprint ever becomes a Grade 1 I give up. Grade 1s are at least supposed to be for good horses.

Well why leave out that type of race if you are going to include all the others. Personally, I think there are way too many Grade I races. 107 Grade Races it just way too many. I like your idea of Preps not being a Grade I. However, how would you know that every runner in the so called prep is acutally prepping for another race--does that make sense?

Currently there are 28 Grade I races for straight three year olds. I think this is way too many. I feel that there should be 3 Grade I races for males routing on dirt, 3 Grade I races for females routing on dirt, 2 each for males and females sprinting on dirt, 3 each for female and male turf routers. So a total of 16 Grade I races for three year olds.

[slotdirt]

It's funny to see the exact same horses just running around the country in turf sprints. It's like the WWE circuit or something.