PRESS RELEASE
RACING
Amendment to Handicapping Guidelines and Merit Rating Levels
Following a meeting of the Handicapping Liaison Committee held on 20 October 2009, the National Board appointed a Sub-Committee comprising Messrs Robert Bloomberg, Tony Rivalland and Vee Moodley to draft amendments to the Handicapping Guidelines. These amended Guidelines were approved by the National Board on 24 March 2010. The amended Guidelines, a copy of which is attached, will be effective from 1 April 2010 and will be posted on the National Horseracing Authority’s Website. Copies will also be distributed to all Trainers.
In addition, it was decided to raise the ratings of horses in Gauteng (including Vaal Turf), Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal by 3 points in order to bring them in line with international ratings. In order to account for the “creep” factor in ratings, it was further decided to decrease the ratings of horses in the Eastern Cape by 3 points and to maintain relativity to leave the ratings in Kimberley, on the Vaal Sand and Zimbabwe unchanged. These amended ratings will apply to all entries due on or after 1 April 2010.
It was also decided that in order for the Handicappers to have a high level of visibility and access to Trainers and Owners in the various regions, that the Handicapping Panel be decentralised. In view of this decision, Ryan Skelton will move to Cape Town and look after handicapping matters in both the Eastern and Western Cape. Lennon Maharaj will relocate to Durban with responsibility for KwaZulu-Natal. These moves will be effective 1 August 2010. Roger Smith will remain in Johannesburg as the Senior Handicapper and will oversee the total handicapping function. Ken Nicol, who is well known in the racing industry, has been appointed with effect from 1 May 2010 as a Handicapper based in Johannesburg and will be responsible for the Central Province.
GUIDLINES
Type Comment
Maiden Juvenile/Juvenile Plates
Rated as separate crop. Average horse Gross 70 (Filles 65) - [Major Centre]
Average horse 65 (Fillies 60) [Secondary Centre].
Maiden Winners
4yo + Maximum Net 70 (Major Centre) Net 65 (PE); Net 60 (Kimberley); Net 58 (Zimbabwe).
3yo - Maximum Net 78 (Major Centre);Net 73(PE) Net 60 (Kimberley) Net 58 (Zimbabwe).
(If a horse's published rating is higher than the benchmark as
stated herein it will be rated according to its achieved rating. Horses that have not run for 90 days and more will be re-assessed on the collateral form and the relative drop in weight-for-age will be adjusted, where necessary.)
Minor Plate Races ( Novice, Graduation, Progress, Allowance, Pinnacle, Conditions & Superior)
Achieved higher rating may be requested, but subject to the rating achieved or 6 MR points.
MR Handicap Races
Winner: Minimum 1kg adjustment.
2 and more handicaps in a row; +0.5kgs in addition to RMR assessment.
Maiden winners re-assessed two runs after winning. Multiple winners (2 & more wins) re-assessed after a maximum of 3 runs although such re-assessment may result in no adjustment.
Over-weight and Under Sufferance counted for placed horses.(Reviewed after one run.) Margins greater than 5 lengths treated with caution.
Mature Horses (5 yo +) who have won 3 or more races and who have established themselves at 78 or more; are only dropped 0,5kg per run for non performance.
3 year olds not making WFA improvement adjusted to net within a maximum of 3 starts.
If a horse wins a merit rated race and runs to a rating which is out of line with its established profile it must be given a penalty not higher than 50% of the rating achieved. This rule excludes horses carrying over-weight and weighted under-sufferance.
In cases where the 3rd horse or below is used as the line horse and the distance between the winner and the runner-up is only equal to 1 merit point or less then that will be the rating applicable to the winner. In such case, clause 4.1 will not come into play.
Allowance must be made by the handicappers for horses that are consistently placed without being able to win off their rating and should not be unduly penalized.
The maximum penalty applicable to any handicap on either
surface shall not be higher than 8 merit rated points. This Rule excludes all Graded and Listed races and horses carrying over-weight and weighted under sufferance.
Grade 1 & 2 Races
Adjustments where necessary (Re-assessment after a maximum of 2 runs.)
Grade 3 and Listed races
Adjustments to placed horses only
Sand/Turf Ratings
See Guidelines below.
*** All races are assessed in terms of the Handicapping Guidelines as published. (See
www.horseracingauthority.co.za
).
Sand and Turf Ratings
Sand and Turf ratings will be treated independently of one another, once established. (Wins and places are cumulative on both surfaces).
A horse must run at least three times on both surfaces before it qualifies to have dual ratings, however the handicappers must be satisfied that there is a discernable difference between the two ratings.
Should a 2 or 3-year-old horse which has form on one surface go on to show improvement on another surface, it is reasonable to assume that the horse has improved with maturity. If the rating goes up on one surface the rating on the other surface may increase at the discretion of the handicapper.
When a horse with 10 or fewer starts goes from one surface to another and shows a 10 ratings or more improvement on the other surface, the rating on the other surface may be adjusted to 50 % of the difference between the two ratings when next nominated on the other surface.
Should a horse be absent from a particular surface for a period of more than six months, the lesser of the two ratings may lapse. A return to the other surface after this time will necessitate a reassessment at the handicappers’ discretion.
The handicappers reserve the right to use the higher rating on the inferior surface up to a maximum of 50% should a horse have made exceptional (more than 8lb) improvement over a different aptitude, gelding, equipment change etc.
A horse returning from a layoff will retain both ratings.
210 day layoff allowance will apply to both ratings to the date of last run.
Margins on the Vaal Sand to be treated at 75% of normal length/distance factor. Horses that win by margins of 5 lengths or greater will be treated at 50%. The rule for Kimberley remains at 50% irrespective of the winning margin.
At the conclusion of each and every racing season the handicappers in consultation with the Handicapping Sub-Committee will decide whether it is appropriate and relevant to raise the ratings in all or certain racing jurisdictions and/or surfaces.
The proposed Merit Rating factor that we would apply to the current population will be implemented from 1 August 2010.
The abovementioned guidelines, after implementation, will be monitored and any necessary amendments will be revisited at the conclusion of the current racing season on 31 July 2010.
Layoff Allowance
Horses 4 year old older where no WFA is applicable to receive up to a maximum of 3 rating points (up to 5 for 3 yo) for being off 210 days and 5 rating points for 365 days and more. Horses placed in a graded race at their last start may receive an allowance at the discretion of the handicapper but not exceeding 5 rating points.
Retrospective assessments of a horse’s last start when returning from a layoff also to be utilized when making a rating adjustment.
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