What Is a Listed Race?

For those fairly new to horse racing, there is quite a lot to take in. Whether it’s all the abbreviations on the racecard, the special terminology or how handicapping works, it does make for a fairly steep learning curve. There is a lot we could potentially cover but for this article, our focus is on race grading, and specifically, listed races. By the end of the article, you should have a comprehensive understanding of what exactly a listed race is and how exactly it differs from other race classifications.

What Does It Mean When a Race Is Listed?

In horse racing, much like in many other sports, there is a hierarchy in place that helps denotes the quality of a particular race. Every single race you see will have its own classification as a result and it is this that heavily shapes how much prize money is on offer, as well as the entry requirements and cost of entry. Across both flat and jumps (National Hunt) racing, at the very top of the pile, you have Class 1 races and at the bottom, you have Class 7 (flat) or Class 6 (jumps racing).

Class 1 is the out odd out though as it is the only class that is subdivided into different levels. For flat racing, Class 1 includes Group 1, 2 and 3 events while in National Hunt (jumps) racing you have Grade 1, 2 and 3. A grade 1/group 1 race is the top of the class and it is these contests that feature some of the best or most promising horses around. Just underneath this trio of classifications though, you will find exactly what we are after: listed races. Despite not being at quite the same heights as a group/graded event, listed races are still Class 1 affairs and thus command plenty of respect and a decent sized purse.

How Many Listed Races Are There?

Seeing races with listed classification is not a rare sight at all. There are dozens of them throughout the season across both flat and National Hunt racing, although considerably more for the former. Often they are used by trainers to prepare a horse for a more prestigious and lucrative group or graded race that is scheduled a little later in the season. Listed races can also be used by a well-established horse that is returning from injury, just to get them back up to speed without facing the hindrance of a hefty handicap.

For flat racing specifically, listed races provide the natural and fairly gentle step up for any horse that has impressed at Class 2/3 handicaps. A horse could always stick at the lower level but they will find that any good patch of form will make future successes harder as their official ranking, and thus handicap, will increase. Listed races however provide an opportunity for talented handicappers not to be hamstrung by their own success at the least risk possible. By risk we mean financial as the entry fee for entering a horse for a listed race will be less than for group/graded races.

For National Hunt racing, the same situation really applies for non-handicap listed races. It gives solid steeplechasers and hurdlers a chance to see how they fare without the handicappers meddling. Some may find the step up too challenging but for others, it can pave the way for a solid career at the top level of racing. Listed handicaps on the other hand are simply used for anyone looking for a greater test than Class 2 but something likely less challenging than a Group 3 contest.

Notable Examples of Listed Races

To finish we have highlighted some of the more prominent listed races on the British racing circuit. The listed classification is actually used across the continent, and indeed in Australia, rather than being specific to the British Isles, but nobody else boasts this much higher-level thoroughbred action.

Also bear in mind the lists below are just a small sample of what is available as listed races are regularly available at all times of the year. The complete list will change slightly year on year as a minority of races are reclassified/rehoused but most listed races have held the status for many years, or even since their inception. Note that some races will change their names if they get new sponsors.