new zealand thoroughbred racing handicapping guide v3.pdf · 2 nztr handicapping policy version 3...

NEW ZEALAND THOROUGHBRED RACING

HANDICAPPING GUIDEversion 3 March 2013

CONTENTS

Photos courtesy Anniestudholme.com And rAce imAges (Kenton Wright) ltd

1. IntroductIon. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

2. overvIew. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

3. PrIncIPlesofHandIcaPPIngInnewZealand. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

4. MetHodology. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

4.1 Penalties. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

4.2 DualBands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

4.3 PenaltiesforOpenClassRaces. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

4.4 PenaltiesforRating85Races. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

4.5 PenaltiesforRating75Races. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

4.6 PenaltiesforRatings65Races. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

4.7 MaidenRaces. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

4.8 Exceptions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

4.9 IndicativeGuidetoHorsesMovingThroughGrades . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

5. ratIngteMPlateguIde. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

6. weIgHts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

6.1 MinimumWeights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

6.2 MinimumTopWeights. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

6.3 ThreeYearOldAllowances. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

6.4 FilliesandMaresAllowance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

6.5 ApplicationofAllowances. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

6.6 JumpingRaces. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

7. ratIngBasedraces. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

7.1 OpenRaces. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

7.2 BenchmarkRaces . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

7.2.1 Rating85BenchmarkRaces . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

nZtrHandIcaPPIngPolIcyvERsIOn3MARCH2013 1



7.3 MaidenRaces. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

7.4 2YOHandicapRaces. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

7.5 3YOHandicapRaces. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

7.6 setWeightandPenaltyRaces. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

7.7 setWeightandPenalty2YOand3YORaces. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

8. weIgHt-for-ageraces. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

9. newZealandHandIcaPPIngInactIon.............................................................. 20

10. general. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

10.1 Balloting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

10.2 DomesticversusInternationalRatings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

10.3 Website........................................................................................................ 21

11. HandIcaPPIngcoMPlaIntsProcess. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

11.1 HandlingYourComplaintorQuery. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

11.2 InvestigatingaComplaintorQuery. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

12. glossary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

13. nZtrHandIcaPPIngPanel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

nZTRHandicappingLiaison(ComplaintsandQueries). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

2 nZtrHandIcaPPIngPolIcyvERsIOn3MARCH2013

ThenewZealandThoroughbredRacing(nZTR)HandicappingPanelhastheresponsibilityofensuringthatracesin

newZealandareruncompetitively,throughtheallocationofweightstobecarriedbyeachhorseinarace.

Theweightgiventoeachhorseisbasedontheindividualmeritsofthathorse,takingintoaccountthe:

§ Conditionsandregulationsrelatingtothatrace;

§ RatingsBasedHandicappingsystem;and

§ JudgmentoftheHandicapper.

TheaimoftheHandicappingGuideistoassistindustryparticipantstounderstand:

§ Theweighthorseswillreceivebyvirtueoftheirperformancesinthevariousracesinwhichtheycompete.

§ ProvideagreaterunderstandingofthenewZealandhandicappingsystemandmethodologiesthatareused.

TheGuidewillalsoprovidegreatertransparencyastohowtheHandicappersoperateandwillensurethatthe

handicappingsystemremainsfairandconsistentatalltimes.

Wherethereisasignificantvarianceinthere-ratingofanyhorseeg10+pointsforawinand5+pointsfora

placing,thenZTRHandicapperswillnowprovideanexplanationonthenZTRwebsiteastotherationaleforthe

higherre-rating.

1. INTRODUCTION


2. overview

TheRatingsBasedHandicapsystem(Ratingssystem)isaflexiblenumericbaseddomesticratingssystemallowing

horsestomoveupanddowntheratingsbands,whichenableshorsestoremaincompetitiveforlongerperiodsof

time,andallowsoutofformhorsestomovedowntheratingbands.

DomesticRating(Rating)comparestherelativeperformanceandeligibilityofhorsescompetinginracesin

newZealand.UndertheRatingsystemallhorsesareratedasmatureagemales,withsexandageallowances

deducted(whereapplicable)oncethefieldforaraceisdetermined.

WiththeRatingssystem,theHandicappersallocatehorsesanumericRating(withintwoworkingdays)followinga

raceperformancewithinnewZealand.TheseRatingsgiveanindicationoftheweightahorsemayreceiveineach

ratingband.InaccordancewiththenZTRRuleofRacing(216),theHandicappershavethediscretiontoamend

WeightsorRatingsaftertheyhavebeenallocated.

