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Approval of Bute Rule Slowed in Louisiana

A Louisiana Senate committee rejected an emergency rule approved by the Louisiana State Racing Commission to lower the testing threshold level for phenylbutazone from 5 micrograms per milliliter to 2 micrograms.

Orfevre Wins Arima Kinen at Nakayama

Sunday Racing Co.'s Orfevre, who this year became the seventh winner of Japan's Triple Crown, won the $4.89 million Arima Kinen (Jpn-I) at Nakayama Racecourse Dec. 25.

$1M Classic Tops Charles Town Stakes Slate

Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races has announced a 28-race stakes program valued at $3.59 million for 2012.

Double the Pleasure: Michael Pender (blog)

Apparently trainer Michael Pender felt it took too long for Jeranimo and Ultimate Eagle to win graded stakes a week apart in October, so he sent them both back out to take graded events on consecutive days in November.

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Four New Grade I Stakes for 2012

Nine stakes were upgraded and four achieved graded status for 2012 after a review by the American Graded Stakes Committee Nov. 30-Dec. 1. The panel reviewed 659 unrestricted stakes in the U.S. worth at least $75,000.

Clark at Churchill Has Breeders' Cup Look

This year's Breeders' Cup may be a memory, but no fewer than five horses that competed in the 2011 World Championships are back at Churchill Downs for the $500,000 Clark Handicap (gr. I) Nov. 25.

Shackleford Hopes for Rebound in Indy Derby

Preakness Stakes (gr. I) winner Shackleford will seek to get back in the winner's circle Oct. 1 in the $500,000 Indiana Derby (gr. II), his final race before an expected start in the Breeders' Cup.

UAE Outlines 2011-12 Stakes Schedule

The United Arab Emirates will offer 26 group races, seven of them group I, during its 2011-12 racing season.

'Listed' Races to Face Annual Quality Review

The group that oversees black-type status for sales catalogs in the U.S. and Canada has announced that "Listed" races will be reviewed on an annual basis to determine if any should be downgraded, based on quality.

Turf Monster Tops Lucrative Parx Program

Led by the grade III Turf Monster Handicap, Parx Racing in Pennsylvania will card three lucrative stakes worth a total of $850,000 on Labor Day, Sept. 5.

Santa Anita Fall Meet Offers 13 Graded Stakes

Santa Anita Park will offer 13 graded stakes--six of them grade I-- during its 24-day fall meet that runs from Sept. 30-Nov. 6.

No Salix in Graded Stakes for 2YOs in 2012

The American Graded Stakes Committee said Aug. 10 it will employ a pilot program that will ban race-day medications -- primarily the anti-bleeding drug Salix -- in graded 2-year-old stakes in 2012.

Turfway Restores Five Kentucky Cup Stakes

With little time to spare and graded status for three races on the line, all five Kentucky Cup stakes will return to the calendar at Turfway Park in September. This year's Cup Day will be sponsored by WinStar Farm.

Canadian Graded Stakes Good for BC Points

Horses finishing first, second, or third in graded stakes in Canada will receive official Breeders' Cup points that can determine starting positions in the World Championships.

Tizway is Bond's Ticket Back to Whitney

Trainer James Bond has had success in the Whitney Handicap (gr. I) at Saratoga, and he hopes to continue his run Aug. 6 with Tizway.

Snow Top Mountain Eyes First Stakes Victory

Barbara Hunter's homebred Snow Top Mountain, first or second in 10 of 12 starts thus far, will seek her first stakes victory in the $100,000 Early Times Mint Julep Handicap (gr. IIIT) at Churchill Downs June 11.

Changes Sought for KY Breed Incentive Fund

The Kentucky Breeders' Incentive Fund advisory committee May 10 unanimously approved key changes in the program, which has become an important part of the state's Thoroughbred industry in very challenging times.

Aviate Flies Home in CD Distaff Turf Mile

Juddmonte Farms' Aviate, with one U.S. race under her belt, rallied strongly in the stretch and pulled away for an easy victory in the $227,800 Churchill Downs Distaff Turf Mile (gr. IIT) for fillies and mares May 7.

Game On Dude Faces Nine in Loaded CT Classic

An intriguing field of 10 head by Santa Anita Handicap (gr. I) winner Game On Dude has been entered for the $1 million Charles Town Classic (gr. III), the first graded stakes in the almost 80-year history of Charles Town.

Big 'Cap Rematch Seems Doubtful, for Now

The rematch between the one-two finishers in this year's Santa Anita Handicap (gr. I) in the April 16 Charles Town Classic (gr. III) appeared doubtful the evening of April 11.

Big 'Cap Rematch in Charles Town Classic?

The first two finishers in the controversial March 5 Santa Anita Handicap (gr. I) are ready for a rematch -- in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia, proof of what a $1 million purse and graded status can do for a race.

CT Classic: 88 Nominees, 10 Spots in Gate

Eighty-eight horses with 52 North American graded-stakes victories among them have been nominated to the $1 million Charles Town Classic, which this year has been elevated to grade III status.

Gulfstream Sets Florida Derby Weekend Records

Gulfstream Park's combined pari-mutuel handle the weekend of April 2-3 was $33.6 million, shattering the previous weekend record set last year in Gulfstream's new building by 29%.

Advantage to No Advantage in General George

Suarez Racing Inc.'s No Advantage, winless in five previous starts at Laurel Park, made his victory count with a strong come-from-behind win in the $150,000 General George Stakes (gr. II) Feb. 21 at the Maryland racetrack.

