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

3 December 2025
Leaping back to best
CHAMPION pacer Leap To Fame is loving being back home and that spells trouble for his rivals in Saturday night’s $250,000 Group 1 Blacks A Fake at Albion Park. Three defeats in his past five starts – all away from home – have raised queries on where Leap To Fame is at, but trainer-driver...
3 December 2025
Loucasso launches campaign toward harness racing's richest prize
Brilliant juvenile Loucasso will launch a campaign aimed at the world’s richest harness race when he returns to racing at Melton on Friday night. CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL STORY AT THETROTS.COM.AU
3 December 2025
Lilley scoops pool at annual VSTA Awards
Bolinda professional trainer Brent Lilley has claimed the Trotting Trainer of the Year title for the seventh time at the Victorian Square Trotters Association Awards for 2024. Lilley trained the winners of 51 races for the year with 25 different horses to lead the pointscore competition with 440 points....
3 December 2025
Eye-Catchers: Bullet brilliant as he closes in on a half-century of greatness
Using replays and horse sectional times, let’s look to find future winners from Saturday night racing at Melton Entertainment Park. CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE FULL EPISODE AT THETROTS.COM.AU
3 December 2025
Wharton: Vicbred Silver trotting winner is just Fine
A deal arranged by legendary Goulburn Valley trotting scribe Gus Underwood and leading nursery Llowalong Farms about five years ago paved the way for the APG Yearling Sales Vicbred Super Series Silver 2YO Trot winner Hallebesofine. CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL STORY AT THETROTS.COM.AU
Click for more