A total of 429 graded stakes races–down from 440 in 2023–and four fewer top-level events will be contested in 2024, the American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association announced following its two-day grading session Dec. 14 and 15.
The Committee reviewed 970 overall with purses of at least $75,000 and also assigned listed status to a further 213 races. Some 10 races were upgraded from their previous status–one new Grade I and nine Grade Iis. Four new Grade III events were also listed. Fourteen new listed raced and two new listed/restricted races were upgraded from non-listed black-type status.
The Franklin-Simpson S. at Kentucky Downs is the lone new Grade I for 2024, while the Carter H., the Man o'War S., the Beverly D. S., the United Nations S. and Hollywood Gold Cup each lost its elite-level grading. Nine races were upgraded to Grade II, four races received an upgrade to Grade III, 14 races were upgraded to listed status and two races were awarded listed/restricted status.
Ten races were downgraded from Grade II to Grade III, 15 were downgraded from Grade III to listed status and 13 races were downgraded to non-listed black-type.
In 2024, a total of 93 Grade I races will be staged, 137 at the Grade II level and 199 Grade IIIs. Click here for the 2024 U.S. graded and listed stakes listing.
Upgraded Stakes
Grade II to Grade I
Franklin-Simpson S., Kentucky Downs
Grade III to Grade II
Intercontinental S., Belmont Park
Charles Town Oaks, Charles Town
Locust Grove S., Churchill Downs
Pegasus World Cup Filly & Mare Turf, Gulfstream
Valley View S., Keeneland
Music City S., Kentucky Downs
Fantasy S., Oaklawn
Saratoga Oaks Invitational, Saratoga
Troy S., Saratoga
Listed to Grade III
Unbridled Sidney S., Churchill Downs
Giant's Causeway S., Keeneland
Perryville S., Keeneland
Kentucky Cup Classic, Turfway Park
Downgraded Stakes
Grade I to Grade II
Carter H., Aqueduct
Man o'War S., Belmont
Beverly D. S., Colonial Downs
United Nations S., Monmouth
Hollywood Gold Cup, Santa Anita
Grade II to Grade III
Forty Niner S., Aqueduct
Hill Prince S., Belmont at Aqueduct
Vosburgh S., Belmont at Aqueduct
Sheepshead Bay S., Belmont at Aqueduct
Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance S. at BC host site
Penn Mile S., Penn National
Californian S., Santa Anita
Goldikova S., Santa Anita
Royal Heroine S., Santa Anita
Prioress S., Saratoga
Grade III to Listed
Bay Shore S., Aqueduct
Fall Highweight H., Aqueduct
La Jolla H., Del Mar
Golden Gate H., Golden Gate Fields
Gulfstream Park Turf Sprint S., Gulfstream
Smile Sprint S., Gulfstream
Sugar Swirl S., Gulfstream
Swale S., Gulfstream
Smarty Jones S., Parx
BWI Invitational Turf Cup, Pimlico
Iowa Oaks, Prairie Meadows
Remington Park Oaks, Remington
Desert Stormer S., Santa Anita
Kona Gold S., Santa Anita
Schuylerville S., Saratoga
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