Handicapper: Ratings tweak will ensure fairer penalty for horses winning low stakes

Harness Racing New Zealand has approved changes to the handicapping system to reflect the proliferation of low stakes races for the rest of the season.

An additional level has been added to the race winners’ matrix for races up to and including $7500, so horses winning less money are not penalised as much.

Under the old matrix, the lowest stakes band was $6000 to $9500, but the new one sees one category for races worth up to $7500, and another for races worth between $7501 and $9500.

Under the revised system an R55 horse which wins a $7500 race will be re-rated six points whereas under the old scale it would have got seven points.

Horses rated between R53 and R59, who previously raced for $15,000 or $20,000 at Auckland, and got eight points, will now be penalised only six points if they win a $7500 race at Cambridge.

No change has been made to the one point reduction for R60 horses who finish further back than fifth.

While minor, handicapper Andrew Morris says the changes make the penalties more fair for the lower grade horses, who will be in the majority until the end of the season.

The changes, recommended by the handicapping working group, have been approved starting the resumption of racing at Addington on May 29 until the end of the season when it is hoped prizemoney will increase.

HRNZ has confirmed that no races will be programmed for a stake of less than $7000 to the end of July.

Under an agreement between the racing codes and the Racing Industry Transition Agency, all funding that has been allocated to clubs for the latter part of the season must be applied to stakes.

The board has approved a standardised stakes breakdown based on 12-horse race fields to be applied to each race.

Stakes will be paid back to fifth with first 55%, second 15.5%, third 8%, fourth 4.5% and fifth 3%. All other starters will receive 2%.

The issue of paying all starters will be reviewed at the end of this season.

The new matrix follows. None of the concessions listed below have changed.

Summarised concessions and notable conditions

● 3YO+ fillies & mares -1 point & to a maximum of R54 for first win ($20k or less).

● 3YO+ fillies & mares: 1 point concession for every win R50 or greater.

● 2YOs: Maximum rating R50 for first win $20,000 or less.

● 2YO colts & geldings: 4 points if first win over $20,000.

● 2YO fillies: 3 points if first win over $20,000.

● 2YO colts & geldings: 4 points for all subsequent wins.

● 2YO fillies: 3 points for all subsequent wins.

● 3YO concession: 4 points every second win up to $20,000.

● Unplaced: -1 for horses rated R60 & below.

● Unplaced R60-R80: May be re-rated after 3 unplaced starts, maximum -3 points.

● Unplaced R81-R99: May be re-rated after 2 unplaced starts, maximum -3 points.

● Unplaced R100+: May be re-rated, maximum -3 points.

Unplaced = 6th or worse.