Graded stakes race
A graded stakes race is any thoroughbred horse race in the United States or Canada that derives its name from the stake, or entry fee, owners must pay. The term has been applied since 1973 by the American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association. These fees, to which the track adds an additional amount, constitute the total amount from which prize money is paid to the first, second, third, and usually fourth-place finishers.
Levels
There are three different levels of stakes races, the top ranking, and therefore purse, being a Grade I Stakes. They are higher-class races for bigger prizes and often involve competitors that belong to the same gender, age and class. These races may, though, be "weight-for-age", with weights adjusted only according to age, and also there are 'set weights' where all horses carry the same weight. Furthermore, there are "conditions" races, in which horses carry weights that are set by conditions, such as having won a certain number of races, or races of a certain value. Finally, some graded stakes are "handicaps", in which an official handicapper assigns weights to each horse in an attempt to equalize the competition.
Criteria
The American Graded Stakes Committee uses as some of its criteria for the grading:
- Purse Requirement: That the race has a purse of more than $75,000.
- Longevity: That the race has been run for two years under the same conditions.
- Drug Testing: That post race drug testing is managed by a governmental authority.
- Restrictions: That the race may be restricted only in age and gender.
- Anabolic Steroid Testing : Only Boldenone, Nandrolone, Stanozolol, and Testosterone are allowed to be used.
- Toe Grabs: Cannot be more than two millimeters long.
In the United States and Canada, a graded race can be dormant for one year without losing its grade.
As long as the race meets these requirements, the Committee grades on the overall quality of the previous fields and the performance of horses in the previous fields in stakes both prior to and after the race. For example: if the winner of the Breeders' Cup Classic raced in the Santa Anita Handicap then the race would almost certainly be a Grade One.
Graded stakes races are referred to as Group races in horse-racing in Europe.
U.S. graded stakes races
Grade I (2012)
| Race | Track | Furlong | Track | Age | Sex | Purse |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acorn Stakes | Belmont Park | 8 | Dirt | 3 | F | $250,000 |
| Alabama Stakes | Saratoga | 10 | Dirt | 3 | F | $600,000 |
| Alcibiades Stakes | Keeneland | 8.5 | Dirt/Polytrack | 2 | F | $500,000 |
| Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap | Saratoga | 6 | Dirt | 3+ | F/M | $250,000 |
| American Oaks Invitational Stakes | Hollywood Park | 10 | Turf | 3+ | F | $750,000 |
| Ancient Title Breeders' Cup Stakes | Oak Tree at Santa Anita | 6 | Dirt/Pro-Ride | 3+ | F/M | $300,000 |
| Apple Blossom Handicap | Oaklawn Park | 8.5 | Dirt | 4+ | F | $500,000 |
| Arkansas Derby | Oaklawn Park | 9 | Dirt | 3 | F/M | $1,000,000 |
| Arlington Million Stakes | Arlington Park | 10 | Turf | 3+ | F/M | $1,000,000 |
| Ashland Stakes | Keeneland | 8.5 | Dirt/Polytrack | 3 | F | $400,000 |
| Ballerina Stakes | Saratoga | 7 | Dirt | 3+ | F/M | $250,000 |
| Beldame Stakes | Belmont Park | 9 | Dirt | 3+ | F/M | $600,000 |
| Belmont Stakes | Belmont Park | 12 | Dirt | 3 | F/M | $1,500,000 |
| Beverly D. Stakes | Arlington Park | 9.5 | Turf | 3+ | F/M | $750,000 |
| Bing Crosby Handicap | Del Mar | 6 | Dirt/Polytrack | 3+ | F/M | $300,000 |
| Blue Grass Stakes | Keeneland | 9 | Dirt/Polytrack | 3 | F/M | $750,000 |
| Breeders' Cup Classic | (Rotates location) | 10 | Dirt | 3+ | F/M | $5,000,000 |
| Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile | (Rotates location) | 8 | Dirt | 3+ | F/M | $1,000,000 |
| Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint | (Rotates location) | 7 | Dirt | 3+ | F | $1,000,000 |
| Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf | (Rotates location) | 11 | Turf | 3+ | F | $2,000,000 |
| Breeders' Cup Juvenile | (Rotates location) | 8.5 | Dirt | 2 | M | $2,000,000 |
| Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies | (Rotates location) | 8.5 | Dirt | 2 | F | $2,000,000 |
| Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic | (Rotates location) | 9 | Dirt | 3+ | F | $2,000,000 |
| Breeders' Cup Mile | (Rotates location) | 8 | Turf | 3+ | F/M | $2,000,000 |
| Breeders' Cup Sprint | (Rotates location) | 6 | Dirt | 3+ | F/M | $2,000,000 |
| Breeders' Cup Turf | (Rotates location) | 12 | Turf | 3+ | F/M | $3,000,000 |
| Breeders' Futurity Stakes | Keeneland | 8.5 | Dirt/Polytrack | 2 | F/M | $500,000 |
| Carter Handicap | Aqueduct | 7 | Dirt | 3+ | F/M | $300,000 |
| Champagne Stakes | Belmont Park | 8 | Dirt | 2 | F/M | $400,000 |
| Charles Whittingham Memorial Handicap | Hollywood Park | 10 | Turf | 3+ | F/M | $350,000 |
| Cigar Mile Handicap | Aqueduct | 8 | Dirt | 3+ | F/M | $300,000 |
| Clark Handicap | Churchill Downs | 9 | Dirt | 3+ | F/M | $400,000 |
| Clement L. Hirsch Memorial Turf Championship Stakes | Oak Tree at Santa Anita | 10 | Turf | 3+ | F/M | $250,000 |
| Coaching Club American Oaks | Saratoga | 10 | Dirt | 3 | F | $300,000 |
| Del Mar Debutante Stakes | Del Mar | 7 | Dirt/Polytrack | 2 | F | $300,000 |
| Del Mar Futurity | Del Mar | 7 | Dirt/Polytrack | 2 | F/M | $300,000 |
| Del Mar Oaks | Del Mar | 9 | Dirt/Polytrack | 3 | F | $400,000 |
| Diana Handicap | Saratoga | 9 | Turf | 3+ | F/M | $500,000 |
| Donn Handicap | Gulfstream Park | 9 | Dirt | 4+ | F/M | $500,000 |
| Eddie Read Handicap | Del Mar | 9 | Turf | 3+ | F/M | $400,000 |
| First Lady Stakes | Keeneland | 8 | Turf | 3+ | F/M | $400,000 |
| Florida Derby | Gulfstream Park | 9 | Dirt | 3 | F/M | $1,000,000 |
| Flower Bowl Invitational Stakes | Belmont Park | 10 | Turf | 3+ | F/M | $600,000 |
| Forego Stakes | Saratoga | 7 | Dirt | 3+ | F/M | $250,000 |
| Frank E. Kilroe Mile Handicap | Santa Anita Park | 8 | Turf | 4+ | F/M | $300,000 |
| Frizette Stakes | Belmont Park | 8 | Dirt | 2 | F | $400,000 |
| Gamely Stakes | Hollywood Park | 9 | Turf | 3+ | F/M | $250,000 |
| Garden City Stakes | Belmont Park | 9 | Turf | 3 | F | $250,000 |
| Gazelle Stakes | Belmont Park | 9 | Dirt | 3 | F | $250,000 |
| Goodwood Handicap | Oak Tree at Santa Anita | 9 | Dirt | 3+ | F/M | $500,000 |
| Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap | Gulfstream Park | 11 | Turf | 4+ | F/M | $300,000 |
| Haskell Invitational Handicap | Monmouth | 9 | Dirt | 3 | F/M | $1,000,000 |
| Hollywood Derby | Hollywood Park | 10 | Turf | 3 | F/M | $500,000 |
| Hollywood Futurity | Hollywood Park | 8.5 | Dirt/Cushion Track | 2 | F/M | $750,000 |
| Hollywood Gold Cup Stakes | Hollywood Park | 10 | Dirt/Cushion Track | 3+ | F/M | $750,000 |
| Hollywood Starlet Stakes | Hollywood Park | 8.5 | Dirt/Cushion Track | 2 | F | $300,000 |
| Hollywood Turf Cup Stakes | Hollywood Park | 12 | Turf | 3+ | F/M | $250,000 |
| Hopeful Stakes | Saratoga | 7 | Dirt | 2 | F/M | $300,000 |
| Humana Distaff Handicap | Churchill Downs | 7 | Dirt | 4+ | F/M | $300,000 |
| Jamaica Handicap | Belmont Park | 9 | Turf | 3+ | F/M | $300,000 |
| Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes | Belmont Park | 10 | Dirt | 3+ | F/M | $1,000,000 |
| Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational Stakes | Belmont Park | 12 | Turf | 3+ | F/M | $600,000 |
