Three Canadian Stakes Races Downgraded for 2025 Season

During its annual review of the graded and listed stakes races in Canada, the graded stakes committee for The Jockey Club of Canada decided to downgrade the standing of three stakes for 2025. After reviewing the North American Race Committee figures and the Race Quality Scores numbers for all listed and Blacktype races in Canada, the committee determined that the grade 2 Autumn Stakes and the grade 2 Seagram Cup Stakes will both be downgraded to grade 3 status. Additionally, the grade 3 B. C. Premier's Handicap will be downgraded to listed status. With that decision, this year's Canadian schedule will include 41 graded stakes. The committee did not upgrade any stakes for this season. The graded stakes committee meeting was conducted by new committee chair, Bernard McCormack, who was accompanied by appointed committee members David Anderson, Jim Bannon, Jeff Begg, Catherine Day Phillips, Ross McKague, and The Jockey Club of Canada's chief steward, Doug Anderson. As well, the attending racetrack representatives included Allen Goodsell and Teagan Goodsell from Alberta, Scott Henson from British Columbia, Ross McKague representing Manitoba, and Julia Bell from Ontario. The committee reviewed the NARC figures and the RQS for all graded, listed, and potentially listed races in Canada.