Coronavirus (COVID-19) - Field Selection, Handicapping & Programming during Covid-19 Regionalisation

21 April 2020
Logo

Effective fields selected from Monday 27th April 2020

During Regionalisation it is important to ensure horses are gaining starts as often as possible. The below changes are designed to simplify our Field Selection, Handicapping and Programming.

Put simply a maximum eight (8) races will be programmed guaranteeing maximum field sizes at time of releasing fields. Also this will ensure horses are getting runs in relation to the days since their previous start irrespective of their National Rating (NR) or Dollars won in their last 5 starts ($L5).

These changes will apply to all meetings excluding Menangle Metropolitan Meetings and Heats of the Tabcorp Regional Championships. For clarity the Menangle Tuesday Meetings field selection will be included in the Protocol.

Field Selection

  • Preference will be given to horses with the most days since their previous start. (horse that hasn’t started for 14 days gets a start before a horse that started 10 days ago) Where horses are equal on amount of days since the last start, highest dollars won in their last five starts will apply, if still equal horse with the highest National Rating will apply to differentiate.
  • Standard unfulfilled engagement/late nomination principles apply.

Field Splitting

  • Maiden races will be split into fields of ten based on $L5 from highest to lowest
  • Up to NR55 will be split into fields of ten based on $L5 from highest to lowest
  • Races above NR55 will be split into fields of ten on National Ratings from the top down. Given the large gap above 55, horses in this grade would be better suited to racing their own grade were possible. This will allow for more like for like racing.

Race Selection

  • As all meetings will have a maximum 6 races programmed the races which will be split will be based on the two races programmed with highest number of nominations.

Race Programming all Regions

  • 2yo when scheduled as per established 2yo calendar with a minimum of 1 per week in a Region
  • 3yo up to 1 this season win with 1 per week in a Region
  • Maiden for horses with 0 Lifetime wins all to be 3yo and older
  • Up to NR55 3yo Concessions will apply however no Drivers Concession or Mares Concession will apply
  • Up to NR 120 for A meetings 1 per region per week. Except Metro A meetings would be up to NR90. Dual Concession claims to apply
  • Up to NR 90 for B Meetings. Except Metro B meetings would be up to 75. Dual concessions will apply.    

Shaun Snudden

Manager - Industry Development

 

Related News

16 October 2026
Gillespie confident of Marburg success
Trainer and driver Tim Gillespie believes Smokey Bear is on the verge of recording his first career victory at Marburg on Sunday. That is when the gelding, who turns four on October 22, will line up in the maiden over 2200 metres, guided by Angus Garrard. The Up And Quick and Justa Cold Trotter gelding...
16 October 2026
Ford holds strong hand in Dandy Patch heats
Heats of the Group 2 Woodlands Stud Evicus (1609m) and the Woodlands Stud Dandy Patch (2090m) headline the nine-race card at Hobart’s Ladbrokes Park Elwick on Friday night. Driver Dylan Ford holds a strong hand in both heats of the Dandy Patch, partnering favourite Bettor Than Ready in heat one,...
15 October 2026
Age no obstacle for Grey Cadillac
AGE is proving no obstacle for Grey Cadillac. In fact, like a fine win, Grey Cadillac appears to be getting better with age. Just days away from his 13th birthday, Grey Cadillac was triumphant at Penrith to continue his most successful season. Trained by astute horseman Troy Williams, the sprightly 12-year-old...
15 October 2026
Gloucester Park Preview Friday 16th October 2026
Change of tactics for Copy Cat Queen Brilliant sit-sprinter Copy Cat Queen will be seen in a vastly different role at Gloucester Park on Friday night when her trainer Aiden De Campo plans to give the five-year-old the task of setting the pace and winning the $50,000 The Schrader Pace for mares over 2130m....
15 October 2026
Priest Pacing towards more Group 1 glory
COURTESY OF HARNESS RACING UPDATE THEY call him the “Pacing Priest” and for good reason. Father Brian Glasheen’s life has been spent across his two passions, the church and the racetrack. It was almost 50 years ago when renowned scribe Danny Power dubbed Glasheen the “Pacing Priest”...
Click for more