AMERICAN GRADED STAKES brought to you by Keeneland: TRIM THE FAT
By Ray Paulick
Some recent comments on the Paulick Report have focused on the perceived dilution in the quality of fields for a number of American Graded Stakes run in 2009. Those comments raise a very good question: does the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association’s American Graded Stakes Committee grade too many races?
That’s been the longtime contention of knowledgeable critics like British racing journalist Tony Morris of the Racing Post, who called our country’s graded stakes program bloated more than 20 years ago when there were nearly 75,000 races in the United States. Today there are only about 50,000 races run in the U.S. each year, a reduction of one-third. There has not been a similar reduction in the total number of American Graded Stakes since then.
Is the program bloated? Judge for yourself.
This year, there will be 115 Grade 1 races and 488 Grade 1, 2 or 3 races run in the U.S. The number of all races run in the U.S. by year’s end will be below 50,000 for the first time in more than a quarter century. Yet the number of Grade 1 and American Graded Stakes went up in 2009. Five years ago, when there were about 3,500-4,000 more races run in the U.S. than there will be in 2009, there were 96 Grade 1 races and 447 AGS races in total. The numbers are moving in the wrong direction.
In addition, the foal crop and number of mares being bred is declining in number, and precipitiously in some areas of the country (see the Jockey Club press release today). Logic dictates that the number of American Graded Stakes should decline along with the number of races and foals born each year. But that hasn’t happened, at least not yet.
Andy Schweigardt, who administers the program for the TOBA committee, told the Paulick Report that the committee has discussed reducing the number of graded stakes as the number of races run and foals born also declines.
The committee meets in six weeks to assign grades for 2010. If TOBA wants to maintain the credibility of the American Graded Stakes program, the time has arrived to do more than just discuss reducing the number of AGS races and instead take action and trim the fat.
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In other graded stakes news, TOBA distributed a press release saying the committee will be using Thorograph ratings as a tool in assessing the quality of races for grading purposes. Following is that press release in its entirety:
Thoro-Graph is the industry leader in providing performance ratings and other sophisticated handicapping data to trainers, owners, professional handicappers, and media racing analysts. Thoro-Graph’s consulting service has been responsible for the purchase of 82 Stakes-winning horses including Victory Gallop, Distorted Humor, Student Council and Rachel Alexandra.
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Tags: American Graded Stakes Standings, Keeneland, Paulick Report, Ray Paulick
October 22nd, 2009 at 1:10 pm
First, is it really necessary to use that photo of an overweight person? Though I’m not personally overweight, I think mocking a person’s physical appearance that way is juvenile and trashy. Are you physically perfect and free of all vices? If not, perhaps you should reconsider mocking other people.
Second, why does the Paulick Report quote UK sources that criticize American racing? Among other issues, the UK engages in the extremely questionable practice of breeding their top stallions like Sadler’s Wells to 200 mares per year. So they need to clean up their own back yard before sticking their noses in our business.
And now to your question is our graded stakes program bloated? I think it is, but we also have far too many claiming races and that problem needs to be cleaned up first and foremost.
October 22nd, 2009 at 1:18 pm
“Second, why does the Paulick Report quote UK sources that criticize American racing?”
That’s ridiculous. Any sentient observer – irrespective of where they reside – can (and could) see that there are far too many Graded races in the U.S. And Ray should be thanked for quoting intelligent sources, rather than relying on parochial, and often narrow-minded views.
October 22nd, 2009 at 3:05 pm
Slightly less than 1% of US races are graded stakes. What percentage do you think that should be, and how does that compare to other major racing countries?
October 22nd, 2009 at 4:48 pm
Matthew…I darn near choked on my all-the-way “Five Guys” double cheeseburger at lunch when I saw your comment and question about whether or not I am physically perfect and free of all vices. The answer, in a word, is “no!”
We were merely trying to illustrate the headline to the story in an unusual way. I’m sorry if we offended you or anyone else.
WhatyoutalkingaboutWillis, your point about less than 1% of American races being graded is the argument that’s been used for a long time that America does not have a bloated Graded Stakes schedule. The percentages of graded races to all races is lower than most, if not all, racing countries. However, no country offers the volume of racing that we have in the U.S., nor the volume of cheap claiming races that dominate the racing calendar. I don’t know what the right number is, but I do know that as tracks close, the number of races is reduced, and stakes races have purse cuts or are eliminated altogether, the American Graded Stakes committee needs to adjust as well.
And I have more respect for Tony Morris’s insights on the international racing and breeding scene than any other journalist in our business.
October 22nd, 2009 at 6:46 pm
Where would this issue fall on a list of the most important issues to fix?
I hope the PR creates and tackles a running list, till its eventual success.
Where would a coordinated 2010 Super Saturday fall on the PR Top 10?
October 22nd, 2009 at 7:05 pm
Ray,
I totally agree with this editorial. All too often, especially recently, G1’s go off with an 8/5 favorite in a short horse field, with too many late defections searching for softer spots with graded status. You don’t want to rush to quick judgements in this game, but the future doesn’t look bright for this trend in G1’s to change anytime soon.
