The difference between listed and group races.

[mdwillis]

Can anyone tell me the difference between a listed race and a group race. What not call a listed race a Group 4 race? It has struck me that listed races are for horse with no real future at stud and its to give those horses owners a chance of sucess at a farily high level with no real prospect of that horse going to stud. Thats why a lot of geldings run in listed races. Is there a difference beween a listed race and a group 3?

[rory]

I’d recommend reading this:

http://www.horseracingintfed.com/aboutDisplay.asp?section=7&file=4

In 1961, the Horseracing Authorities of the United States of America, France, Great Britain and Ireland have decided to coordinate their action in order to protect the integrity of horseraces and keep their basic aim, which is the organization of competitions to select the best horses in order to improve the quality of breeding.
In 1967, they created the International Conference held in Paris every year which brings the main Racing Authorities in the world together.

To give an official shape to these efforts, they founded in 1993 the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities which amalgamates around sixty members.

Their main objectives are:

to coordinate and harmonize the rules of the member-countries regarding breeding, racing & wagering;
to ensure the quality and fairness of racing in the interest of both the breeding and the public;
to provide the organization on racecourses of the protection of the welfare of horses, jockeys and the people attending;
to update the organization of horseracing on account of the technical, social and economical evolution;
The Federation organizes every year the International Conference which updates the International Agreement on Breeding, Racing and Wagering endorsed by the Conference in 1974.

The Federation publishes the main statistics of each member-country concerning breeding,

[Prufrock]

In a way, a listed race is indeed effectively a Group 4 race. They have been used as a stepping stone by some good horses, and there have been some very good efforts put up in listed races. They are inferior in calibre to Group 3 races in general, but not always in reality.

[davidbrady]

I often find that Gr3 & Lst form is pretty interchangeable and that a horse who is competitive at Gr3 will invariaby be competitive at Lst level. Also I personally feel that there is a huge step up in class from Gr3 to Gr2, even greater than that from Gr2 to Gr1. And finally, form in heritage handicaps is usually as good as basic Gr2 level (ie – a Gr2 without any Gr1 horses in it)

[non vintage]

It is also worth pointing out that whilst a win or place in a Listed race might not necessarily ‘entitle’ a colt to a place at stud, it can make a huge difference to the value of a potential broodmare and her subsequent offspring.

I think having a ‘Listed’ grade is perfectly valid and serves as a useful line-in-the-sand. You could call it a Group 4 race, but then where do you stop? (Not to mention the potential security implications!!!) By that argument, sellers could be called Group 10 or 11 races, and Heybridge Swifts probably play their football in Division 13 or something…

[Author]

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