The list of American and Canadian Graded races is a list of Thoroughbred horse races in the United States and Canada that meet the graded stakes standards maintained by the American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association[1] and the Jockey Club of Canada. A specific grade level (I, II, III or listed) is then assigned to the race, based on statistical analysis of the quality of the field in previous years, provided the race meets the minimum purse criteria for the grade in question.[1]
The current list is for the previous full 2023 Racing season[2] and the current 2024 Racing season [3] which is maintained by the International Grading and Race Planning Advisory Committee (IRPAC) of the Jockey Club.[4][3]
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, the American Graded Stakes Committee lowered the minimum purse required for Grade 1 and Grade 2 stakes for the 2020. The minimum purse for GI has been lowered to $250,000 from $300,000, and the minimum for GII stakes is now $150,000, down from $200,000. The minimum purse for GIII remains at $100,000, and the minimum purse for Listed stakes and grade-eligible stakes remains at $75,000.[5]
Grade 1, 2 and 3 races
Click on the sort symbol at the top of the columns to sort on a particular field. Updates and changes for the current 2024 and previous 2023 racing season are noted.
↑ Santa Anita Park did not schedule the Sham Stakes in 2024[7]
↑ In 2024 the Santa Ynez Stakes was downgraded from Grade II to Grade III[8]
↑ In 2024 the Las Cienegas Stakes was downgraded from Grade II to Grade III[8]
↑ In 2024 the Pegasus World Cup Filly and Mare Turf Invitational was upgraded to Grade II[8]
↑ Originally the Southwest Stakes was scheduled for January 27, 2024 but due to a cancellation of racing from January 19–21 at Oaklawn Park, the administration of the track moved all events back one week.[9]
↑ Originally the Las Virgenes Stakes was scheduled for February 4, 2024 but due to an expected washout in the Southern California area, the administration of the track moved the event back one week.[10]
↑ Originally the San Marcos Stakes was scheduled for February 4, 2024 but due to an expected washout in the Southern California area, the administration of the track moved the event back one week.[10]
1 2 3 4 Originally, the Santa Anita Handicap, San Felipe Stakes, Frank E. Kilroe Mile and Buena Vista Stakes were scheduled to be held on March 2, 2024, but due to expected inclement weather forecasted for that day the track's administration moved the day's meeting to Sunday, March 3, 2024[11]
↑ Originally, the Santa Ysabel Stakes was scheduled to be held on March 3, 2024, but due to expected inclement weather forecasted for that day the track's administration moved the day's meeting to Monday, March 4, 2024[11]
↑ In 2024 the San Carlos Stakes was downgraded to Grade III[8]
↑ In 2024 the Kentucky Cup Classic Stakes was upgraded to Grade III[8]
↑ In 2024 the Carter Handicap was downgraded to Grade II[8]
↑ In 2024 the Giant's Causeway Stakes was upgraded to Grade III[8]
↑ In 2023 the distance of the Bel Ali Stakes was increased from 1+1⁄8 miles to 1+3⁄16 miles
↑ In 2024 the Californian Stakes was downgraded to Grade III
↑ In 2024 the Royal Heroine Stakes was downgraded from Grade II to Grade III[8]
↑ In 2024 the Unbridled Sidney Stakes was upgraded to Grade III[8]
↑ In 2024 the Sheepshead Bay Stakes was moved to Aqueduct Racetrack due construction at Belmont Park
↑ In 2024 the Westchester Stakes was moved to Aqueduct Racetrack due construction at Belmont Park
↑ In 2024 the Ruffian Stakes was moved to Aqueduct Racetrack due construction at Belmont Park
↑ In 2024 the Fort Marcy Stakes was moved to Aqueduct Racetrack due construction at Belmont Park
↑ In 2024 the Beaugay Stakes was moved to Aqueduct Racetrack due construction at Belmont Park
↑ In 2024 the Runhappy Stakes was moved to Aqueduct Racetrack due construction at Belmont Park
↑ In 2024 the Man o' War Stakes was moved to Aqueduct Racetrack due construction at Belmont Park. The event was downgraded from Grade I to Grade II.
