Quote of the Day

"What the people who run the Graded Race System have never been able to concede is that even though participation of good horses begets a better grade, a lesser grade tends to discourage such participation, making it that much harder to ascend in status. In contrast to the Beverly Hills, the Gamely at Hollywood Park a month ago attracted Tuscan Evening, Forever Together, and Cat by the Tale. On Saturday, they'll all be dozing in the barn."

-Jay Hovdey (June 27, 2010)

Hovdey is exactly right, particularly about a lower grade discouraging participation. He uses the prime example of the Beverly Hills, once the leading filly and mare turf race of the Hollywood Park spring meeting, now an afterthought after the "Grade 1" Gamely, which used to serve as a prep for the Beverly Hills.

And what happens when races drop from the so-called highest level? Racetracks start treating them like red-headed stepchildren (especially if the parent is NYRA). The purse is lowered, the conditions are altered, and the race barely becomes recognizable.

I could cite numerous examples from New York, though the Suburban comes quickest to mind. However, other circuits are equally as guilty. What happened to the Gulfstream Park Handicap, particularly in relation to the Donn? Which one was conceived as the premier race and which as the prep? Talk about about being ass-backward.

Used to be before we had an American Graded Stakes Committee that a race's name and purse determined its prestige in relation to others of similar ilk. Now we have an unelected and unaccountable offshoot of TOBA doing a job it was not hired to do.

Is the Kentucky Derby a top race because it's the Kentucky Derby or because it carries "Grade 1" status? How about the Preakness? Breeders' Cup Classic? Travers? If we can make the distinction with these races, we can certainly do it for others without a committee's help. And if an overseas vistor can't distinguish the quality of different races based on name alone, he/she should hire someone who can. That's what agents are supposed to do anyway.

In the name of fairness and equal opportunity, it's time we let racetracks take back control of their product. Let them compete fairly with other tracks to get the best horses they possibly can and not get hampered by a committee that arbitrarily labels their product. That negatively effects not only their ability to get the product they want but ultimately their bottom line as well.