Woodbine: Off-the-turf Highlander downgraded to Grade 3

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – The Highlander Stakes, which was run last Sunday at Woodbine, has been downgraded from Grade 2 to Grade 3 status after a downpour just prior to the race led to its being moved from turf to the main track in the interests of safety.

When conditions lead to a surface change for a graded race following the close of nominations, the race is automatically downgraded by one level for that running only.

On Wednesday, the Jockey Club of Canada’s Graded Stakes Committee examined the speed figures of all the entrants from several sources, including Beyer Speed Figures, and reviewed the past performances of the entrants while comparing them with data from previous runnings.

The committee determined that the quality of the Highlander was affected by the change of surface, and therefore the Highlander Stakes would remain a Grade 3 in 2013.

The Highlander had been upgraded from Grade 3 to Grade 2 in 2010.

The Jockey Club of Canada established its own graded stakes committee in 1999, breaking away from the North American program with the proviso that it would continue to follow the general principals of its U.S. counterpart in order for the gradings to be recognized internationally.