(Files provided by The Jockey Club of Canada.) March 6 – The Jockey Club of Canada’s Graded Stakes Committee held its annual review of the Graded Stakes in Canada, and has announced there will be a total of 43 Graded Stakes in 2013, up from 42 in 2012. Woodbine Racetrack in Ontario will once again host Canada’s five Grade 1 events in 2013. Three Grade 3 races at Woodbine have received an upgrade to Grade 2 status for 2013. Three and up sprints, the Kennedy Road and the Bessarabian Stakes for fillies and mares, as well as the Eclipse Stakes, a distance race for older horses, have each earned an upgrade for 2013. The Hendrie Stakes for fillies and mares three and up, which was upgraded to G2 status in 2012 has been downgraded back to a G3 race for 2013. The Maple Leaf Stakes for fillies and mares three and up has once again been elevated to Grade 3 status in 2013 after being downgraded to Listed status in 2007. The Jockey Club of Canada Graded Stakes Committee evaluates and reviews the Graded Stakes in Canada annually and determines whether races should be upgraded, downgraded or remain the same. The Committee base their decisions on the cumulative NARC ratings for the previous years along with the new Race Quality Score (RQS) figures introduced this year by the North American International Catalogue Standards Committee (NAICSC). Graded Stakes in Canada must carry the following minimum purses: $250,000 for Grade 1; $150,000 for Grade 2 and $100,000 for Grade 3. Beginning this year, the Graded Stakes Committee was also responsible for evaluating all Listed Stakes in Canada using the same evaluation process used for the Graded Stakes. Beginning January 1, 2014 NAICSC will implement an additional quality control requirement for races in North America eligible for non-Listed black-type in SITA catalogues (those compliant with guidelines required by the Society of International Thoroughbred Auctioneers). Non-Listed black-type races include open stakes races with a purse between $50,000 and $74,999 and all stakes races with a purse of $50,000 or more that have a restriction allowed by NAICSC (e.g., state bred, stallions’ progeny, sales graduates or non-winners of a sweepstakes). Non-Listed black-type races that receive an RQS below the minimum requirements will automatically lose their black-type status without evaluation. The Jockey Club of Canada Graded Stakes Committee will be responsible for communicating with host racetracks of any black-type races that do not meet the minimum RQS. The Committee will also be responsible for communicating a warning to host tracks of the possible automatic loss of black-type status for stakes that are close to the minimum RQS. Graded Stakes for 2013 in Canada: G1 Canadian International (Pattison) 12T WO 3up Woodbine Mile (Ricoh) 8T WO 3up Northern Dancer Turf 12T WO 3up Nearctic Stakes 6T WO 3up E.P. Taylor Stakes 10T WO 3up f/m G2 Summer Stakes 8T WO 2yo Natalma Stakes 8T WO 2yof Sky Classic Stakes 11T WO 3up Nijinsky Stakes 12T WO 3up Play The King Stakes 7T WO 3up King Edward Stakes 9T WO 3up Highlander Stakes 6T WO 3up Autumn Stakes 8.5 WO 3up Kennedy Road Stakes 6 WO 3up Bessarabian Stakes 7 WO 3up f/m Nassau Stakes 8.5T WO 3up f/m Dance Smartly Stakes 9T WO 3up f/m Canadian Stakes 9T WO 3up f/m Connaught Cup Stakes 7T WO 4up Eclipse Stakes 8.5 WO 3up G3 Grey Stakes 8.5 WO 2yo Mazarine Stakes 8.5 WO 2yof BC Premier’s H. 11 Hst 3up Bold Venture Stakes 6.5 WO 3up Seagram Cup Stakes 8.5 WO 3up Dominion Day H. 10 WO 3up Singspiel Stakes 12T WO 3up Durham Cup Stakes 9 WO 3up Valedictory Stakes 14 WO 3up Vigil Stakes 7 WO 3up Ballerina Stakes 9 Hst 3up f/m Maple Leaf Stakes 10 WO 3up f/m Ontario Fashion Stakes 6 WO 3up f/m Seaway Stakes 7 WO 3up f/m Royal North Stakes 6T WO 3up f/m Ontario Matron Stakes 8.5 WO 3up f/m Whimsical Stakes 6 WO 3up f/m Hendrie Stakes 6.5 WO 4up f/m Ontario Derby 9 WO 3yo British Columbia Derby 9 Hst 3yo Canadian Derby 11 NP 3yo Selene Stakes 8.5 WO 3yof Ontario Colleen Stakes 8T WO 3yof The Jockey Club of Canada was founded in 1973 by E.P. Taylor to serve as the international representative of the Canadian thoroughbred industry and to promote improvements to thoroughbred racing and breeding, both in Canada and internationally. The Jockey Club of Canada also operates as a field office of The Jockey Club (New York), organizes the Sovereign Awards, administers the Canadian Graded Stakes program, liaises with foreign Jockey Clubs, promotes thoroughbred ownership, and represents Canada at international racing conferences. Share This:Share
