Horse Racing - 2024 Graded Stakes Race Results

Graded Stakes Results by Year: 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024

Date Track Race Name GR Purse Age/Sex D/S Horse Jockey Trainer
Jan 1 Santa Anita Las Flores Stakes III $100,000 3&up f/m 6f Dirt CHISMOSA K. Frey R. DeLeon
Jan 6 Santa Anita San Vicente Stakes II $200,000 3yo 7f Dirt MUTH J. Hernandez B. Baffert
Jan 7 Santa Anita Santa Ynez Stakes III $100,000 3yo f 7f Dirt KOPION F. Prat R. Mandella
Jan 14 Santa Anita Las Cienegas Stakes III $100,000 4&up f/m abt 6.5f Turf HONEY PANTS L. Dettori P. D'Amato
Jan 20 Fair Grounds Lecomte Stakes III $200,000 3yo 8.5f Dirt TRACK PHANTOM J. Rosario/td> S. Asmussen
Jan 20 Fair Grounds Louisiana Stakes III $175,000 4&up 8.5f Dirt SAUDI CROWN F. Geroux B. Cox
Jan 20 Santa Anita La Canada Stakes III $100,000 4&up f/m 8.5f Dirt DESERT DAWN F. Prat P. D'Amato
Jan 21 Japan Racing Association American Jockey Club Cup II $1,283,000 4&up 11f Turf CHUCK NATE (JPN) R. King N. Hori
Jan 21 Japan Racing Association Tokai Stakes II $1,135,000 4&up 9f Dirt WILLIAM BAROWS (JPN) R. Sakai H. Uemura
Jan 27 Gulfstream Park Fred W. Hooper III $150,000 4&up 8f Dirt TUMBARUMBA; L. Saez B. Lynch
Jan 27 Gulfstream Park Inside Information Stakes II $200,000 4&up f/m 7f Dirt OLIVIA DARLING I. Ortiz, Jr. J. Delgado
Jan 27 Gulfstream Park La Prevoyante III $150,000 4&up f/m 12f Turf ALPHA BELLA L. Saez T. Pletcher
Jan 27 Gulfstream Park Pegasus Filly & Mare Turf II $500,000 4&up f/m 8.5f Turf DIDIA J. Ortiz I. Correas, IV
Jan 27 Gulfstream Park Pegasus World Cup I $3,000,000 4&up 9f Dirt NATIONAL TREASURE F. Prat B. Baffert
Jan 27 Gulfstream Park Pegasus World Cup Turf I $1,000,000 4&up 9f Turf WARM HEART R. Moore A. O'Brien
Jan 27 Gulfstream Park William L. McKnight Stakes III $200,000 4&up 12f Turf FRANCESCO CLEMENTE I. Ortiz, Jr. C. Brown
Jan 27 Sam Houston Houston Ladies Classic III $300,000 4&up f/m 8.5f Dirt BELLAMORE S. Elliott S. Asmussen
Jan 27 Sam Houston John B. Connally Turf Cup III $200,000 4&up 12f Turf DYNADRIVE R. Gutierrez M. Maker
Jan 27 Santa Anita San Pasqual Stakes II $200,000 4&up 9f Dirt NEWGRANGE V. Espinoza P. D'Amato
Jan 28 Japan Racing Association Negishi Stakes III $823,000 4&up 7f Dirt EMPEROR WAKEA (JPN) Y. Kawada H. Sugiyama
Jan 28 Japan Racing Association Silk Road Stakes III $838,000 4&up 6f Turf LUGAL (JPN) A. Nishimura H. Sugiyama
Feb 2 Oaklawn Park Bayakoa Stakes III $250,000 4&up f/m 8.5f Dirt COMPARATIVE M. Franco B. Cox
Feb 3 Aqueduct Toboggan Stakes III $175,000 4&up 7f Dirt SUPER CHOW M. Olver J. Delgado
Feb 3 Aqueduct Withers Stakes III $250,000 3yo 9f Dirt UNCLE HEAVY M. Sanchez R. Reid, Jr.
Feb 3 Gulfstream Park Forward Gal Stakes III $125,000 3yo f 7f Dirt R HARPER ROSE E. Zayas S. Joseph, Jr.
Feb 3 Gulfstream Park Holy Bull Stakes III $250,000 3yo 8.5f Dirt HADES P. Lopez J. Orseno
Feb 3 Gulfstream Park Kitten's Joy Stakes III $150,000 3yo 8.5f Turf FIRST WORLD WAR T. Gaffalione B. Walsh
Feb 3 Gulfstream Park Sweetest Chant Stakes III $150,000 3yo f 8.5f Turf LIFE'S AN AUDIBLE I. Ortiz, Jr. T. Pletcher