OtherthanMaidenRaces,whichareassessedusingasetformula,thereisnoautomaticupgradetoahorse’s

Ratingforawinorplacedperformanceandnoautomaticdowngradetoahorse’sratingforanunplaced

performance.ThereareanumberofcircumstanceswherebytheHandicappermayapplyjudgmentordiscretionin

determiningthefinalRatingofahorseafteraraceperformance.

Theapplicationofageandsexallowanceswillmeanthatinmanycircumstancestwohorsesonthesameratingwill

havedifferentweights.Forexample,a4YOmareanda4YOgeldingarebothrated85inarating85race,withthe

geldingallocated59kgandthemare57kgafterthe2kgmaresallowanceisapplied.


§ Handicappersallocaterelativeweightsforhorsestocarryinracesinanattempttohaveeachhorse,despite

differingability,tobecompetitiveinhandicapraceevents.

§ Ratingpenaltiesareallocatedonadiscretionarybasisbythehandicapperinaccordancewiththispolicy

§ InnewZealandhorsesarehandicappedfromthetopweightdownwards.

§ TheRatingofthetopweightedhorsedeterminesthespreadoftheweightscaleinarace.

§ Theremaybecircumstanceswherethelowestweightedhorseorhorsesareallocatedaweightthatishigher

thantheadvertisedminimumweight.

§ Ahorsemaynotbeabletoclaimalloftheirageand/orsexallowanceifthismeansitwillgobelowthe

advertisedminimum.

§ Theremaybecircumstanceswherethereareanumberofhorsesweightedontheminimumthathold

differentRatings.Thesehorsescouldbedeemedtobedisadvantagedbythescaleofweights,howeverthese

lowerweightedhorsesmaybeeligibletoentermoresuitable(lowerrated)races,whilethemajorityofhorses

weightedabovetheminimumwillbebetterweightedintheapplicableratingbandrace.

example: horse A has a rating of 80, horse B has a rating of 72 (both male horses). in a rating 75 Benchmark

race horse A would carry 4kg more than horse B. in an open handicap they will both carry the minimum 54kg

disadvantaging horse B; however horse B is eligible to enter much easier races, while those horses above the

minimum in an open handicap are generally only eligible for open class races.

§ TheRatingsprovideanindicationofwhatweightahorsemaybeallottedinaparticularratingband.The

eventualspreadofweightsisdeterminedbythefieldstrength,andisatthediscretionoftheHandicappers.

§ HorsesthathavecompetedinaracewillhavetheirRatingassessedattheendofeachperformance.

§ Awinningperformancewillusuallyattractaweightand/orratingsincrease.Anyincreaseisbasedonthe

Handicappersassessmentofthehorsesperformanceintherace,takingintoaccountfactorssuchasprevious

formandperformance,thesizeandstrengthofthefieldandtheauthorityofthewin,trackconditions,

positioninrunning,stipendiarystewardsreports,havingregardtotheweightcarried,winningmarginand

timefortherace,aswellasanyotherrelevantfactor.

§ HorsesthatareplacedsecondorthirdmayalsohavetheirRatingincreased,dependingonthemeritofthe

performanceandtheirproximitytothehorse(s)aheadinthefinishingorder.However,thismaynotalwaysbe

thecase.Horsesfinishingfurtherbackmayormaynothavetheirratingschange,basedonperformanceand

thequalityoftherace.

§ Horsescangraduatefromonerating‘band’toanotherthroughplacedperformances.

§ Asageneralrule,ahorsethatmovesbacktoalowerratingbandracewillgoupinweight,andahorsethat

movesuptoahigherratingbandracewillgodowninweight.

3. PRINCIPLES of nz handicapping


§ HorsesgraduatingfromMaidenclasswillberatedbytheHandicapperto63,64or65dependingonthe

strengthofthewin.Thiswillbeassessedwithreferencetotheadvertisedprizemoneyfortheraceandthe

relativestrengthofthefield.AMaidenhorsemaybere-ratedhigherthan65ifitwinsaBlackTyperace,a

ratingsbasedoropenhandicaprace.

§ AMaidenhorsewillnotberatedhigherthan54unlessitisplacedoutsideofMaidencompany.AMaiden

horseratedhigherthan54remainseligibleforMaidenraces,andthehorsemayhaveitsratingdroppedback

to54ifitissubsequentlybeateninaMaidenrace.

