A couple curious questions

Question
Hi Ed,
I have two questions that I cannot find a very detailed answer with anyone I have asked so far, so I will try here.
1) if optional claiming races are optional to put up for a tag, and the only conditions do not have to do with the money value of the horses themselves (rather to do with nw1$_x, 2$, and so on..) then how do you know if the value of an optional claimer 80k is really all that much different in horse class/value than an optional claimer 25k? It doesn't seem to be shown anywhere in the description of the race what value any of the horses are. In different words, shouldn't an oc25k be of equal value with an oc80k if no horse is up for sale (both races are an nw1$_x lets say)? Why would an oc80k be any harder if all have to do with non winner of such and such money other than claiming maiden or starter?

(whew) 2) which is more competitive a maiden stakes or a maiden special weight? I'm guessing it is the same concept as amongst winners, the allowance/oc comparing to stakes races. Since Stakes races are more of a pot and have no conditions, and are an upper division than allowances/oc's, they would be the harder of the these two comparisons . So in different words, a maiden special weight is higher than a regular price tag maiden since the entrants are not up for sale...fair enough.. A maiden stakes seems higher with the previous description but it seems purses are not but I wonder if it is a small scope of talent. Would it be considered that most stakes races are just a fancy name for 'another maiden special weight' with the exception that if your horse wins, you collect nice money, but the horse is still in the maidens. I hope these questions are descriptive enough and that you can finally satisfy what I have been trying to figure out for a while.

Pat

p.s. Are you related to the known trainer R.B Hess in southern cal? I'm impressed anyway that it is made possible to even ask you this question, oh trainer of horses (and cool profile). The answer to this question will help me assess horses for my database configuration.

Answer
hi --- no, i am not related to R.B. HESS   the person you want to talk to about your questions is the racing secretary at one of your california race tracks. they are the ones who write the condition books for each race meet and can explain to you what you are looking to find out.. thanks ED HESS