Feb 3 Oaklawn Park Southwest Stakes III $800,000 3yo 8.5f Dirt MYSTIK DAN B. Hernandez, Jr. K. McPeek
Feb 3 Santa Anita Megahertz Stakes III $100,000 4&up f/m 8f Turf BELLABEL F. Prat P. D'Amato
Feb 3 Santa Anita Robert B. Lewis Stakes III $200,000 3yo 8f Dirt NYSOS F. Prat B. Baffert
Feb 3 Santa Anita Santa Monica Stakes II $200,000 4&up f/m 7f Dirt THREE WITCHES F. Prat M. McCarthy
Feb 3 Santa Anita Thunder Road Stakes III $100,000 4&up 8f Turf GOLIAD K. Kimura R. Mandella
Feb 3 Tampa Bay Downs Endeavour Stakes III $175,000 4&up f/m 8.5f Turf WALKATHON A. Gallardo I. Wilkes
Feb 3 Tampa Bay Downs Tampa Bay Stakes III $175,000 4&up 8.5f Turf NEVER EXPLAIN V. Cheminaud C. McGaughey III
Feb 4 Japan Racing Association Kisaragi Sho III $823,000 3yo 9f Turf BYZANTINE DREAM (JPN) R. Piechulek T. Sakaguchi
Feb 4 Japan Racing Association Tokyo Shimbun Hai III $838,000 4&up 8f Turf SAKURA TOUJOURS (JPN) R. King N. Hori
Feb 10 Japan Racing Association Queen Cup III $764,000 3yo f 8f Turf QUEEN'S WALK (JPN) Y. Kawada M. Nakauchida
Feb 10 Santa Anita Las Virgenes Stakes III $100,000 3yo f 8f Dirt KINZA J. Hernandez B. Baffert
Feb 10 Santa Anita Palos Verdes Stakes III $100,000 4&up 6f Dirt BIG CITY LIGHTS F. Prat R. Mandella
Feb 10 Santa Anita San Marcos Stakes III $150,000 4&up 10f Turf MISSED THE CUT J. Rosario J. Sadler
Feb 10 Tampa Bay Downs Sam F. Davis Stakes III $250,000 3yo 8.5f Dirt NO MORE TIME P. Lopez J. D'Angelo
Feb 11 Japan Racing Association Kyodo News Service Hai III $823,000 3yo 9f Turf JUSTIN MILANO (JPN) K. Tosaki Y. Tomomichi
Feb 11 Japan Racing Association Kyoto Kinen II $1,283,000 4&up 11f Turf PRADARIA (JPN) K. Ikezoe M. Ikezoe
Feb 17 Fair Grounds Fair Grounds Stakes III $175,000 4&up 9f Turf BEATBOX J. Rosario C. DeVaux
Feb 17 Fair Grounds Mineshaft Stakes III $250,000 4&up 8.5f Dirt MONEY SUPPLY T. Gaffalione J. Sharp
Feb 17 Fair Grounds Rachel Alexandra Stakes II $300,000 3yo f 8.5f Dirt TARIFA F. Prat B. Cox
Feb 17 Fair Grounds Risen Star Stakes II $400,000 3yo 9f Dirt SIERRA LEONE T. Gaffalione C. Brown
Feb 17 Gulfstream Park Royal Delta Stakes III $150,000 4&up f/m 8.5f Dirt HONOR D LADY J. Ortiz S. Joseph, Jr.
Feb 17 Japan Racing Association Diamond Stakes III $886,000 4&up 17f Turf T O ROYAL (JPN) Y. Hishida I. Okada
Feb 17 Japan Racing Association Kyoto Himba Stakes III $780,000 4&up f/m 7f Turf SO DAZZLING (JPN) Y. Take H. Otonashi
Feb 17 Laurel Park Barbara Fritchie Stakes III $200,000 4&up f/m 7f Dirt APPLE PICKER S. Russell B. Russell
Feb 17 Laurel Park General George Stakes III $200,000 4&up 7f Dirt POST TIME S. Russell B. Russell
Feb 18 Japan Racing Association February Stakes I $2,469,000 4&up 8f Dirt PEPTIDE NILE (JPN) Y. Fujioka H. Take
Feb 18 Japan Racing Association Kokura Daishoten III $886,000 4&up 9f Turf EPIPHANY (JPN) M. Sugihara K. Miyata
Feb 18 Sunland Park Sunland Derby III $400,000 3yo 8.5f Dirt STRONGHOLD A. Fresu P. D'Amato
Feb 24 Oaklawn Park Honeybee Stakes III $400,000 3yo f 8.5f Dirt LEMON MUFFIN K. Asmussen D. Lukas
