Delaware Handicap Downgraded For 2018

[BaroqueAgain1]

Tiz Miz Sue really danced all the dances, didn't she?

[stark]

Tiz Miz Sue really danced all the dances, didn't she?

Belmont Park 5/27/2013 8 Ogden Phipps Handicap (Gr. 1) TB 1
Oaklawn Park 4/12/2013 10 Apple Blossom Handicap (Gr. 1) TB 2
Oaklawn Park 3/16/2013 9 Azeri Stakes (Gr. 3) TB 1
Oaklawn Park 2/16/2013 9 Bayakoa Stakes (Listed) TB 3
Keeneland 10/7/2012 8 Juddmonte Spinster Stakes (Gr. 1) TB 5
Saratoga 8/26/2012 10 Personal Ensign Handicap (Gr. 1) TB 4
Delaware Park 7/21/2012 10 Delaware Handicap (Gr. 2) TB 2
Delaware Park 6/16/2012 7 Obeah Stakes (Gr. 3) TB 2
Oaklawn Park 4/13/2012 10 Apple Blossom Handicap (Gr. 1) TB 3
Oaklawn Park 3/17/2012 8 Azeri Stakes (Gr. 3) TB 1
Oaklawn Park 2/18/2012 9 Bayakoa Stakes (Listed) TB 2
Oaklawn Park 1/21/2012 8 Pippin Stakes (Listed) TB 2
Aqueduct 11/4/2011 4 Turnback the Alarm Handicap (Gr. 3) TB 4
Saratoga 9/3/2011 8 Personal Ensign Invitational Stakes (Gr. 1) TB 3
Saratoga 7/31/2011 9 Ruffian Invitational Handicap (Gr. 1) TB 4
Delaware Park 6/11/2011 9 Obeah Stakes (Gr. 3) TB 2

[Treve]

Gradings have a lot to do with the horses behind the winners, and while the Delaware Handicap usually featured one top horse, the rest of the fields are frequently very weak, at least for a Grade 1. I would assume that was the reason for the downgrade.

Let's face it, that division has not been able to sustain major races, and more than a few once "major" races in it have fallen by the wayside over the last decade or so.

e.g. a few of the household names....

07/15/17 Songbird Martini Glass... Line Of Best Fit
07/16/16 I'm a Chatterbox Paid Up Subscriber... Penwith
07/18/15 Sheer Drama Frivolous... America
07/12/14 Belle Gallantey Princess of Sylmar... Flashy American
07/20/13 Royal Delta She's All In... And Why Not

I'm a horse racing fan and I don't remember some of those horses....

Paid Up Subscriber and Princess of Sylmar are the only two I recognise for sure... Flashy American is vaguely familiar but I don't know.

[middleground]

Paid Up Subscriber and Princess of Sylmar are the only two I recognise for sure... Flashy American is vaguely familiar but I don't know.

Almost completely irrelevant to the discussion at hand, but Flashy American's extremely good-looking Orb colt (her first foal) sold for 1M at Saratoga last summer:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bNhPpclgJs

[Treve]

Paid Up Subscriber and Princess of Sylmar are the only two I recognise for sure... Flashy American is vaguely familiar but I don't know.

Almost completely irrelevant to the discussion at hand, but Flashy American's extremely good-looking Orb colt (her first foal) sold for 1M at Saratoga last summer:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bNhPpclgJs

Ah that's likely were I recognised her name from then, thanks!