Horse racing classes, grades and groups explained

When you’re learning the ropes of thoroughbred racing, the jargon surrounding the sport can become confusing.

While anyone can figure out that a Grade 1 or Group 1 race represents the pinnacle of the sport, it’s much harder to tell what the difference is between a Listed handicap and a Heritage Handicap.

With this in mind we’ve put together this simple guide to horse racing classes and grades to help you get a handle on how thoroughbred races are classed and ranked.

Why races are classified

Before getting into how races are classified, it is helpful to understand why they are divided into different grades, groups and classes in the first place.

The reason is quite simple: the classification of races was put in place to ensure that horses of comparable ability race against each other and to ensure that specific quality standards are met at each level of classification.

The system of classifying races also allows racing authorities across regions and countries to co-ordinate the planning and scheduling of specific races.

This is done to attempt to ensure that the best quality horses are free to compete in the largest possible selection of races, which is particularly important in top class races.

Flat racing

Flat racing is divided into seven classes of race, with Pattern and Listed races ranking at the top of the class system, while low-rated handicappers prop up the classification system in Class 7.

Class 1 races

Group races, also known as pattern races, represent the elite level of thoroughbred racing. These represent a small minority of all races run every year, and are subdivided into three levels.

• Group 1 races are the highest level of races open to horses of various age groups. These receive extensive publicity, pay out the largest prize funds and some are considered racing events of international importance. Typically horses in these races will carry the same weights, allowing pure quality to shine through. However, a selection of these races, such as the Melbourne Cup, impose age and performance weight penalties.
• Group 2 races are the level below Group 1 races. These events can still draw top rated racehorses, and it’s not unusual for horses to compete in both Group 1 and Group 2 events during a season.
• Group 3 races tend to attract slightly lower rated racehorses, but can also be used as trial events by champion racehorses, or as stepping stones to races with higher classifications.

Listed races also fall within Class 1 of flat racing. While they generally attract lower rated racehorses, quality horses are still known to compete in these as they build their careers and improve their ratings on the way to Group racing.

Class 2-7 races

Handicaps are used to regulate the rank and file of horseracing that inhabit the 6 other classes of the flat racing pyramid.

Weights are assigned to horses by official handicappers before races based on a variety of variables such as age, sex and recent performances. This is done to make each race as competitive as possible.

To make the handicapper’s job easier, these races are subdivided into seven classes which are restricted to horses within specific racing bands.

• Class 1 applies to Listed handicap races, which are open to horses with ratings over 96
• Class 2 handicaps for horses rated between 86 and 110, and include Heritage Handicap races
• Class 3 handicap races for horses rated between 76 and 95
• Class 4 handicaps for horses rated between 66 and 85
• Class 5 handicaps for horses rated between 56 and 75
• Class 6 handicaps for horses rated between 46 and 65
• Class 7 are for horses rated 0-45.

Classes 2-6 are further subdivided into 14 point racing ‘bands’ which overlap, and distinguish between higher and lower quality races in each Class.

National hunt racing

Like flat racing, National Hunt racing is divided into a series of Classes. However, there are some small differences in how races are classified.

Class 1 races

Class 1 National Hunt races include both Pattern races and Listed races. As with flat racing, Class 1 Pattern races are divided into three tiers.

• Grade 1 races are contested by the finest jumps racehorses in their specific event/distance category, the Cheltenham Gold Cup is a Grade 1 race.
• Grade 2 races are also contested by elite racehorses, but the general field quality will typically be lower than you’d find in the average Grade 1 race.
• Grade 3 races are the next tier down, and include major handicap races. Some of these, like the Grand National, can attract more interest and pay larger prizes than higher grade races.

Listed races are ranked just below Graded races, with the quality of competitors reflecting the prize money and status of the race.

Class 2-6 races

As with flat racing, the majority of National Hunt races are handicap events, with weights used to level the field and create more competitive races.

Unlike flat racing, however, lower Class races do not carry minimum rating restrictions. This means horses with any rating below the stipulated maximum ratings within the class can compete in any handicap.

These handicaps are divided into five classes according to the ratings of the entries, with two levels available in classes 3 to 5.

• Class 2 handicaps are open races
• Class 3 handicaps are open to horses rated up to 120 or 135
• Class 4 handicaps are open to horses rated up to 100 or 115
• Class 5 handicaps are open to horses rated up to 85 or 95
• Class 6 National Hunt races include National Hunt flat races and hunter chase events.

Types of horse races FAQ

While every race will fall into one of the classes we’ve described, they can be further subdivided or categorized depending on the types of horses competing in them, prize money and other factors.

Here are the answers to some commonly asked questions about other types of race categories.