Maiden elimination rules.

Maiden elimination rules

HIGHVELD elimination procedures for maidens and maiden juveniles:

· Maiden juveniles will be the first category of horse eliminated in maiden races.

· Thereafter, the eliminations procedure is as follows:

1. Horses that have finished second, third, fourth or fifth (on the Highveld or in KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape) in either of their last two starts shall remain in the race, provided that if there are more horses in this category than there are places remaining in the field then the provisions of Conditions 5.1, 5.2 and 5.3 respectively shall apply.
2. Horses that have not yet raced shall remain in the race, provided that if there are more horses in this category than places remaining in the field then the provisions of Condition 5.3 shall apply.
3. Horses that have had more than two starts, and not finished second to fifth in their last start, shall remain in the race provided that if there are more horses in this category than places remaining in the field then the provisions of Condition 5.4 and 5.3 respectively shall apply.

Conditions:
5.1 Worst finishing position in last start
5.2 Worst finishing position in penultimate start
5.3 Barrier draws as defined
5.4 Lowest merit rating

So in theory, a horse that finished a 10 length second in a weak out of season maiden race in KZN in its last start, will get preference to a horse that finished 3rd beaten half a length in a in-season maiden in Gauteng in its last start.

The horse from the KZN maiden will also get preference to the million rand plus imported first timer from the Laird yard (not trying to say that all million rand horses are superior to R10 000 buys - but in theory most of them would be).

I know the rules have been changed in order to have a fair elimination procedure, but I think merit should come into the elemination rules - then only the issue of how to place/judge first timers remain.

AB,

I know this was discussed before, but we are told that the good people from the NHA are approachable and open to discussion. So I think the ship needs to be recalled and another built, this time based on a proper design.

Scotia,

Any chance that you can forward these questions/concerns to the appropriate people?

Good luck, AB

Had a call from Vee, remember the rules come from the racing operator in each area.

However Vee feels that you can never catch it 100% correct as there will always be an argument to the rules, but he feels its far better than what was previously in place and a move in the right direction.

Thanks again to Vee for his comments.

I agree that in the case of whether a first timer or a raced horse should get preference one is caught between the devil and the deep blue sea. Although as the rules stand, a horse finishing tailed off in a five horse field running to a merit of 10 or 20 will get preference to a first timer; how can this be fair?

Also the rules as they stand are not fair in terms of preference of raced horses and perhaps Vee can answer this: surely it's not fair for a horse that finished a 10 length 2nd running to a merit of 65 to be given preference to a horse finishing a half a length 3rd running to a merit of 75?

I appreciate that a lot of thought went into drawing up the new rules, but saying that things are better than they were, does not mean that there is no room for further improvement - imo.