The United States Trotting Association (USTA) announced Monday, Dec. 22 that the Standardbred Graded Stakes Committee has approved the addition of eight new graded stakes races for the 2026 harness racing season, bringing the total number of graded stakes events to 179.

The announcement follows the committee’s annual grading meeting, held on Nov. 18 & 19, in Goshen, New York, and in conjunction with the American Harness Racing Secretary meetings, and marks the second year of activity for the Standardbred Graded Stakes Committee.

"As the committee enters its second year, we now have a stronger data foundation to accurately evaluate race quality and competitive depth," said Mark Loewe, Chair of the Graded Stakes Committee. "That allows us to apply the grading criteria with greater consistency across all divisions."

USTA Executive Vice President and CEO Mike Tanner added, “The graded stakes program continues to mature and these updates reflect a system that is becoming more meaningful and more valuable to the sport.”

New Graded Stakes for 2026

Among the newly added races are four Grade 3 events to be held at Woodbine Mohawk Park, all for two-year-olds:

• Grade 3 Dream Maker – two-year-old pacing colts and geldings
• Grade 3 Whenuwishuponastar – two-year-old pacing fillies
• Grade 3 Millard Farms – two-year-old trotting colts and geldings
• Grade 3 Pure Ivory – two-year-old trotting fillies

Additional newly graded races include:

• Grade 3 Paul Revere – three-year-old pacing colts and geldings – Plainridge Park
• Grade 3 Pacey Mindlin Invitational – Miami Valley Raceway
• Grade 3 Allerage – aged pacing mares – The Red Mile
• Grade 3 Allerage – aged trotting mares – The Red Mile

Graded Stakes Changes

The committee also approved the upgrade of four races from Grade 2 to Grade 1 status:

• Dan Patch – aged pacing horses – Harrah’s Hoosier Park
• Dayton Pacing Derby – aged pacing horses, – Hollywood Dayton Raceway
• Dayton Distaff – aged pacing mares – Hollywood Dayton Raceway
• John Cashman Memorial – aged trotters – The Meadowlands

Two races were downgraded from Grade 1 to Grade 2 following the committee’s annual review:

• MGM Borgata Pacing Series – aged pacing horses – MGM Yonkers Raceway
• Blue Chip Matchmaker Series (to be called the Ursula McIntyre Series in 2026) – aged pacing mares – MGM Yonkers Raceway

Restricted Races Expanded

In addition to graded stakes changes, the committee approved the addition of 36 new restricted races for state- or province-bred programs, increasing the total number of restricted events to 164.

Complete Listings

A complete listing of all 2026 graded races are available by clicking here and all 2026 restricted races can be viewed by clicking here.

(USTA; photo of 2025 Dream Maker Pacing Series champion Sweet Lovin Lou)