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