Graded Stakes and Polytrack

[blackthroatedwind]

Look, I hear what your saying, and won't argue that these polytrack Grade 1 races are not likely to be won by true Grade 1 dirt horses, whatever the hell those are anymore, but the major reason for grading of races is field quality so as long as the fields are still strong the gradings will most likely remain.

I also agree with the argument that Keeneland Grade 1s on the dirt have produced MANY past winners unqualified to be Grade 1 winners due to the absurd bias.

I just think they should paint polytrack green.

[Danzig]

interesting thread.
after all, turf races that are moved to dirt lose their graded status, yet the field comprises the same horses that entered for the original graded race--unless of course they are MTO.

[repent]

Originally Posted by Danzig188

interesting thread.
after all, turf races that are moved to dirt lose their graded status, yet the field comprises the same horses that entered for the original graded race--unless of course they are MTO.

yeah,
good point.
they move one grade down right?
G1 to G2(rarely happens)
G2 to G3
G3 to ungraded


Repent

[King Glorious]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

Look, I hear what your saying, and won't argue that these polytrack Grade 1 races are not likely to be won by true Grade 1 dirt horses, whatever the hell those are anymore, but the major reason for grading of races is field quality so as long as the fields are still strong the gradings will most likely remain.

I also agree with the argument that Keeneland Grade 1s on the dirt have produced MANY past winners unqualified to be Grade 1 winners due to the absurd bias.

I just think they should paint polytrack green.

Question. If field quality is the major reason for the grading of races, how can they justify grading races on Polytrack when nobody knows the quality of the horses running over the stuff? For instance, we know that if we get Cacique, English Channel, The Tin Man, Hurricane Run, Shirocco, Relaxed Gesture, etc, it's a top quality race on the grass. Do we know the same thing if it's on the dirt? If we get Hawk Wing, Oratorio, Galileo, Starcraft, and Rodrigo de Triano in a dirt race, should that still be considered a top quality race even though they've shown that the couldn't handle it? Danzig asked the best question here. If they downgrade turf races when they are switched to the dirt because of the question about the quality of the race due to the horse's not having shown their quality on a different surface, why not the same for Polytrack?

[SniperSB23]

I am more worried that we wind up seeing turf horses in the Derby. There are very few opportunities for 3yo turf horses before the Triple Crown which will make races like the Lane's End and the Blue Grass a lot more enticing for them. If turf horses go to those races and do well their connections might actually be stupid enough to suddenly think the horse belongs in the Derby (similar to them putting Asi Siempre in the Distaff). I guess there are 8-10 horses in the Derby that don't belong as it is so it probably won't be too much different.

[disrespectnfool]

then maybe they should downgrade the JCGC to an alw.