Following the update to industry of 11 February 2020 titled 'HRA Executive Outcomes - National Ratings Based Handicapping System', the HRA Members have now approved the entirety of the proposed changes.
The date of effect of these changes is 9 March 2020.
The updated Australian Handicapping Rules may be found here: http://www.harness.org.au/rules/AUSTHCPR.PDF
A summary of the newly adopted rules are as follows:
Ratings Exempt Races upon Importation
It was approved that ratings exempt races in overseas jurisdictions will not be considered as ratings exempt in Australia for the purposes of determining a horses rating.
This replaces the previous methodology in which one rating’s exempt performance was recognised in Australia upon importation.
-2 Dropback
It was approved to modify the -2 dropback provided to horses who finish 6th to last in $15,000 to $49,999 category races to be restricted according to the rating of horse at the time of before of the race.
Accordingly, the -2 provision shall be provided for according to the following table:
| Horse National Rating |
30 - 55 |
56 - 69 |
70 - 120 |
| Reduction |
0 |
-1 |
-2 |
|
|
Three Year Old Concession
It was approved that State Controlling Bodies (SCB) may be permitted to program races which provide a five (5) ratings point concession to 3yo horses when they compete against open aged horses.
In addition, a floor of 50 points will also be implemented – whereby a 3yo shall not drop below 50 rating points if the concession is applied in such races.
Two Year Old Starting Point
It was approved to modify the commencement points of 2yo horses to 35 points rather than 40 points upon entering the racing population.
Matrix Modification
It was approved that the following modifications be made to the Ratings Matrix to align to the prizemoney structure of the SCB’s and to remove the provision of a ratings point for 2nd placing in the lower level of racing.
|
| Race Stake ($) |
1st |
2nd |
3rd |
4th |
5th |
6th - Last |
| 0 - 2,000 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 2,000 - 3,499 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
-1 |
| 3,500 - 4,999 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
-1 |
| 5,000 - 5,999 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
-1 |
| 6,000 - 9,999 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
-1 |
| 10,000 - 14,999 |
5 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
-1 |
| 15,000 - 49,999 |
6 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
-2 |
| 50,000 + |
7 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
