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

18 September 2025
LISTEN: Dan and Rob launch Friday Night Lights podcast
Join Dan Mielicki and Rob Auber for the first episode of their new show, Friday Night Lights. Thanks to the support of Squires Loft Sunbury, the boys drilled deep into the nine-race card from Melton Entertainment Park this Friday evening. CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THE PODCAST
18 September 2025
Rare Maternal Lines, QBRED Bonuses, and $500,000 Sunshine Stars Eligibility
For decades, the world’s most successful harness racing breeders have quietly guarded the bloodlines that produce champions. Now, for a limited three-day window, the Baring Bloodstock QBRED Reduction Sale gives you access to the mares, foals, and young stock that could define the next era of the...
18 September 2025
Sweet Coco set to get the chocolates
Five-year-old mare Sweet Coco arrived at Gary Hall junior’s Serpentine stables this year after finishing a distant last at her final three appearances in New South Wales --- and then she made a splendid debut in WA with a strong win at Pinjarra last Monday week. She broke into a gallop at her final...
18 September 2025
Own the Families Behind Champions
Countdown to Opportunity: Baring Bloodstock QBRED Reduction Sale – September 23–25 The Maternal Lines That Shape Champions Are Open — For Three Days Only For decades, only a handful of breeders — mostly in the Northern Hemisphere — have held the keys to the maternal families...
18 September 2025
Baring Bloodstock QBRED Reduction Sale – Once-in-a-Generation Opportunity
Trying to uncover the strategies behind Group One, State Champion, or Sale Race breeders can feel like searching for a needle in a haystack. Yet, every now and then, the evidence is laid out clearly — pedigrees, performance, and proven crosses aligned in a way that gives both confidence and clarity....
Click for more