↑ In 2024 the Peter Pan Stakes was moved to Aqueduct Racetrack due construction at Belmont Park
↑ In 2024 the Soaring Softly Stakes was moved to Aqueduct Racetrack due construction at Belmont Park and the distance was decreased from 7 furlongs to six furlongs
↑ In 2024 the Vagrancy Stakes was moved to Aqueduct Racetrack due construction at Belmont Park
↑ In 2024 the Pennine Ridge Stakes was moved to Aqueduct Racetrack due construction at Belmont Park
↑ In 2024 the Wonder Again Stakes was moved to Aqueduct Racetrack due construction at Belmont Park
↑ In 2024 the Penn Mile Stakes was downgraded from Grade II to Grade III[8]
↑ In 2024 the Royal North Stakes was downgraded to Grade III
↑ In 2024 the Belmont Gold Cup Stakes was moved to Saratoga Racetrack due construction at Belmont Park
↑ In 2024 the Intercontinental Stakes was moved to Saratoga Racetrack due construction at Belmont Park. The distance was decreased from 6 furlongs to 5+1⁄2 furlongs
↑ In 2024 the Just a Game Stakes was moved to Saratoga Racetrack due construction at Belmont Park
↑ In 2024 the New York Stakes was moved to Saratoga Racetrack due construction at Belmont Park. The distance was decreased from 1+1⁄4 miles to 1+3⁄16 miles
↑ In 2024 the Acorn Stakes was moved to Saratoga Racetrack due construction at Belmont Park. The distance of the Acorn Stakes was increased from 1+1⁄16 miles to 1+1⁄8 miles
↑ In 2024 the Belmont Stakes was moved to Saratoga Racetrack due construction at Belmont Park. The distance of the Belmont Stakes was decreased from 1+1⁄2 miles to 1+1⁄4 miles
↑ In 2024 the True North Stakes was moved to Saratoga Racetrack due construction at Belmont Park
↑ In 2024 the Suburban Stakes was moved to Saratoga Racetrack due construction at Belmont Park
↑ In 2024 the Ogden Phipps Stakes was moved to Saratoga Racetrack due construction at Belmont Park. The distance of the Acorn Stakes was increased from 1+1⁄16 miles to 1+1⁄8 miles
↑ In 2024 the Woody Stephens Stakes was moved to Saratoga Racetrack due construction at Belmont Park
↑ In 2024 the Jaipur Stakes was moved to Saratoga Racetrack due construction at Belmont Park. The distance was decreased from 6 furlongs to 5+1⁄2 furlongs
↑ In 2024 the Manhattan Stakes was moved to Saratoga Racetrack due construction at Belmont Park. The distance was decreased from 1+1⁄4 miles to 1+3⁄16 miles
↑ In 2024 the Metropolitan Handicap was moved to Saratoga Racetrack due construction at Belmont Park
↑ In 2024 the Poker Stakes was moved to Saratoga Racetrack due construction at Belmont Park
↑ In 2024 the Matt Winn Stakes returned back to Churchill Downs. The distance was decreased from 1+1⁄8 miles to 1+1⁄16 miles
↑ In 2024 the Bed O' Roses Stakes was moved to Aqueduct Racetrack due construction at Belmont Park
↑ In 2024 the Chicago Stakes was moved back to Churchill Downs
↑ In 2024 the Manila Stakes was moved to Aqueduct Racetrack due construction at Belmont Park
↑ In 2024 the Chicago Stakes was moved back to Churchill Downs
↑ In 2024 the Fleur de Lis Stakes was moved back to Churchill Downs
↑ In 2024 the Stephen Foster Stakes was moved back to Churchill Downs
↑ In 2024 the Victory Ride Stakes was moved to Aqueduct Racetrack due construction at Belmont Park
↑ In 2024 the Brooklyn Stakes was moved to Aqueduct Racetrack due construction at Belmont Park. The distance of the event was decreased from 1+1⁄2 miles to 1+3⁄8 miles
↑ In 2024 the John A. Nerud Stakes was moved to Aqueduct Racetrack due construction at Belmont Park
↑ In 2024 the Dwyer Stakes was moved to Aqueduct Racetrack due construction at Belmont Park
↑ In 2024 the Belmont Oaks was moved to Aqueduct Racetrack due construction at Belmont Park. The distance of the event was decreased from 1+1⁄4 miles to 1+3⁄16 miles
↑ In 2024 the Belmont Derby was moved to Aqueduct Racetrack due construction at Belmont Park. The distance of the event was decreased from 1+1⁄4 miles to 1+3⁄16 miles
↑ The Delaware Oaks was rescheduled due to the excessive heat index forecasted by the National Weather Service to be at or above 105º for the region[12]
↑ In 2024 the Troy Stakes was upgraded to Grade II. Originally the event was to be held August 3, 2024 but was rescheduled due to the inclement weather.
