Five races upgraded, two downgraded in Canada

The Jockey Club of Canada's Canadian Graded Stakes Committee held their

annual review of the graded stakes in Canada and has announced that there will

be a total of 37 graded stakes in 2011, up from 35 in 2010.

The five Grade 1 races for 2010 -- the Canadian International, Woodbine Mile,

E.P. Taylor, Northern Dancer Turf and Nearctic -- are unchanged in status for

their 2011 renewals.

Previously a Grade 3 race, the Connaught Cup Turf S. for four-year-olds and

up has been upgraded to a Grade 2 race for 2011, increasing the total number of

Grade 2 races to 10 in 2011.

Four listed races at Woodbine received an upgrade to Grade 3 status, bumping

the number of Grade 3s to 22 in 2011. The new Grade 3 races include the popular

end-of-season distance race, the Valedictory S., as well as three filly and mare

races: the Ontario Matron, the Ontario Fashion and the Bessarabian S.

Two Grade 3 stakes in 2010 have lost their graded status for 2011: the

Mazarine S. for two-year-old fillies at Woodbine and the British Columbia

Premiers S. for older horses at Hastings Park.

The Canadian Graded Stakes Committee evaluates and reviews the graded stakes

annually and determines whether races should be upgraded, downgraded or remain

the same based on a number of criteria including the performance of the races

based on the NARC and BRIS ratings for the previous years. Also, to be eligible

for consideration of graded status in Canada, races must carry the following

minimum purses: $250,000 for Grade 1; $150,000 for Grade 2 and $100,000 for

Grade 3.