Victory in these races marks a horse as being particularly talented, if not exceptional, and they are extremely important in determining stud values.
[3][4] Group/Grade 1 The highest level, for races with major international importance considered to be of championship standard, including Classics.
[5][6][4] With the general principles laid out, Lord Porchester headed a further committee in 1967 to identify specific races, both in Britain and in other countries.
[6][4] European authorities began to push North American jurisdictions to develop a similar system designating prominent races to promote international competition.
In 1985, concern was raised regarding a lack of opportunity to earn black type in North American compared to Europe due to the lower percentage of stakes races.
The minimum purse to qualify for black type status for other added-money stakes was raised to $25,000 starting in 1990.
[13] In 2012, the North American ICSC introduced a scoring system to determine whether or not non-listed stakes should be granted black type.
The three-year average RQS must meet a minimum for the race's age/sex division, or it loses black type status.
[19] The breakdown is as follows: Under the European Pattern, Group and Listed races may not be run as a handicap (expecting the European Free Handicap), may not be divided into two or more divisions, may not have a standard entry fee exceeding 2% of the purse, must be open to geldings (excepting Group 1 races restricted to two- or three-year-olds), and must have a permanent element in the title.
However, a number of checks and balances are in place which ensure that changes to the Pattern are gradual and evolutionary, thereby giving the racing industry time to adjust.
In particular, the current European Pattern Committee "Ground Rules" explicitly state that no race may be upgraded by more than one Group in any one year.
[12] The Asian Pattern Committee is the accepted authority for Group and Listed status in the United Arab Emirates.
[3][4] It therefore simultaneously acts as a scheduling tool for trainers and owners and as a measurement of racing class for breeders and buyers.
Constraints of internationally agreed upon standards can create challenges for individual countries and isolated situations, acting against the commercial and racecourse interests.
[4] Despite declining foal crops in many countries, the number of Pattern races has remained fairly steady or even increased.
[25] New races with large purses, such as The Everest, have gained considerable prestige, despite lacking Group or Graded recognition.
[6][24] Peter V'landys, CEO of Racing New South Wales and creator the Everest, claims that the Pattern "breeds apathy" and "is a restraint to trade.
[27] The addition of official ratings to catalog information to complement black type and Group/Grade designation has been suggested.