Feb 24 Oaklawn Park Razorback Handicap III $600,000 4&up 8.5f Dirt OCTANE J. Leparoux J. Alvarado
Feb 24 Oaklawn Park Rebel Stakes II $1,250,000 3yo 8.5f Dirt TIMBERLAKE C. Torres B. Cox
Feb 24 Santa Anita Santa Ana Stakes III $100,000 4&up f/m 10f Turf LINDA'S GIFT T. Pereira R. Mandella
Feb 25 Japan Racing Association Hankyu Hai III $886,000 4&up 7f Turf WIN MARVEL (JPN) K. Matsuyama M. Fukayama
Feb 25 Japan Racing Association Nakayama Kinen II $1,383,000 4&up 9f Turf MATENRO SKY (JPN) N. Yokoyama M. Matsunaga
Mar 2 Aqueduct Gotham Stakes III $300,000 3yo 8f Dirt DETERMINISTIC J. Rosario C. Clement
Mar 2 Aqueduct Tom Fool Handicap III $175,000 4&up 6f Dirt SUPER CHOW M. Olver J. Delgado
Mar 2 Gulfstream Park Canadian Turf Stakes III $150,000 4&up 8.5f Turf EMMANUEL I. Ortiz, Jr. T. Pletcher
Mar 2 Gulfstream Park Davona Dale Stakes II $200,000 3yo f 8f Dirt FIONA'S MAGIC T. Gaffalione M. Yates
Mar 2 Gulfstream Park Fountain of Youth Stakes II $400,000 3yo 8.5f Dirt DORNOCH L. Saez D. Gargan
Mar 2 Gulfstream Park Herecomesthebride Stakes III $175,000 3yo f 8f Turf POUNCE J. Castellano M. Casse
Mar 2 Gulfstream Park Honey Fox Stakes III $150,000 4&up f/m 8f Turf CHILI FLAG I. Ortiz, Jr. C. Brown
Mar 2 Gulfstream Park Mac Diarmida Stakes II $200,000 4&up 11f Turf STARTING OVER E. Zayas M. Maker
Mar 2 Gulfstream Park The Very One Stakes III $150,000 4&up f/m 11f Turf R CALLI KIM T. Gaffalione B. Walsh
Mar 2 Gulfstream Park Gulfstream Park Mile II $200,000 4&up 8f Dirt STEAL SUNSHINE P. Lopez B. Dibona
Mar 2 Japan Racing Association Ocean Stakes III $886,000 4&up 6f Turf TOSHIN MACAU (JPN) T. Yokoyama M. Takayanagi
Mar 2 Japan Racing Association Tulip Sho II $1,072,000 3yo f 8f Turf SWEEP FEET (JPN) Y. Take Y. Shono
Mar 2 Santa Anita Buena Vista Stakes II $200,000 4&up f/m 8f Turf RUBY NELL E. Maldonado R. Mandella
Mar 2 Santa Anita Frank E. Kilroe Mile I $400,000 4&up 8f Turf DU JOUR F. Prat B. Baffert
Mar 2 Santa Anita San Felipe Stakes II $400,000 3yo 8.5f Dirt IMAGINATION L. Dettori B. Baffert
Mar 2 Santa Anita Santa Anita Handicap I $500,000 4&up 10f Dirt NEWGATE L. Dettori B. Baffert
Mar 3 Japan Racing Association Yayoi Sho II $1,120,000 3yo 10f Turf COSMO KURANDA (JPN) M. Demuro S. Kato
Mar 9 Gulfstream Park Hurricane Bertie Stakes III $125,000 4&up f/m 6.5f Dirt RED CARPET READY L. Saez G. Arnold, II
Mar 9 Japan Racing Association Nakayama Himba Stakes III $780,000 4&up f/m 9f Turf CONCH SHELL (JPN) M. Iwata H. Shimizu
Mar 9 Oaklawn Park Azeri Stakes II $400,000 4&up f/m 8.5f Dirt TINY TEMPER J. Graham D. Stewart
Mar 9 Santa Anita Beholder Mile I $400,000 4&up f/m 8f Dirt SWEET AZTECA F. Prat M. McCarthy
Mar 9 Santa Anita Santa Ysabel Stakes III $100,000 3yo f 8.5f Dirt KINZA J. Hernandez B. Baffert
Mar 9 Tampa Bay Downs Challenger Stakes I $100,000 4&up 8.5f Dirt SKIPPYLONGSTOCKING T. Gaffalione S. Joseph, Jr.
Mar 9 Tampa Bay Downs Florida Oaks III $200,000 3yo f 8.5f Turf WASKESIU J. Alvarado W. Mott
Mar 9 Tampa Bay Downs Hillsborough Stakes II $225,000 4&up f/m 9f Turf SPARKLE BLUE J. Ruiz H. Motion
