Reader Forum: Speaking up on Grade 1 stakes downgrades

HRN Staff
Photo: Alex Evers / Eclipse Sportswire
On a weekly basis at Horse Racing Nation, we're seeking to highlight top comments on major races, popular horses, industry issues and more through the Reader Form. Want your comment to be featured in a future edition? Sign up here, and begin by offering your thoughts on all things racing below this article.
The American Graded Stakes Committee's decision to downgrade four Grade 1 races for 2020 sparked plenty of conversation. That no events were, in turn, upgraded to Grade 1 status led to this comment worth pondering:

It is, frankly, not often that readers agree in a sport where fans are so passionate. But once in a while, some consensus forms, as it did surrounding the Santa Anita Oaks' move to Grade 2 status.

(For what it's worth, Walker Hancock, a member of the American Graded Stakes Committee, shared criteria that saw this race lagging well behind other Grade 1 routes for 3-year-old fillies.)

On Sunday, owner Gary West made official what seemed like a forgone conclusion: Maximum Security will skip the Pegasus World Cup, a $3 million race, in favor of the $20 million Saudi Cup.

That was all one user needed to crown the Pegasus winner with the race Jan. 25 at Gulfstream Park:

News that Santa Anita had postponed races set for its traditional day-after-Christmas opening program raised eyebrows. Was Saturday too soon to call off a card for a long-range forecast?

But then we quickly learned that races such as the Malibu (G1) and La Brea (G1) will join regularly scheduled Dec. 28 races at Santa Anita for a big Saturday of racing.

And, finally, sad news emerged Sunday morning from Peru, where a night watchman and four stallions, including The Lieutenant, a sibling of Triple Crown winner Justify, were killed by intruders to a farm.

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