Jockey Club Makes Changes To Canadian Graded Stakes

The Jockey Club of Canada completed their annual review of all graded stakes races in Canada and released their changes to the graded stakes schedule for 2011 earlier today. The Graded Stakes Committee made several changes, increasing the number of graded stakes races from 35 last year to 37 in 2011. Among the races that received an upgrade included the popular Valedictory Stakes race that takes place on the last day of Woodbine's meet and travels one mile and seven eighths.

The five Grade I races, the biggest stakes races on the Canadian racing schedule, all retained their Grade I status for 2011 and no Grade II races received an upgrade.

There was nine Grade II races in 2010 and there will now be 10 in 2011. The Graded Stakes Committee chose to upgrade the Connaught Cup Stakes from Grade III status to Grade II status. The Connaught Cup Stakes is a seven furlong sprint on turf for four-year-olds and up.

Four Woodbine races have been upgraded to Grade III status, bringing the total number of Grade III races from 20 in 2010 to 22 in 2011. These races include the Valedictory Stakes mentioned above, the Ontario Matron, the Ontario Fashion and the Bessarabian Stakes. The final three stakes races listed are all for fillies and mares, three-years-old and up.

The two races that lost their Grade III status included the Mazarine Stakes for two-year-old fillies at Woodbine and the BC Premiers Stakes for three-year-olds and up at Hastings Race Course in British Columbia.

To view the complete changes, including a list of all graded stakes races that will take place in Canada next year, click here to see The Jockey Club of Canada's press release.

Posted in: Woodbine