Mar 9 Tampa Bay Downs Tampa Bay Derby III $400,000 3yo 8.5f Dirt DOMESTIC PRODUCT T. Gaffalione C. Brown
Mar 10 Japan Racing Association Fillies' Revue II $1,072,000 3yo f 7f Turf ETES VOUS PRETS (IRE) Y. Fujioka K. Fujioka
Mar 10 Japan Racing Association Kinko Sho II $1,383,000 4&up 10f Turf PROGNOSIS (JPN) Y. Kawada M. Nakauchida
Mar 16 Japan Racing Association Falcon Stakes III $823,000 3yo 7f Turf DANON MCKINLEY (JPN) Y. Kitamura H. Fujiwara
Mar 16 Japan Racing Association Flower Cup III $764,000 3yo f 9f Turf MI ANHELO (JPN) A. Tsumura T. Hayashi
Mar 16 Oaklawn Park Whitmore Stakes III $250,000 4&up 6f Dirt JAXON TRAVELER F. Prat S. Asmussen
Mar 16 Santa Anita San Carlos Stakes III $150,000 4&up 7f Dirt THE CHOSEN VRON H. Berrios J. Kruljac
Mar 17 Japan Racing Association Hanshin Daishoten II $1,383,000 4&up 15f Turf T O ROYAL (JPN) Y. Hishida I. Okada
Mar 17 Japan Racing Association Spring Stakes II $1,120,000 3yo 9f Turf SIXPENCE (JPN) C. Lemaire S. Kunieda
Mar 23 Fair Grounds Fair Grounds Oaks II $400,000 3yo f 8.5f Dirt      
Mar 23 Fair Grounds Muniz Memorial Classic II $300,000 4&up 9f Turf      
Mar 23 Fair Grounds New Orleans Classic II $500,000 4&up 9f Dirt      
Mar 23 Fair Grounds Louisiana Derby II $1,000,000 3yo 9.5f Dirt      
Mar 23 Japan Racing Association Mainichi Hai III $823,000 3yo 9f Turf      
Mar 23 Japan Racing Association Nikkei Sho II $1,383,000 4&up 12.5f Turf      
Mar 23 Oaklawn Park Essex Handicap III $600,000 4&up 9f Dirt      
Mar 23 Santa Anita San Luis Rey Stakes III $100,000 4&up 12f Turf      
Mar 23 Turfway Park Jeff Ruby Steaks III $700,000 3yo 9f AW      
Mar 23 Turfway Park Kentucky Cup Classic III $300,000 4&up 9f AW      
Mar 24 Japan Racing Association March Stakes III $780,000 4&up 9f Dirt      
Mar 24 Japan Racing Association Takamatsunomiya Kinen I $3,507,000 4&up 6f Turf      
Mar 30 Gulfstream Park Curlin Florida Derby I $1,000,000 3yo 9f Dirt      
Mar 30 Gulfstream Park Ghostzapper Stakes III $150,000 4&up 8.5f Dirt      
Mar 30 Gulfstream Park Gulfstream Park Oaks II $250,000 3yo f 8.5f Dirt      
Mar 30 Gulfstream Park Orchid Stakes III $150,000 4&up f/m 12f Turf      
Mar 30 Gulfstream Park Pan American Stakes II $200,000 4&up 12f Turf      
Mar 30 Japan Racing Association Lord Derby Challenge Trophy III $838,000 4&up 8f Turf      
Mar 30 Oaklawn Park Arkansas Derby I $1,500,000 3yo 9f Dirt      
Mar 30 Oaklawn Park Fantasy Stakes II $750,000 3yo f 8.5f Dirt      
Mar 30 Oaklawn Park Oaklawn Mile Stakes III $500,000 4&up 8f Dirt      
Mar 30 Santa Anita Wilshire Stakes III $100,000 4&up f/m 8f Turf      
Mar 31 Japan Racing Association Osaka Hai I $4,115,000 4&up 10f Turf      
Mar 31 Santa Anita American Stakes III $100,000 4&up 8f Turf      
Apr 5 Keeneland Central Bank Ashland Stakes I $600,000 3yo f 8.5f Dirt      
Apr 5 Keeneland Transylvania Stakes III $400,000 3yo 8.5f Turf      
Apr 6 Aqueduct Carter II $300,000 4&up 7f Dirt      
Apr 6 Aqueduct Distaff Handicap III $175,000 4&up f/m 7f Dirt      
Apr 6 Aqueduct Gazelle Stakes III $200,000 3yo f 9f Dirt      
