York gains new Group 1

OTHER PATTERN CHANGES

 

 

The City of York Stakes has also been upgraded to Group 1s status as part of a raft of changes made by the European Pattern Committee (EPC). York have announced that the race, run over seven furlongs, would be worth £600,000, an increase of £100,000 on 2024.

The Prix Vicomtesse Vigier at Longchamp in May has also boosted to Group 1 level this year, whilst the Champion Juvenile Stakes at Leopardstown during the Irish Champions Festival, has also been approved to be a Group 1 in 2026 when the race’s distance will also be increased from a mile to nine furlongs.

The total number of stakes races has been reduced to 814 from 826, with five fewer Group races taking place and seven fewer Listed races. The most notable changes have come in Italy, where nine races have lost Listed status.

However, five new Listed races have been created in France, Ireland, Sweden, Denmark and Italy, while changes have also been made to the racing calendar. This includes bringing forward Arc Trials day in France by a week and swapping the dates of Ireland’s Anglesey and Railway Stakes.

In Britain, the Listed Fred Archer Stakes has been renamed the Charlie Woods Stakes after moving to Beverley and the Listed Rothesay Stakes will now be run at Haydock after Ayr handed back the contest.

Last year, the EPC put the Group 1 Commonwealth Cup, the Group 2 Temple Stakes and the Group 3 Vase on watch for potential downgrade, but none of the races are listed for potential demotion in 2026.