October 22nd, 2009 at 8:00 pm
Too many AGS? Probably. But this is another facet of racing that could use a little sunshine. They canlok at all the data thye want but it’s another group of boys in the cigar filled back room taking care of each other. NY, KY, CA run the committe and keep all their stakes graded. Why not puiblish the criteria and results? Why the secret?
October 22nd, 2009 at 8:41 pm
pjleft…The criteria is published in the TOBA’s member’s guide at http://www.toba.org/graded-stakes/.
Left of the body of text on the TOBA page there are different links explaining the statistical evaluations employed.
What TOBA’s committee does not do is publish the results of the data is compiles for each race that is eligible to be graded.
Europe looks upon their stakes more as a pattern of races, while the American Graded Stakes Committee seems to rely more on statistical evaluation. The problem with that system is that traditional prep races can become Grade 1 events and are given equal importance to the races to which the preps lead (i.e., Fountain of Youth to the Florida Derby).
I don’t see anything wrong with TOBA publishing the results of their statistical evaluation, but this isn’t an industry that believes in a great deal of transparency, is it?
October 23rd, 2009 at 5:02 am
So, stop complaining and offer a solution: Which G-I’s do you drop? The Hopeful or the Del Mar Futruity? The Beldame, Lady’s Secret or Spinster? The JCGC or the Goodwood? The Arlington Million or the Sword Dancer?
Next time you write an article like this please post the races you don’t think deserve to be G-I’s - Florida Derby, Blue Grass, Wood Memorial. Santa Anita Derby - pick one to be a G-I and throw the rest to the wolves. Offer up a a solution with your complaint.
October 23rd, 2009 at 5:27 am
Speaking as an English fan of American racing I’d say that two aspects need consideration. Firstly Grade 1 races should be for races where the best horses meet. I’d therefore question giving this status to races which, in reality, are prep races for bigger events. Secondly I’m really not sure about having Grade 1 handicaps. In Europe handicaps are the norm - rather like claiming races in the States. I can’t see how you can give Grade 1 status to a horse which has won a race based on the subjective weight assigned by a racing secretary, rather than showing class at weight-for-age. I know that Americans love a horse which can give lumps of weight away but what about the winners who snuck in off a feather weight?
October 23rd, 2009 at 6:41 am
Absolutely.
Where to trim the fat? In the Grade II’s, half these races are glorified Grade III’s and many Grade III’s should no longer be graded. I do feel for the small tracks that depend on that one or two Graded stake race to bring out the crowds.
Actually TOBA has the chance to become the quasi Federal racing jurisdiction. For example, want to ban Lasix? TOBA says all Graded stakes races are completely medication free. Want to change the whips or any other item in discussion? Have TOBA change the rules in Graded Stakes races. The other organizations cant’, won’t or won’t come together, but people must listen to TOBA!
October 23rd, 2009 at 7:15 am
CJK…I do not have access to the data that TOBA uses to evaluate the races, but I would start by reducing the number of Grade 1 sprint races (one division that has increased the number of G1s over time) and take a look at any late-season races restricted to 3-year-olds, a time of the year when they can and should be competing with older horses. Finally, I would look for an overall pattern and determine if some races that have current G1 status are preps for more important stakes that attract the same horses.
The committee has the tools and the expertise to do this.
Tim Maz…you bring up an excellent point. TOBA’s carrot and stick approach was instrumental in the implementation of steroids regulations, and it can be applied in other ways to benefit the industry.
October 23rd, 2009 at 10:16 am
Or… the grading of stakes could take place afterward based on quality. MERIT not luck or avoidance of competition would grade stakes. Back-end grading would boost competition and excitement instead of playing games of chickens to try winning graded stakes on easy street.
Racing needs to stop fitting its fragile and medicated horses into pre-set, bloated numbers of races and graded stakes because horses can only be stretched so far and pushing them too hard precipitates their demise, causing small and weak fields. Racing needs transparency including with physical condition and drugs given to horses as long as drugs are permitted to protect them and boost racing quality. And all graded stakes should be earn with racing sound horses off painkillers and performance boosting drugs.
October 23rd, 2009 at 10:22 am
Should Invitationals be graded?
Should any Graded race that has not had a full field for several years have the grade lowered?
There is a great disparity in purses between races in the same Grade. Should the purse have more weight?
The TOBA has the basis to be the organization that reforms and revitalizes racing. Sad to say, it is the image of all our other “bodies” - controlled by the same old gang of self-appointed guardians of the business. So, I take this opportunity to raise a question.
As The Jockey Club is now a profit-making company in the business of selling information, why is it allowed to retain The American Stud Book? Think about it. Logically the Stud Book SHOULD be owned and managed by TOBA, which could/should be ALL owners and breeders - not an elite group of Invitees. TOBA could then SELL the basic info to TJC. Registration fees could be reduced to something in the area charged by American QuarterHorse Assn.
TOBA could also continue to enforce reforms via Graded Stakes rules and move on down into Claimers.
Only impediment to progress being the same old gang at the top of all our Alphabets.