North American International Cataloguing Standards Committee
The North American International Cataloguing Standards Committee (NAICSC) today announced that effective January 1, 2025, the minimum Race Quality Scores (RQS) for non-Listed black-type races in SITA catalogues (those compliant with guidelines required by the Society of International Thoroughbred Auctioneers) will be increased due to the gradual growth in the ratio of non-Listed black-type races to total races run.
The RQS is a composite number compiled by using speed figures for the first four finishers in each race over three years. Four speed figures are used to compile the RQS and are provided by Bloodstock Research Information Systems (BRIS), Daily Racing Form (Beyer), Equibase, and Thoro-Graph.
The non-Listed black-type races are divided into six age/sex categories for the purpose of determining black type using the RQS. They are 2yo males, 2yo females, 3yo males, 3yo females, 3 and up males, and 3 and up females. Each age/sex category has a minimum RQS that must be achieved for a stakes race to be awarded black type. The current minimum and revised RQS for each age/sex category is listed below:
Age/Sex Min. RQS Revised RQS (effective January 1, 2025)
2yo males 35.0 36.8
2yo females 29.0 30.5
3yo males 54.0 56.7
3yo females 45.3 47.6
3up males 63.7 66.9
3up females 55.8 58.6
Additional information about the NAICSC is available at northamericanicsc.com.
