Determining Class And Competitive Level
You’ve purchased a horse, you’ve registered him, had him geno-typed, parentage verified and tattooed. He’s with a trainer that you carefully selected and feel comfortable teaming with. Now comes the day that you and your trainer need to sit down and decide at what level your horse will compete.
While we all hope that we own the next All American Futurity winner, the reality is that equine athletes are like human athletes: some are simply more talented than others.
In American Quarter Horse racing, different types of races are written to allow each runner to compete with others of his own class. To help you and your trainer make decisions, racetracks print condition books that specify eligibility requirements for most races. At any given racetrack, there are six basic types of races that might be listed in a condition book. In some circles, this is known as the “class ladder.” As you move up the ladder, you also move up in the level and quality of competition.
Maiden Races
Maiden races are limited to horses which have never won a race. All American Quarter Horses are called maidens until they win a race.
Claiming Races
Claiming races are the most common type of race, constituting approximately 70 percent of all races run. In these races, horses are entered for a specific price and can be purchased or “claimed” by any licensed owner at the track for that price. This tends to equalize the class or competition in these races. It is within the claiming ranks that many horses find their niche. Claiming races might be written for horses worth anywhere from as little as $1,500 to upwards of $25,000 to $50,000. Most American Quarter Horses can compete somewhere between these two figures and bring a check home to their owners.
Trial Races
Trials are designed to determine the qualifiers for finals in stakes races (futurities, derbies and maturities), based on the fastest qualifying times or order of finish.
Allowance Races
Allowance races are non-claiming races for better quality horses. These races generally offer higher purses than claiming races. Eligibility requirements and conditions are similar to those of claiming races, and the weights that each horse will carry are given based on winnings and/or number or type of wins within a specified time.
Stakes Races
Stakes races are “jackpots” in which the purse consists of nomination, entry and starting fees, plus significant money added by the track or other sponsor. These races are for the highest quality horses. Graded stakes races are the premier stakes races, which by a grade one (G1), grade two (G2) or grade three (G3), designate the class of horses participating. The size of purse, amount of added monies and the historical significance of the race also are determining factors in the grade status. Grade One (G1) is the highest designation.
Handicap Races
Like stakes races, handicap races also are written for the highest quality horses. In handicap races, the racing secretary will assign weights designed to equalize the winning chances of entrants. Those horses the racing secretary feels are of better quality in the race will carry more weight.
When a horse is beginning his racing career, generally his pedigree and purchase price or value of his dam or sire determine the level at which he will start. However, once a horse has a few races under his belt, regardless of how well he was bred, form becomes the major factor to consider when planning his next races.
While it might take a few races before you’re able to determine the quality of runner you have, many trainers and owners currently in the business contend that it’s not a good idea to let a horse lose too many races before evaluating his program. Hurting your horse’s confidence will only undue all the preparation you’ve put into getting him ready for his racing career.
In most instances, after a horse has had several works and a schooling race, determining his class level should be fairly easy.