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

22 February 2026
Hamilton: The rise of the bonus era
Bonuses have been the buzz word in harness racing this year. NSW was the first to experiment with the $1 million bonus across its five-race NSW Carnival of Cups series. Swayzee almost swept the pool when he won four legs and finished a close second in the other (at Albury) last year. The champion stayer...
22 February 2026
Patient play pays off for Svanosio at Melton
Chris Svanosio finished the meeting with a rush, landing the last two winners to bring up a training double at Melton on Saturday night. Ultra-consistent trotter Kyvalley Maven ($3.70) found his way to the winner’s stall for the first time since July last year when he took out the Mimosa Homes...
22 February 2026
GOODFORM - Ryan's tips and strategy for Cranbourne
Cranbourne – Sunday, 22 February 2026 Race 1: OVERVIEW: SEA FURY (8) won impressively for the new stable first-up, working hard from a wide draw and proving too strong. This race doesn’t look any harder and despite the tricky backrow draw he can move early and be strong again late. BELLA...
22 February 2026
Herbie's Ultimate romp
VICTORIAN young gun James Herbertson missed the one person who would have mattered most when he thrashed some of the world’s best drivers to win the Ladbrokes Ultimate Driver Championship. The 25-year-old’s thoughts immediately turned to his mate, mentor and idol, the late Greg Sugars, as...
22 February 2026
Imperial Laz steps up in grade for Meander Valley Cup quest
Consistent pacer Imperial Laz will be chasing one of his biggest wins when he lines up in the Ladbrokes Meander Valley Cup (2698m) at Carrick Park on Sunday. The Juanita McKenzie-trained pacer has won six of his 33 starts with 11 placings to his credit, and has finished in the top five placings in nine...
Click for more