The Jockey Club of Canada’s Canadian Graded Stakes Committee held their
annual review of the graded stakes in Canada and has announced that there will
be a total of 37 graded stakes in 2011, up from 35 in 2010.
The five Grade 1 races for 2010 — the Canadian International, Woodbine Mile,
E.P. Taylor, Northern Dancer Turf and Nearctic — are unchanged in status for
their 2011 renewals.
Previously a Grade 3 race, the Connaught Cup Turf S. for four-year-olds and
up has been upgraded to a Grade 2 race for 2011, increasing the total number of
Grade 2 races to 10 in 2011.
Four listed races at Woodbine received an upgrade to Grade 3 status, bumping
the number of Grade 3s to 22 in 2011. The new Grade 3 races include the popular
end-of-season distance race, the Valedictory S., as well as three filly and mare
races: the Ontario Matron, the Ontario Fashion and the Bessarabian S.
Two Grade 3 stakes in 2010 have lost their graded status for 2011: the
Mazarine S. for two-year-old fillies at Woodbine and the British Columbia
Premiers S. for older horses at Hastings Park.
The Canadian Graded Stakes Committee evaluates and reviews the graded stakes
annually and determines whether races should be upgraded, downgraded or remain
the same based on a number of criteria including the performance of the races
based on the NARC and BRIS ratings for the previous years. Also, to be eligible
for consideration of graded status in Canada, races must carry the following
minimum purses: $250,000 for Grade 1; $150,000 for Grade 2 and $100,000 for
Grade 3.