Apr 6 Aqueduct Wood Memorial II $750,000 3yo 9f Dirt      
Apr 6 Japan Racing Association Hanshin Himba Stakes II $1,135,000 4&up f/m 8f Turf      
Apr 6 Japan Racing Association New Zealand Trophy II $1,120,000 3yo 8f Turf      
Apr 6 Keeneland Appalachian Stakes II $400,000 3yo f 8f Turf      
Apr 6 Keeneland Commonwealth Stakes III $300,000 4&up 7f Dirt      
Apr 6 Keeneland Madison Stakes I $600,000 4&up f/m 7f Dirt      
Apr 6 Keeneland Shakertown Stakes II $350,000 3&up 5.5f Turf      
Apr 6 Keeneland Blue Grass Stakes I $1,000,000 3yo 9f Dirt      
Apr 6 Santa Anita Monrovia Stakes III $200,000 4&up f/m abt 6.5f Turf      
Apr 6 Santa Anita Santa Anita Derby I $750,000 3yo 9f Dirt      
Apr 6 Santa Anita Santa Anita Oaks II $300,000 3yo f 8.5f Dirt      
Apr 7 Japan Racing Association Oka Sho I $2,880,000 3yo f 8f Turf      
Apr 7 Keeneland Beaumont Stakes II $400,000 3yo f abt 7f Dirt      
Apr 12 Keeneland Maker's Mark Mile I $600,000 4&up 8f Turf      
Apr 13 Japan Racing Association Arlington Cup III $823,000 3yo 8f Turf      
Apr 13 Keeneland Giant's Causeway Stakes III $300,000 3&up f/m 5.5f Turf      
Apr 13 Keeneland Jenny Wiley Stakes I $600,000 4&up f/m 8.5f Turf      
Apr 13 Keeneland Stonestreet Lexington Stakes III $400,000 3yo 8.5f Dirt      
Apr 13 Oaklawn Park Apple Blossom Handicap I $1,250,000 4&up f/m 8.5f Dirt      
Apr 13 Oaklawn Park Count Fleet Sprint Handicap III $500,000 4&up 6f Dirt      
Apr 14 Japan Racing Association Antares Stakes III $780,000 4&up 9f Dirt      
Apr 14 Japan Racing Association Satsuki Sho I $4,115,000 3yo 10f Turf      
Apr 19 Keeneland Baird Doubledogdare Stakes III $300,000 4&up f/m 8.5f Dirt      
Apr 20 Japan Racing Association Fukushima Himba Stakes III $823,000 4&up f/m 9f Turf      
Apr 20 Keeneland Ben Ali Stakes III $300,000 4&up 9.5f Dirt      
Apr 20 Keeneland Elkhorn Stakes II $350,000 4&up 12f Turf      
Apr 20 Oaklawn Park Oaklawn Handicap II $1,250,000 4&up 9f Dirt      
Apr 20 Santa Anita Californian Stakes III $200,000 4&up 9f Dirt      
Apr 20 Santa Anita Providencia Stakes III $100,000 3yo f 9f Turf      
Apr 21 Japan Racing Association Flora Stakes II $1,072,000 3yo f 10f Turf      
Apr 21 Japan Racing Association Yomiuri Milers Cup II $1,221,000 4&up 8f Turf      
Apr 21 Santa Anita Santa Maria Stakes II $200,000 4&up f/m 8.5f Dirt      
Apr 26 Keeneland Bewitch Stakes III $300,000 4&up f/m 12f Turf      
Apr 26 Sandown Park (UK) Classic Trial III $97,000 3yo 10f Turf      
Apr 26 Sandown Park (UK) Gordon Richards Stakes III $97,000 4&up 10f Turf      
Apr 26 Sandown Park (UK) Mile Stakes III $151,000 4&up 8f Turf      
Apr 27 Golden Gate Fields San Francisco Mile III $175,000 3&up 8f Turf      
Apr 27 Japan Racing Association Aoba Sho II $1,120,000 3yo 12f Turf      
Apr 27 Japan Racing Association Unicorn Stakes III $764,000 3yo 9.5f Dirt      
Apr 27 Santa Anita Royal Heroine Stakes III $200,000 4&up f/m 8f Turf      
Apr 28 Japan Racing Association Tenno Sho Spring I $4,526,000 4&up 16f Turf      

