Review Of Canada's Graded Stakes Stands Pat At 41

Tuesday, March 3, 2026 | 6:57 pm

Updated: March 3, 2026 at 8:42 pm

Toronto ON.October 5, 2025.Woodbine Racetrack.Jockey Sahin Civaci guides Cy Fair to victory in the bet365 $175,000 dollar Algonquin Stakes.Cy Fair covered the 5 furl in 56.1 for owners Swinbank Stables LLC, Medallion Racing and Mark Stanton and trainer George Weaver.Woodbine/ Michael Burns Photo

The Jockey Club of Canada's Graded Stakes Committee held its annual review of graded and listed stakes, and the number of higher level races will remain at 41, according to a press release late on Tuesday from the Jockey Club of Canada.

The Committee reviewed the North American Race Committee (NARC) figures for all graded, listed and potentially listed races in Canada.

Based on the data, the committee determined that the GIII British Columbia Derby will be downgraded to listed status and the early October running at Woodbine of the bet365 Algonquin Stakes for 2-year-olds on the turf will be upgraded to a Grade III.

Additionally, the Century Casino Oaks, King Corrie Stakes, Niagara Stakes and Thorncliffe Stakes will all be upgraded to listed status.

The Graded Stakes Committee meeting was conducted by Chair Ross McKague, who was joined by appointed members David Anderson, Jim Bannon, Jeff Begg, Catherine Day Phillips, Bernard McCormack and The Jockey Club of Canada's Chief Steward Doug Anderson.

Also attending were racetrack representatives Allen Goodsell, Teagan Goodsell and Mike Vanin from Alberta. McKague represented Manitoba, and Julia Bell & Scott Lane stood for Ontario.