The Jockey Club of Canada’s Graded Stakes Committee held its annual review of the Graded and Listed Stakes races in Canada. The number of Graded Stakes in Canada will decrease to 41, due to individual racetracks choosing to place selected races on hold for the 2021 season.
Four graded races at Woodbine will not be run in 2021. Those are the Grade 1 Northern Dancer Stakes, the Grade 3 Eclipse Stakes, the Grade 2 Nijinsky Stakes and the Grade 2 Play the King Stakes, a race that played as a prep for local horses for the Woodbine Mile (G1).
Woodbine’s popular Valedictory Stakes (G3), typically run on the final day of racing and at the intriguing distance of 1 3/4 miles, has been shortened to 1 1/2 miles.
Additionally, the following races have had a change to their age requirement for 2021: the G2 Nassau S., G2 Royal North S., G3 Dominion Day S. G3 Royal North S., G3 Vigil S., G3 Ontario Matron S., G3 Seaway S., and G3 Trillium S. all change from 3 years old and up to 4 years old and up. The G3 Hendrie S. changes from 4 years old and up to 3 years old and up.
Additionally, two races currently with Black Type status will be upgraded to Listed status for 2021.
After reviewing the NARC figures and the RQS for all Listed and Black Type races in Canada, the Committee determined that two, highly qualified, open Black Type races will be elevated to Listed status: the Ontario Racing S. and the Woodbine Cares S.
The Graded Stakes Committee meeting was conducted by Committee Chair, Ross McKague who was accompanied by all of the appointed Committee Members, David Anderson, James Bannon, Jeffrey Begg, Tom Cosgrove, Catherine Day Phillips, Bernard McCormack and Jockey Club of Canada’s Chief Steward R. Glenn Sikura. As well, the attending racetrack representatives included Julie Bell, Scott Lane, Rob MacLennan and Nichelle Milner.
The Committee reviewed the North American Race Committee (NARC) figures and the Race Quality Scores (RQS) for all of the Graded Stakes Races in Canada. In general, evaluation indicated slight declines in the performance of most Graded Stakes races across Canada. These numbers will remain on historical record, but were not used to upgrade, downgrade, or place on watch any individual races. 2020 was recognized as an anomalous year. The committee is, however, fully aware of the possibility that some effects of the pandemic of 2020 may continue in the future.
For more information contact:
Candice Dixon
General Manager
The Jockey Club of Canada
P.O. Box 66, Stn. B
Toronto, ON. M9W 5K9
416-675-7756
jockeyclubcanada@gmail.com
www.jockeyclubcanada.com
~ with files from Jockey Club of Canada
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