Uruguay Officially Promoted to Part I of the Blue Book by IFHA

A total of 50 races from the Uruguayan calendar will now be recognized, including 26 that have been elevated from Part II

The International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA) announced Friday that its International Race Planning and Grading Advisory Committee (IRPAC) has approved the promotion of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay to Part I of the 2025 edition of the International Cataloguing Standards (ICS) Book, a decision also ratified by the Society of International Thoroughbred Auctioneers (SITA).

With this upgrade from Part II, Uruguay joins Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Peru as South American nations now included in Part I of the ICS Book. Currently, 24 Uruguayan races are listed under the “Other Races” section of Part I—including two Group 1s, four Group 2s, and 18 Group 3s—alongside 26 Listed events recognized in Part II. All of these races will maintain their existing Group or Listed status, but will now be featured in the main section of the Blue Book.

This shift is particularly significant, as it brings the total number of Uruguayan races recognized in Part I to 50, including marquee events such as the G1 Gran Premio José Pedro Ramírez and the G1 Gran Premio Ciudad de Montevideo, the highest-rated races on the calendar at Hipódromo Nacional de Maroñas.

Among the 26 races ascending from Part II without a change in classification are the Listed: Carlos Pellegrini, Carlos Reyles, Gran Premio Municipal, Gran Premio de Honor, Gran Premio Presidente de la República, Otoño, Criadores Nacionales, Benito Villanueva, among others. The only race at Hipódromo de Las Piedras to be included is the L Gran Premio Batalla de Las Piedras.

The news, which had been anticipated in recent months following a press conference at Maroñas by Horacio Espósito, Vice President of the IFHA, represents a milestone achievement for Uruguayan and South American racing. It is seen as a reward for the sustained efforts made by the management team at Maroñas in coordination with the Dirección General de Casinos, regardless of political affiliation.

However, industry leaders acknowledge that this is just the beginning. Going forward, the challenge will be to maintain these 50 races at the high international standards required to remain in Part I—a goal that will demand consistency, planning, and continued progress across all levels of the Uruguayan racing industry.