Can Somebody Please Explain The Stakes Grading System...

[Holland Hacker]

Originally Posted by docicu3

I have tried to research this myself with numerous sites and history books but fail to see a consistency to the pattern of what makes a Grade 1 race different from a Grade 2 race etc....

I think I get the points idea for the Derby but what determines how much a given stakes race is worth and what category is goes in.

Maybe I just don't have the right reference material.....

The Bloodhorse includes a quarterly supplement that list of all stakes races to be run, including graded races during each quarter. I think in the beginning of the supplemnt there is a rather long explanation of how the races are graded by the committee.

I beleive they look at the "quality" of the fields that have run in the race for the last few years based on what the accomplishments of the field was dicitates how the races are graded. Typically a race will only move up or down one grade from year to year.

I think in order to maintain it's status as a graded race, a race can not have a hiatus of more than one year.

Also I beleive that as a requirement to be graded a race can not have any restrictions other than sex or age. For example state bred races do not qualify.

I'll look for the quarterly supplement and if I find it I'll scan it and PM it to you.

Did you check the Bloodhorse website?