Group races, also known as Pattern races, or Graded races in some jurisdictions, are the highest level of races in Thoroughbred horse racing. They include most of the world's iconic races, such as, in the United States, the Kentucky Derby and Breeders' Cup races, in Europe, the Epsom Derby, Irish Derby and Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and in Australia, the Melbourne Cup. Victory in these races marks a horse as being particularly talented, if not exceptional, and they are extremely important in determining stud values. They are also sometimes referred to as Black type races, since any horse that has won one of these races is printed in bold type in sales catalogues.^[1]

By country[edit]

Australia[edit]

In Australia, the Australian Pattern Committee recommends to the Australian Racing Board (ARB) which races shall be designated as Group races.^[2][3] The list of races approved by the ARB are accepted by the International Cataloguing Standards Committee (ICSC) for publication by The Jockey Club (US) in The Blue Book, thus providing international recognition for Australia's best races.^[4]

There are four grades of Group races in Australia:^[4]

• Group 1 - 64 races - minimum prizemoney A$350,000
• Group 2 - 83 races - minimum prizemoney A$175,000
• Group 3 - 112 races - minimum prizemoney A$115,000
• Listed Races - 280 races - minimum prizemoney A$80,000

Australia has a total of approximately 540 to 550 Group races from a season total of almost 21,000 races. These races were collectively known as Principal Races until about 1979. For a list of Group races see List of Australian Group races.

Europe[edit]

In Europe the designation of flat races is agreed by the European Pattern Committee. The Committee grade races into one of three levels, dependent on the average official ratings achieved by the first four finishers in a race over a three year period.^[5] The breakdown is as follows:

• Group 1 - Minimum official rating of 115 (110 for 2 year olds)
• Group 2 - Minimum official rating of 110 (105 for 2 year olds)
• Group 3 - Minimum official rating of 105 (100 for 2 year olds)

Like Australia, there is also a grade of races just below "Group" level, known as Listed races.

National Hunt racing in Europe has an equivalent grading system where the races are known as Grade 1, Grade 2, Grade 3 and Listed races respectively. This takes place independently of the European Pattern system above, which applies only to flat races.

North America[edit]

In North America, the equivalent are known as Graded stakes races

See also[edit]

• List of Australian Group races
• List of British Group races (flat)
• List of British Group races (jumps)
• List of French Group races (flat)
• List of French Group races (jumps)
• List of German Group races
• List of Irish Group races (flat)
• List of Irish Group races (jumps)
• List of Italian Group races
• List of Scandinavian Group races
• List of South American Group races

References[edit]

External links[edit]

• Racing and Sports Group Race Interactive database
• International Cataloguing Standards Committee