§ TheHandicapperwilltakeintoaccountanyoverweightcarriedwhenadjustingRatingsand/orweights,butno

allowancewillbetakenofApprenticeallowances,asthesehavebeendesignedtoallowfortheinexperience

oftherider,andconsequentlyarenotrelevanttothehandicapassessmentofthehorse

§ Overseashorses,ornewZealandhorsesthathaveracedoverseas,willbeallocatedaRatingwhennominated

innewZealandorifrequestedbythehorse’sconnections,basedontheiroverseasperformanceandtheir

ratingintheoverseasjurisdiction.nZTRHandicappersmayalsoconsultwithHandicappersfromthathorse’s

homejurisdictionorthelocationofthehorse’soverseasperformance.


4. methodology

4.1 PenaltIes

Therearenoautomaticorfixedadjustmentsforawinorplacedperformanceandinallcircumstancesthe

Handicapperhasthediscretiontoassessthehorse’sperformanceoutsidegenerallyappliedratingadjustments.

Itisinthebestinterestofracingthatthehandicappershavethediscretiontotakeintoaccountallthe

considerationsanddeliberationsthatarenecessarywhenre-ratingracesandframingweights.

Thekeyprinciplethatthehandicappersuseis,iftheracewastoberunagainthenextday,whatwouldbethe

weightturnaroundbetoequalizethechancesofallhorses.Thisisfirstlyassessedbyweight,andthenreflectedin

theratingschange.

Everyraceisdifferent,andisconsideredonitsownmeritsandisnotcomparedtootherraces.

Awinningperformancewillusuallyseeahorsehaveitsratingincreased.Horsesthatareplacedsecondorthird

mayalsohavetheirratingincreased,dependingonthemeritoftheperformanceandtheirproximitytothehorse(s)

aheadinthefinishingorder.

Horsesmayreceiveanincreasedratingforplacingwithintheirownratingorhigherratingbands,whichmaymean

thatthishorsemovesintothenextratingsband.

Thereassessmentofahorse’sratingtakesintoaccounttheRatingofthatparticularhorsegoingintotherace.

HorseswithrelativelylowRatingsthatcompeteinstrongracesareeffectivelydisadvantagedbythescaleof

weights.ThereforeiftheywinorplacetheycanexpecttohavelargerRatingadjustmentsthanhorsesinthesame

racethathadhigherRatings.ThisisparticularlyrelevantinsetWeightsorWeight-for-Ageevents.Wherehorses

withlargeRatingdiscrepanciesmeetatequalweightsandfinishrelativelyclosetogetherthehorsewiththelower

ratingmayincurmoreRatingpointsevenwhereithasfinishedbehindthehigherratedhorse.


example 1 – When winning the 2011 group 1 WFA captain cook stakes, mufhasa had a figure of 111, 6 points (or

3kg) above the next highest rated horse. the WFA conditions of the race advantaged mufhasa enormously and

therefore the winning performance did not attract a penalty.

example 2 – After winning the 2012 listed White robe lodge handicap, Jaggard’s rating went from 72 to 90 (18

points). this increase takes into account the high base rating (where the highest rated older male horse to carry

the minimum is situated), which for this race was 86. Factoring in the use of dual bands (where the same weight is

assigned to two different ratings), in the context of this race the actual penalty for Jaggard was 1kg for winning by a

nose.

Wherethereisasignificantvarianceinthere-ratingofanyhorseeg10+pointsforawinand5+pointsfora

placing,thenZTRHandicapperswillnowprovideanexplanationonthenZTRwebsiteastotherationaleforthe

higherre-rating.

4.2 dualBands

ThenZTRratingstemplatecontains“dualbands”.Thatiswheretwodifferentratings“share”thesameweight.

Thisisdonetoallowaspreadofweightsinsomeraces,aswellastodifferentiatebetweenhorsesracingin

differentclasses.Itmustberememberedthatthismayalsoaffectthenumberofpointsahorsemaybere-rated

followingtherace.

example – For a second placed performance a horse with a rating of 72 in a rating 75 race is given a 1kg penalty

and is taken to rating 74 (2 points). A rating 65 horse in the same race is given the same 1kg penalty, will see their

rating go to 68 (3 points), given the dual bands at the bottom of the grade.

WheretheremaybeasignificantvarianceintheapplicationofdualbandsfromthenZTRratingstemplatethe

nZTRHandicapperswillprovideanexplanationonthenZTRwebsitetoexplainthechange.Itmustbenotedthat

becausetheHandicappersarerequiredundertheRulestoissuetheweightsforallRatingsbasedHandicapraces

witha59kgtopweight,thehighestratedhorseinthatracewillbescaledaccordinglyasthehighestratedhorse

hastocarry59kg.

