What is the tie breaker on graded stakes earnings?

[Merlinsky]

Originally Posted by parsixfarms

In reading the condition book, it looks like horses tied on graded earnings would have the tie broken by lot. The unrestricted stakes earnings are only considered "should additional starters be needed to bring the field" up to 20.

I'm not quite clear on what that means. You wouldn't bother breaking a graded earnings tie if the field isn't up to 20. Both would get in.

[parsixfarms]

Originally Posted by Merlinsky

I'm not quite clear on what that means. You wouldn't bother breaking a graded earnings tie if the field isn't up to 20. Both would get in.

If you had a situation where 21 entered and all had graded earnings, with the last two tied at number 20 on the graded earnings list, you draw by lot to break the tie.

If you had a situation where 21 horses entered but only 18 had graded earnings, you would use the earnings in non-graded races to determine the last two horses to make the race.

[Merlinsky]

Originally Posted by parsixfarms

If you had a situation where 21 entered and all had graded earnings, with the last two tied at number 20 on the graded earnings list, you draw by lot to break the tie.

If you had a situation where 21 horses entered but only 18 had graded earnings, you would use the earnings in non-graded races to determine the last two horses to make the race.

Ah. Thanks. Didn't occur to me that we'd be in a situation where 20+ might want in but some might have zero graded earnings. Could've sworn though that in past years they've explained it as unrestricted stakes breaks the graded earnings tie. Hmm.