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

5 January 2026
Lincoln River is bred in the purple
Five-year-old Lincoln River is bred to be a good winner. He is by champion sire Bettors Delight, and his dam Ideal Belle won the group 1 New Zealand Oaks over 2600m at Addington in May 2014 before being retired with a record of seven wins, 13 placings and $204,316 in stakes from 34 starts. He gave a...
5 January 2026
Infinite Sign back in business
Giant WA-bred seven-year-old Infinite Sign manages to feed himself despite being without four teeth, two on the top and two on the bottom, the result of taking fright in a paddock as a youngster during a burst of lightning and crashing into a tree or a fence. And Madeliene Young made the most of the...
5 January 2026
Emotions run high
Emotions spilled over at Gloucester Park on Friday night when Tom Nally saluted the heavens with his whip as Miss Knowall crossed the line in front of her seven rivals in the 1730m Vale Richie Polak Pace. It was a heartwarming result in the event dedicated to the life of former outstanding junior reinsman...
5 January 2026
Fat Louie overcomes his problems
Constant problems with his joints, particularly in his hind legs, have seriously threatened the career of New Zealand-bred five-year-old Fat Louie, who rewarded ace trainer-reinsman Chris Voak for his patience and care with a stirring victory in the $30,000 Trotsynd Warwick Pace over 2130m at Gloucester...
5 January 2026
Nova Baxter shines in Matron Stakes
Eight-year-old mare Nova Baxter ($2.05 fav) once again produced her brilliant standing start manners to claim the Art Meeker Memorial Matron Stakes (2579m) in Hobart on Sunday afternoon. Starting off a 20m handicap, the Rohan Hillier-trained and driven mare flew away to join the front markers within...
Click for more