4.3 PenaltIesoPenclassraces

InOpenClassraces,winnersmayexpect(withexceptions)toberaised1kgto2.5kg.

Theactualindividualre-ratingmaynotnecessarilyequatetoaformulaewhereonepointequals0.5kg.Thisisdue

tofactorssuchasdualbands,racestrength/sizeandhorsesratingbelowtheminimumweightfortherace.Refer

totheRatingsTemplateGuideonpage10tobetterunderstandtheuseofdualbandsinthehigherRatingsbased

Handicapgrades.

WinnersofOpenClassracescangenerallyexpecttobere-ratedbetween3-8pointssubjecttothehandicappers

determinationastothestrengthoftheraceandanyothercontributingfactors.


4. methodology continued

WinnersofanOpenClassraceracingoutoftheirgradecangenerallyexpectahigherre-ratingofbetween5-12

points.

Generally,placedhorsesinanOpenHandicapmayreceivetheequivalentweightpenaltyof0.5to1.5kg.This

penaltywillgenerallyequatetobetween1-5points.Thepenaltyislikelytobegreaterwherethehorsethatis

placedinanOpenorWFAraceisracingoutofitsgrade.

example – in the 2012 timaru cup run on 28 december, captain todd won and was given 1.5kg for winning by

0.2l. due to dual banding at the bottom of this listed race, this equated to 5 points (91 to 96). the solitaire, who

finished second, was rated102 and the 1/2kg penalty applied too her equated to one point to 103. the third

horse, Faxed, was the lowest rated horse in the race (at 72). the rating for Faxed was increased by 5pts to 77 for

placing in an open handicap, but Faxed effectively had no weight penalty applied, as Faxed would still be on the

minimum in an open handicap.

4.4 PenaltIesratIng85races

InRating85raceshorseswinningmayexpecttoberaised1kgto2.5kg.

Again,theactualindividualre-ratingmaynotnecessarilyequatetoaformulaewhereonepointequals0.5kg.

WinnersofanRating85racecangenerallybeexpectedtobere-ratedbetween5-8points.

HorseswinningaRating85raceracingoutoftheirgradeoffaratingbelow76canexpectare-ratingofbetween

5-12pointsandwillgenerallyremainintheRating85grade.

HorseswinningaRating85racethatarerated76-80arelikelytoberatedbetween5-8pointsandwillgenerally

remainintheRating85grade.

HorseswinningaRating85racethatarerated81-85cangenerallybeexpectedtobere-ratedbetween5-8points

andbetakenintotheOpengrade.

HorseswinningaRating85Benchmarkracethatarerated86+cangenerallybeexpectedtobere-ratedbetween

3-6points.


InRating75races,horseswinningmayexpecttoberaised1kgto2.5kg.

Again,theactualindividualre-ratingmaynotnecessarilyequatetoaformulaewhereonepointequals0.5kg.


HorseswinningaRating75raceracingoutoftheirgradeoffaratingbelow66canexpectare-ratingofbetween

6-12pointsandwillgenerallyremainintheRating75grade.


HorseswinningaRating75raceoffaratingof66-70arelikelytobere-ratedbetween5-7pointsandwillgenerally

remainintheR75grade.

HorseswinningaRating75racethatarerated71-75cangenerallyexpecttobere-ratedbetween5-9pointsand

betakenintotheRating85gradewithanappropriateweightpenaltyfortheR75win.


4-7points.

example – At the same timaru meeting as above, never die won the rating 75 Benchmark 1200m with the top

rating of 75. never die was given a 2.5kg penalty in the next grade, taking her rating to 82. the ratings guide

template on page 10 indicates that never say die with a rating of 75 would expect to be weighted at 55kg (before

the mare’s allowance is provided). A 2.5kg penalty for winning the rating 75 benchmark equates to a 7 rating point

increase to rating 82 in the r85 grade (prior to the mare’s allowance) as indicated in the ratings guide template.

example – At the same timaru meeting sheiswhatsheis won the rating 75 Benchmark 1600m rated on 70 carrying

54.5kg (with her 2kg mare’s allowance). sheiswhatsheis was also given a 2.5kg penalty, but this time within the

rating 75 band, and was taken to a rating of 75.


InRating65races,horseswinningcangenerallyexpecttoreceiveaweightpenaltyof2kgto2.5kgsdependingon

therelativestrengthoftherace.ThemajorityofwinnersarelikelytomoveintotheRating75grade.