Tropical Park Derby Status Clarified

The Jockey Club said Jan. 3 the Tropical Park Derby, run Jan. 1 at Calder Casino & Race Course in Florida, was inadvertently listed as a grade III stakes in data feeds provided by Equibase.

Improving Colts Headline West Virginia Derby

Several winners of graded stakes are among nine 3-year-olds entered in the $750,000 West Virginia Derby (gr. II) at Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack & Resort Aug. 7.

Six Graded Stakes Winners Eye WV Derby

At least six graded stakes winners are expected to run in the $750,000 West Virginia Derby (gr. II) at Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack & Resort Aug. 7.

UPDATE: Graded Stakes Earnings List

In light of the defections of Rule and Eskendereya from the contenders list and the confirmation Devil May Care will be entered, here is the list of Derby hopefuls based on graded stakes earnings as of mid-morning April 26.

Graded Earnings Update as of April 10

The results of the April 10 Toyota Blue Grass and Arkansas Derby (both gr. I) play role in graded list shakeup

Pennsylvania Derby Moved to Late September

Philadelphia Park Casino & Racetrack has moved the $1 million Pennsylvania Derby (gr. II) to late September in an attempt to make it a final prep for the Breeders' Cup World Championships.

Ohio Derby Has Firm Spot on 2010 Calendar

The Ohio Derby, with a smaller purse and lower grade, will be run July 31, Thistledown officials said.

Arkansas Derby Among Three New Grade I Stakes

The Arkansas Derby, a major Triple Crown prep at Oaklawn Park, is one of three stakes upgraded to grade I status by the American Graded Stakes Committee.

Racing Commission: Cut Dates, Run Ohio Derby

The Ohio State Racing Commission Aug. 20 brought the grade II Ohio Derby back to the schedule this year by ordering a reduction of five live racing days at Thistledown, traditional host for the only graded stakes in the Buckeye State.

Graded Stakes Committee Makes Some Changes

The American Graded Stakes Committee Aug. 12 made some changes to the eligibility requirements for stakes.

Ohio Derby May Not Be Dead for 2009

Host track Thistledown, the Ohio Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association, and the Ohio State Racing Commission are discussing ways to restore the grade II Ohio Derby in 2009, officials said April 21.

Churchill Trims Spring Stakes Schedule

Churchill Downs has unveiled a stakes schedule for its 2009 spring meet that is headed by the 135th renewals of the $2-million Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) and the $500,000 Kentucky Oaks (gr. I). There will be 29 events with total purses of $7.575 million.

Six New Grade I Races for 2009

There will be seven more graded stakes in the United States in 2009, with six new grade I events -- two of them part of the Breeders' Cup World Championships--based on a listing of graded stakes released Nov. 25 by the American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association.

Keeneland Stakes Schedule a Record

Eighteen stakes worth a record $4.3 million, and enhanced graded status for the Maker's Mark Mile, Appalachian, and Fifth Third Elkhorn Stakes, highlight Keeneland's 2008 spring meet to be held April 4-25.

Graded Stakes Announced for 2008

There will be three new grade I stakes in the United States in 2008 after a review by the American Graded Stakes Committee, but for the time being, the three Breeders' Cup World Championships races run for the first time in 2007 won't have a grade.

Breeders' Cup Expansion on Agenda

The Breeders' Cup board of directors will discuss international participation in the World Championships, new races, and potential host sites for 2009 during its Dec. 7 meeting.

Mandatory Tests for Steroids Set for Graded Stakes

The American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association will add four commonly used anabolic steroids to the list of substances for which horses must be tested in graded stakes effective Jan. 1, 2008.

Five New Grade I Races in 2007; Two Others Drop to Grade II

California, which has the highest number of graded stakes of any racing state, will have four new grade I races in 2007, as a result of a meeting Nov. 30 of the American Graded Stakes Committee.

Four Races Upgraded to Grade I for 2006

Calder Race Course will run its first grade I race in 2006, the Princess Rooney Handicap, one of four races upgraded to grade I status by the American Graded Stakes Committee.

American Graded Stakes Committee Implements Drug Testing Protocol

The Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association's American Graded Stakes Committee announced Thursday it has implemented its drug testing protocol.

BC Stakes Program Valued at $7.3M in 2005

This year's Breeders' Cup Stakes program will offer $7.3 million in purse money spread over 125 stakes. Included are 69 graded stakes in the United States and 15 graded stakes in Canada.

Breeders' Cup Gets Tough on Grade I Handicaps

The Breeders' Cup board of directors has approved a committee recommendation that all grade I stakes that receive Breeders' Cup purse supplements be run under weight-for-age conditions effective July 1.

Number of Graded Stakes for 2005 Declines by 13

The American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association announced Wednesday its listing of U.S. graded stakes for 2005, the results of its annual grading session conducted Tuesday in Lexington, Ky.

Biszantz to Serve Fourth Term as Chairman of TOBA

The Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association has re-elected Gary Biszantz as chairman of its board of trustees. It will mark the fourth term for Biszantz. The action was taken Aug. 13 during the organization's annual board meeting in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

Delaware Moves Ahead on Graded Stakes Testing

The Delaware Thoroughbred Racing Commission and Delaware Park have decided the drug-testing protocol of the American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association be adopted voluntarily.

Drug-Testing Plan for Graded Stakes Delayed

The Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association delayed implementation of its drug-testing protocol for graded stakes in the United States because not all jurisdictions were prepared to implement it, the American Graded Stakes Committee said July 14.