sporting post vs computerform race ratings

No, they are only based on the horses current AR and weight. Obviously if it consistently runs below that rating it will be adjusted down.

excellent posting, thnks everyone!

Very good post i am from the south was confused by long words like MR SR RR SP.

please explain more clearly.

thanks guys, potent stuff!!!

Sylvester,

MR= Merit rating, as produced by the Official Handicapper

AR= Ability Rating, variation on MR, produced by Sporting Post handicappers

RR= Race Rating, the AR adjusted for weight and weight-for-age in a given race
(Official Handicapper's MR adjusted for the same would give all horses on the same number in a handicap race, but are more revealing in condition races, such as Graduation and other Plate races, or weight-for-age races, etc.)

SP= Speed rating, based on evaluation of times in a race; used in Computaform and Sporting Post, calculated to formula's contructed by each (and very different); speed ratings in South Africa are probably not reliable because the movement of the false rails and resulting added/reduced distance of races (eg 1600m could be 1650m - there goes your time!)
(SP can also be Starting Price, or better still Sporting Post)

Karel, in Zimbabwe they used to(not sure if they still do) move the starting stalls to compensate for the increased distance caused by the false rail. Does this not happen in South Africa?

Karel, what is the different between SP ability ratings and the official handicapper's MR?

Keni,
In essence the two are arrived at using the same method & tables, but the official handicapper has less discretion - he must be seen to be doing the right thing, and also has lots of silly rules made by trainers to adhere to.
Handicapping rests a lot on picking a line-horse to hang race-result ratings on - if you pick the wrong line-horse things go haywire and take a long time to work themselves out of the system.
SP tries to benefit from the mitakes the official handicapper makes (and so do astute punters).

karel miedema ...

thanx 4 all info...only thing i still battle with are all these "Pinnacle Plates", "Stakes"...is there a difference between the plate & stakes?
Especially in PE. Even - Lawful Leader in Kimberley. Example - Hear the Drums - had merit of 114 ... won 3 in a row but merit drops by 2 points after every win?

He is now at 110 but won 2 small features and one would have thought the merit would be increased? Horse like Kings Troop - 7 time winner has 105 compared to the former's 27 wins? Looking at Kings Troop's form he hasn't won since the beginning of year but stays on 105 - 2kg's less than the subject horse.

Please explain so i can understand...thanx

Radetzky,

On the one hand there are handicaps, with weights set according to official MR.

On the other hand there are ALL other races, with weights set according to the conditions specified for the race. These conditions can be anything. A proper race programme will have a balanced diet of handicaps and conditions races - unfortunately South Africa's programme is not up to scratch, and getting worse.

Kings Troop - one of those unfortunate horses who is always there or thereabouts, and then gets picked as a line horse by the handicapper time and again. Hence his rating stays the same, while all others change.
I think the handicapper should be cleverer than to use the same horse as line horse all the time - apparently he isn't.

Thanx Karel, makes sense. appreciate info...

I have always wondered about the ratings for 2 yr olds; how are these derived at if they haven't yet raced against their elders; are juvenile winners given a 'thumbsuck' rating (85?) - I know the ratings only become 'official' when they turn 3, but even at that stage not too many have raced against their elders?