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 March 2026
Wharton: Beginner's luck for Beremboke breeder
It was a case of beginner’s luck for Beremboke (near Ballan) breeder Frank Gauchi whose first broodmare The Cooler is the dam of Insulator, the winner of the first two-year trotting race for the season at Maryborough. CLICK HERE READ THE COLUMN AT THETROTS.COM.AU
18 March 2026
Harness racing's best eye off Queensland Constellations
The Queensland Constellations will once again welcome the top performers from around the country this winter, with the carnival to be headlined by Australia’s premier harness racing series, the Ladbrokes Inter Dominion. Staged from June 20 to July 18 at Albion Park, Redcliffe and Marburg, more...
18 March 2026
New HRNSW Board Appointments
Harness Racing New South Wales (HRNSW) is pleased to announce the appointment of Ms. Maggie Hundertmark and Mr. Mark Holton as new Board Members, effective as of March 17, 2026. Ms. Hundertmark brings more than 25 years of experience in corporate governance, risk management, strategy development, and...
18 March 2026
'Enormous' Fighter back bigger than ever
Fighter Command is by far the biggest horse Jess Tubbs has trained and she hopes he is one of the best. CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL STORY AT THETROTS.COM.AU
Click for more