The Jockey Club of Canada's Graded Stakes Committee held its annual review of the graded and listed stakes races in Canada and the number of graded stakes in Canada will decrease to 40. The decrease is due partially to individual racetracks choosing to place selected races on hold for the 2022 season and other races that have felt the repercussions of the pandemic. Additionally, two graded stakes races were downgraded.
After reviewing the NARC figures and the RQS numbers for all listed and black-type races in Canada, the committee determined that the Grade I Highlander S. will be downgraded to Grade II status and the Grade III Ballerina S. will be downgraded to listed status. Additionally, the Ascot Graduation Stakes (L) and the British Columbia Oaks (L) are required to reapply for black-type status having not run in 2020 or 2021.
Other changes include the GI Northern Dancer S., GII Nijinsky S. and the GII Play the King S. will not return in 2022 and the GI Pattison Canadian International will be placed on hold for 2022.
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