Grade gap

From HelpWiki

Grade gaps pertain to the amount of points it takes for the horse to increase its grade level. Grade gaps are random per horse.
Grade gaps have nothing to do with the rank of a horse.

On the horse's main page above the vet's message you'll see something like this: (numbers vary)
9,600 pnts to next rank | 11pnts to next grade.

This simply means that to get to rank 97, the horse must earn one point over 9,600 points. But for the grade level, the horse must earn 11 more points. So if a horse is B Circuit 11, it has to have 11 more points to get to B Circuit 12.

Grade gaps are generally smaller in credit-founded and regularly-founded horses (though regularly founded horses may have large grade gaps). Many horses that are bred and have a larger rank, may have a larger grade gap (250pts+). Therefore, a credit-founded horse may increase in grade rather quickly due to the smaller grade gap when put in regular daily shows and the occasional stable show. Any horse with a large grade gap (250 pts and above) will take longer to increase in grade, but not rank.