Group races, also known as
Pattern races, or
Graded races in some jurisdictions, are the highest level of races in
Thoroughbred horse racing. They include most of the world's iconic races, such as, in Europe, the
Epsom Derby, Irish Derby and
Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, in Australia, the
Melbourne Cup and in the
United States, the
Kentucky Derby and
Breeders' Cup races. Victory in these races marks a horse as being particularly talented, if not exceptional, and they are extremely important in determining
stud values. They are also sometimes referred to as
Black type races, since any horse that has won one of these races is printed in bold type in sales catalogues.