What is a Graded Stakes Race in Thoroughbred Horse Racing?

A graded stakes race is a term applied by the American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to thoroughbred horse races in the United States and Canada to describe races that derive their name from the stake, or entry fee, owners must pay. 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. 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.

The American Graded Stakes Committee uses as part 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 : Boldenone, Nandrolone, Stanozolol, and Testosterone are only 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. Also, 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.

Explanation of the American Graded Stakes Process

The purpose of the American Graded Stakes Committee is to provide owners and breeders of Thoroughbred horses a reliable guide to the relative quality of Thoroughbred bloodstock by identifying those U.S. races whose recent renewals have consistently attracted the highest quality competition. The Committee meets annually to evaluate and affirm the relative quality of these races, and issues its collective opinion in the form of ranked Grades: Grade I, Grade II, and Grade III, with Grade I being the highest. Horses winning these graded races may reliably be considered as superior racing stock, and the breeding stock producing them as superior breeding stock.

The grading of races began as a TOBA project in 1973, primarily at the request of European authorities anxious that North America have a method, similar to their Pattern race system implemented in 1972, for identifying the highest quality black-type events. In January, 1974, The Blood-Horse published the first list of 330 North American Graded Stakes. This list was immediately incorporated into Weatherby's Pattern Race book for the English Jockey Club; Fasig-Tipton Co. incorporated North American grades in its catalogues in 1975; Keeneland Association followed suit in 1976; the Daily Racing Form adopted grade-listings in 1978.

In 1981 international auction houses and national breeders organizations and racing authorities formed the International Cataloguing Standards Committee "to achieve uniformity of cataloguing standards throughout the world," recognizing the TOBA North American Graded Stakes Committee as the grading authority for North American races. (In 1998, Canadian authorities received ICSC authority to grade Canadian races independently, and the TOBA Committee became the American Graded Stakes Committee.)

Broad acceptance of the graded stakes system allows its potential use for promotional and other purposes. Racetracks may benefit from having their races graded, just as a graded win may increase a racehorse's value. While the Committee recognizes that individuals and organizations may utilize grading for purposes beyond the Committee's own, such uses play no role in the grading process. As was true at the beginning of the grading project in 1973, the Committee's aim is to identify and assess those races which over a stated period have attracted the highest importance and quality of field - quality herein defined in terms of the relative of excellence of participating horses.

Despite the European connection to the origin of grading races and the international application of U.S. grades, it must be kept in mind that our racing differs fundamentally from racing in other countries: in most countries, stakes events are set forth by a central authority, and changes to major fixtures are made under the aegis of a central governing body. U.S. racing, however, is de-centralized, and no such uniform control can exist. U.S. racing and stakes programs are dynamic products of regulatory, contractual, and competitive conditions in many local and regional environments. The U.S. grading system is designed to accommodate the flexibility and dynamism of U.S. racing; a grading system that could not quickly respond to our ever-changing conditions would never be appropriate in our country. Judgment and flexibility thus must always be a part of the system.