Graded Stakes Downgrades

[tjfrab]

Great point on the Ruffian....But you say barely a Grade 2?? That Ruffian doesn't even deserve a grading. Not sure whether this race or the Phipps in June was the bigger disaster. Amazing that the listed stakes horse trained by Jones (who should have stayed retired) is a 2-1 favorite in a grade 1 at the Spa. If the horsemen aren't going to support the graded stakes program, then these races should be downgraded. Understood the horses just aren't out there to fill all these races....But then the grade 1 status needs to be more dynamic and adjusted when these races draw so terribly.