2008 Canadian Graded Stakes

The Canadian Graded Stakes Committee met recently to review 138 open races carrying purses of $50,000 or more. Once again this year graded status was assigned to 37 Canadian stakes.

To qualify for graded status in Canada in 2008 races must carry the following minimum purses; $250,000 – G1, $150,000 – G2 and $100,000 – G3.

Only one race, the Lieutenant Governors’ Stakes run at Hastings Racecourse in Vancouver lost its graded status and commencing in 2008 will be a listed race. The following races at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto were upgraded; The Northern Dancer Breeders’ Cup Turf G1, the Autumn Stakes G2 and the Singspiel G3.

The following is a listing of all graded races in Canada in 2008.

Name of Race                                           Grade         Distance        Track       Age/Sex              

Canadian International (Pattison)                G1             12T                WO         3up

Woodbine Mile (Bell)                                  G1             8T                  WO         3up

E.P. Taylor Stakes                                     G1             10T                 WO        3up f/m

Northern Dancer Breeders’ Cup Turf           G1             12T                 WO         3up

Sky Classic Stakes                                    G2             11T                 WO         3up

Autumn Stakes                                         G2            8.5                   WO         3up

Nijinsky Stakes                                         G2            10T                  WO         3up

Nearctic Stakes                                         G2            6T                    WO         3up

Play The King Stakes                                 G2            7T                    WO         3up

King Edward Breeders’ Cup S.                    G2            9T                    WO         3up

Nassau Stakes                                          G2            8.5T                  WO        3up f/m

Dance Smartly Stakes                               G2           9T                      WO        3up f/m

Canadian Stakes                                       G2           9T                     WO        3up f/m

Grey Breeders’ Cup Stakes                        G3           8.5                    WO         2yo

Summer Stakes                                        G3           8T                     WO         2yo

Mazarine Breeders’ Cup Stakes                  G3           8.5                    WO         2yof

Natalma Stakes                                         G3           8T                     WO         2yof2

BC Premiers H.                                         G3          11                       Hst          3up

Chinese Cultural Centre Seagram Cup Stakes G3      8.5                     WO          3up

Singspiel Stakes                                        G3          12T                    WO          3up

Dominion Day Stakes                                G3          10                       WO         3up

Scotts Highlander Stakes                           G3          6T                       WO         3up

Kennedy Road Stakes                               G3          6                         WO         3up

Eclipse Stakes                                          G3          8.5                       WO         3up

Durham Cup Stakes                                  G3          9                         WO         3up

Ballerina Breeders’ Cup S.                         G3          9                         Hst         3up f/m

Seaway Stakes                                         G3          7                         WO         3up f/m

Royal North Stakes                                   G3          6T                        WO        3up f/m

Hendrie Stakes                                        G3          6.5                        WO        3up f/m

British Columbia Breeders’ Cup Derby       G3          9                           Hst         3yo

Canadian Derby                                       G3          11                         NP          3yo

Marine Stakes                                          G3          8.5                        WO         3yo

British Columbia Breeders’ Cup Oaks         G3          9                           Hst          3yof

Selene Stakes                                          G3          8.5                        WO         3yof

Vigil Stakes                                              G3          7                           WO         4up

Connaught Cup Stakes                              G3           8.5T                      WO        4up

Whimsical Stakes                                      G3           6                           WO        4up f/m

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