| Just A Game Handicap | Belmont Park | 8 | Turf | 3+ | F/M | $500,000 |
| Kentucky Derby | Churchill Downs | 10 | Dirt | 3 | F/M | $2,000,000 |
| Kentucky Oaks | Churchill Downs | 9 | Dirt | 3 | F | $500,000 |
| King's Bishop Stakes | Saratoga | 7 | Dirt | 3 | F/M | $250,000 |
| La Brea Stakes | Santa Anita Park | 7 | Dirt/Pro-Ride | 3 | F | $250,000 |
| Las Virgenes Stakes | Santa Anita Park | 8 | Dirt/Pro-Ride | 3 | F | $250,000 |
| Maker's Mark Mile Stakes | Keeneland | 8 | Turf | 4+ | F/M | $250,000 |
| Malibu Stakes | Santa Anita Park | 7 | Dirt/Pro-Ride | 3 | F/M | $250,000 |
| Man o' War Stakes | Belmont Park | 11 | Turf | 3+ | F/M | $500,000 |
| Manhattan Handicap | Belmont Park | 10 | Turf | 3+ | F/M | $400,000 |
| Matriarch Stakes | Hollywood Park | 8 | Turf | 3+ | F/M | $500,000 |
| Metropolitan Handicap | Belmont Park | 8 | Dirt | 3+ | F/M | $600,000 |
| Mother Goose Stakes | Belmont Park | 9 | Dirt | 3 | F | $250,000 |
| Norfolk Stakes | Oak Tree at Santa Anita | 8.5 | Dirt/Pro-Ride | 2 | F/M | $300,000 |
| Oak Leaf Stakes | Oak Tree at Santa Anita | 8.5 | Dirt/Pro-Ride | 2 | F | $300,000 |
| Ogden Phipps Handicap | Belmont Park | 8.5 | Dirt | 3+ | F/M | $300,000 |
| Pacific Classic Stakes | Del Mar | 10 | Dirt/Polytrack | 3+ | F/M | $1,000,000 |
| Pat O'Brien Handicap | Del Mar | 7 | Dirt/Polytrack | 3+ | F/M | $300,000 |
| Personal Ensign Stakes | Saratoga | 10 | Dirt | 3+ | F/M | $400,000 |
| Pimlico Special | Pimlico | 9.5 | Dirt | 3+ | F/M | $250,000 |
| Preakness Stakes | Pimlico | 9.5 | Dirt | 3 | F/M | $1,500,000 |
| Princess Rooney Handicap | Calder | 6 | Dirt | 3+ | F/M | $500,000 |
| Prioress Stakes | Belmont Park | 6 | Dirt | 3 | F | $250,000 |
| Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes | Keeneland | 9 | Turf | 3 | F | $500,000 |
| Ruffian Handicap | Belmont Park | 8.5 | Dirt | 3+ | F/M | $350,000 |
| Santa Anita Derby | Santa Anita Park | 9 | Dirt/Pro-Ride | 3 | F/M | $750,000 |
| Santa Anita Handicap | Santa Anita Park | 10 | Dirt/Pro-Ride | 4+ | F/M | $1,000,000 |
| Santa Anita Oaks | Santa Anita Park | 8.5 | Dirt/Pro-Ride | 3 | F | $300,000 |
| Santa Margarita Invitational Handicap | Santa Anita Park | 9 | Dirt/Pro-Ride | 4+ | F/M | $300,000 |
| Santa Monica Handicap | Santa Anita Park | 7 | Dirt/Pro-Ride | 4+ | F | $250,000 |
| Secretariat Stakes | Arlington Park | 10 | Turf | 3 | F/M | $400,000 |
| Shadwell Turf Mile Stakes | Keeneland | 8 | Turf | 3+ | F/M | $600,000 |
| Shoemaker Mile Stakes | Hollywood Park | 8 | Turf | 3+ | F/M | $300,000 |
| Spinaway Stakes | Saratoga | 7 | Dirt | 2 | F | $250,000 |
| Spinster Stakes | Keeneland | 9 | Dirt/Polytrack | 3+ | F/M | $500,000 |
| Stephen Foster Handicap | Churchill Downs | 9 | Dirt | 3+ | F/M | $600,000 |
| Sword Dancer Invitational Stakes | Saratoga | 12 | Turf | 3+ | F/M | $500,000 |
| Test Stakes | Saratoga | 7 | Dirt | 3 | F | $250,000 |
| Travers Stakes | Saratoga | 10 | Dirt | 3 | F/M | $1,000,000 |
| Triple Bend Invitational Handicap | Hollywood Park | 7 | Dirt/Cushion Track | 3+ | F/M | $300,000 |
| Turf Classic Stakes | Churchill Downs | 9 | Turf | 3+ | F/M | $500,000 |
| United Nations Stakes | Monmouth | 11 | Turf | 3+ | F/M | $750,000 |
| Vanity Invitational Handicap | Hollywood Park | 9 | Dirt/Cushion Track | 3+ | F/M | $300,000 |
| Vinery Madison Stakes | Keeneland | 7 | Dirt/Polytrack | 4+ | F | $200,000 |
| Vosburgh Stakes | Belmont Park | 6 | Dirt | 3+ | F/M | $400,000 |
| Whitney Handicap | Saratoga | 9 | Dirt | 3+ | F/M | $1,500,000 |
| Wood Memorial Stakes | Aqueduct | 9 | Dirt | 3 | F/M | $750,000 |
| Woodward Stakes | Saratoga | 9 | Dirt | 4+ | F/M | $500,000 |
| Yellow Ribbon Stakes | Oak Tree at Santa Anita | 10 | Turf | 3+ | F/M | $400,000 |