Two Graded Stakes Races in Canada Downgraded for 2024
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Photo: Michael Burns
Loyalty wins the 2023 Bessarabian Stakes at Woodbine
The Jockey Club of Canada's Graded Stakes Committee elected to downgrade two graded stakes races after holding its annual review of its graded and listed stakes races in the country. The number of graded stakes will remain at 42.
The Graded Stakes Committee meeting was conducted by its new chair, Bernard McCormack, who was accompanied by the appointed committee members David Anderson, Doug Anderson, Jim Bannon, Catherine Day Phillips, Ross McKague, and The Jockey Club of Canada's chief steward, R. Glenn Sikura. Jeffrey Begg could not attend but provided comments before the meeting. Attending racetrack representatives included Allen Goodsell and Teagan Goodsell from Alberta, Scott Henson from British Columbia, Ross McKague representing Manitoba, and Julia Bell, Tim Lawson, and Scott Lane from Ontario.
The committee reviewed the North American Race Committee figures and the Race Quality Scores for all graded, listed, and potentially listed races in Canada.
After reviewing the NARC figures and the RQS numbers for all listed and black-type races in Canada, the committee determined that the Bessarabian Stakes and the Royal North Stakes—both of which were run as grade 2s in 2023 at Woodbine—will both be downgraded to grade 3s. Additionally, the Century Mile Handicap, Hamilton Stakes, and Speed to Spare Championship will be upgraded to listed status.
Listed races are deemed below the quality of graded races but superior to non-listed black-type races.