↑ In 2024 the Saratoga Derby was to be held August 3, 2024 but was rescheduled due to the inclement weather
↑ In 2023 the distance of the Pocahontas Stakes was decreased from 1+1⁄16 miles to 1 mile
↑ In 2023 the distance of the Iroquois Stakes was decreased from 1+1⁄16 miles to 1 mile
↑ In 2023 the Woodward Stakes was downgraded to Grade II
↑ In 2023 the Jockey Club Derby Invitational Stakes was taken off the turf and run on the dirt after continuous rain affected the turf course. The event was downgraded to Listed as a consequence of the transfer of the event to dirt
↑ In 2023 the Belmont Turf Sprint Stakes was taken off the turf and run on the dirt after continuous rain affected the turf course. The event was downgraded to Listed as a consequence of the transfer of the event to dirt
↑ In 2023 the Princess Rooney Stakes was downgraded to Grade III due to a calendar change for the event[13]
↑ Originally the Noble Damsel Stakes was scheduled for 23 September 2023 but was rescheduled to 29 September 2023 after the racecard was canceled due to high winds and heavy rainfall from Tropical Storm Ophelia.[14] The event was rescheduled once more to 8 October 2023 after record rainfall in the New York Metropolitan area.[15] The event was taken off the turf and run on the dirt after continuous rain affected the turf course. The event was downgraded to Listed as a consequence of the transfer of the event to dirt
↑ In 2023 the distance of the Canadian International Stakes was decreased from 1+1⁄2 miles to 1+1⁄4 miles
↑ In 2023 the Matron Stakes was taken off the turf and run on the dirt after continuous rain affected the turf course. The event was downgraded to Listed as a consequence of the transfer of the event to dirt
↑ In 2023 the Futurity Stakes was taken off the turf and run on the dirt after continuous rain affected the turf course. The event was downgraded to Listed as a consequence of the transfer of the event to dirt
↑ In 2022 the Sands Point Stakes was moved to Aqueduct due to track construction at Belmont Park
↑ In 2023 the Knickerbocker Stakes was taken off the turf and run on the dirt after continuous rain affected the turf course. The event was downgraded to Listed as a consequence of the transfer of the event to dirt
↑ In 2022 the Bold Ruler Handicap was moved to Aqueduct due to track construction at Belmont Park
↑ In 2023 the Kelso Handicap was renamed to the Forty Niner Stakes
↑ In 2023 the Mother Goose Stakes was moved from to Belmont Park's spring meeting to NYRA's Belmont at the Big A meeting and the distance of the event was increased from 1+1⁄16 miles to 1+1⁄8 miles
↑ In 2022 the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint was upgraded to Grade 1
↑ In 2023 the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Stakes was part of the Breeders' Cup program and was moved to Santa Anita Park
↑ In 2023 the Berkeley Handicap was renamed to the Golden Gate Handicap
↑ In 2023 the Mrs. Revere Stakes was run on the dirt due to the state of the Churchill Downs turf track[16]
↑ In 2023 the Cigar Mile Handicap was downgraded to Grade II
↑ In 2022 the Las Flores Stakes was run twice. Firstly, in March and secondly in December as part of the 2022–23 Santa Anita Winter Meeting
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A graded stakes race is a thoroughbred horse race in the United States that meets the criteria of the American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (TOBA). A specific grade level is then assigned to the race, based on statistical analysis of the quality of the field in previous years, provided the race meets the minimum purse criteria for the grade in question. In Canada, a similar grading system is maintained by the Jockey Club of Canada. Graded stakes races are similar to Group races in Europe but the grading is more dynamic in North America.
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