Following a recommendation from the Ratings Review Team (RRT) and ratification from the Harness Racing Australia (HRA) Executive, the HRA Members have today approved a change to the method in which imports are assessed for Ratings Based Handicapping.
From 1 January 2021, any horse cleared into Australia shall not be assigned a National Rating (NR) of less than 35 for a 2 year old, or less than 50 for a 3 year old or older.
This change is consistent with the view of the RRT that imported horses which have been racing outside Australia’s National Ratings jurisdiction should commence racing within our jurisdiction with a NR that is not less than the equivalent NR that is assigned to Australian horses at the commencement of their racing career.
Rule 9.1 of the Australian Handicapping Rules will now read:
9. RATING OF HORSES FOR WINS OUTSIDE AUSTRALIA
9.1 A horse cleared into Australia after midnight on 30 June 2019 by a Controlling Body in another country shall be assigned a National Rating in accordance with AHR 14 herein – Transition to Ratings Based Handicapping, except that the National Rating assigned to such horse on or after 1 January 2021:
(a) shall not be less than 35 for a 2YO, or
(b) shall not be less than 50 for a 3YO or older.
For further information, contact rrt@hra.com.au or your State Controlling Body.