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

4 February 2026
Team Teal set to shine at Club Menangle
The WomenCan Team Teal campaign returns to harness racing tracks right across Australasia from 1 February to 15 March 2026, and Club Menangle is jumping back on board in support of the fight against gynaecological cancer. 19 women are diagnosed with a gynaecological cancer in Australia every day, with...
4 February 2026
Major farms back Sunshine Stars sale with strong drafts
Many of the leading breeders from Queensland and interstate have thrown their weight behind the 2026 Ladbrokes Sunshine Stars Yearling Sale to be conducted by Nutrien Equine and hosted by the Albion Park Harness Racing Club on Sunday, February 22. The catalogue consists of 68 lots, 19 of which are being...
4 February 2026
Wharton: Double delight for champion Wagga breeder
Prominent Wagga horseman Paul Kahlefeldt had a ‘night of nights’ at Cranbourne last Saturday when he bred the winners of two of the four Group races at the Gippsland club’s signature meeting. CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL STORY AT THETROTS.COM.AU
4 February 2026
Leaping into the record books
Leap To Fame’s greatness can be defined in so many ways. His Australasian record $5,169,359 in prize money, his 63 wins, including 13 at Group 1 or just the way he does most of the work in the biggest races against the best horses and still wins more often than not. CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL...
4 February 2026
AFL premiership player hoping for Group 1 harness glory
Brisbane Lions premiership player Darcy Gardiner knows all about Grand Finals. CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL STORY AT THETROTS.COM.AU
Click for more