HorseswinningaRating65raceoffaratingof56-60arelikelytobere-ratedbetween5-8pointsandwillgenerally

remainintheR65grade.

HorseswinningaRating65racethatarerated61-65cangenerallyexpecttobere-ratedbetween4-9pointsand

betakenintotheRating75gradewithanappropriateweightpenaltyfortheR65win.


4-8points.

4.7 MaIdenraces

AllMaidenhorsesbeginwithaRatingof45,unlesstheywinatrial.Winnersoftrialsreceive2pointstotaketheir

initialratingto47.

AMaidenhorsewillnotreceivearatingabove54unlessthathorseisplacedoutsideofMaidencompanyandin

theopinionoftheHandicapperaratinginexcessof54isappropriate.AMaidenhorsethatisplacedinaBlack

Typeracewillalmostalways(thoughtheremaybeexceptions)receiveahigherRatingthan54.


4. methodology continued

AsMaidenracesarerunsetweightracesMaidenhorsesareratedforballotingpurposesonly.

Maidenhorsesthatareratedabove54andstartinanyratingsbasedBenchmarkHandicaporathreeyearold

Maideninrestrictedagegrouprace,willbeweightedbasedontheirrating.

4.8 excePtIons

TheHandicappermaydecidenottolowerahorse’sRatingdespitethathorsehavingfinishedwellbackinaracein

thefollowingcircumstances:

§ Ifthehorseisracingatanunsuitabledistance(suchasastayerinsprintevents);

§ Wherethehorsesuffersinterferenceinrunning;

§ Wherethehorsemissesthestart;

§ Horsebeingwidethroughouttherace;

§ Horsecontestingasignificantlyhigherratingbandrace;

§ Horseresumingfromaspell.

§ OtherreasonsthattheHandicapperconsidersrelevanttothehorsesperformance.

Furthermore,ifahorsefalls,bleeds,isbroughtdown,pulledup,runsoff,disqualified,orlosesitsridertheremay

benoadjustmenttoitsRating.

AsaconsequenceoftheintroductionofRatingsbasedprogramming,theHandicappermayalsotakeintoaccount

thefutureeligibilityofahorseforaparticularratingbandwhenassessingabeatenperformance.Thismeansthata

horsemayhaveitsratinglowered,eventhoughitsufferedinterferenceorwascaughtwideinarace.Therationale

forthisisthattheconnectionsofthathorseshouldnotbeeffectivelypenalisedtwiceasaresultofbadluckin

running,providedthehorse’soverallperformancehistorywarrantsitseligibilityfortheratingbanditisdropping

backinto.

4.9 IndIcatIveguIdeastoHowHorsesMayMovetHrougHtHegrades

Thisisanindicative guide onlyastohowhorsesmaymovethroughthegradesforeachwin.However,thiswillnot

necessarilyalwaysapplyduetoarangeoffactorsthattheHandicapperhastotakeintoaccountwhenassessing

eachhorse’sperformance:


1stwin MaidentoR63/64

2ndwin toR70(moreifwinningR85race)

3rdwin toR75(moreifwinningR85race)

4thwin toR82

5thwin toR88orabove

Whenassessingtheratingsof2&3YOhorsesinBlackTyperaces,theHandicappermusttakeintoaccountthe

relativestrengthoftheseraces,especiallyearlyintheseasonwhenmostrestricted2&3YOfieldsmayhavevery

littleexposedform,andpenaltieswillbeassessedaccordingly.


5. Rating Template Guide

Finalweightsaresubjecttoanyscalingthatmayberequired.

TheHandicapperwill,afterassessingthenominationsandthestrengthofthefield,determineifandhowthe

weightsshouldbescaled.

Whilstthescalingofweightsremainsatthediscretionofthehandicapper,thefollowingtemplateisprovidedasa

guideastotheweightahorseislikelytobeallocatedinastandardnewZealandflatrace.

Theweightsshownareforthoseofa4YO+malehorseandarestillsubjecttoanyapplicableageandsex

allowances.Inallracesagainstmalehorsesfilliesandmaresreceivea2kgallowanceagainstthetemplateweight.

3YOallowancesareappliedinaccordancewiththetimeofyear.

Wherehandicapperschoosetoscaleweightsdifferentlytothetemplate,thereasonsforthevariationwillbe

publishedonnZTR’swebsiteatthetimeofdeclarations.

ratingtemplate

Allstandardweighttemplatesshownonnextpagecontain“dualbands”forRating75andabove.Adualbandis

wheretwodifferentratings“share”thesameweight.Thisisdonetoallowaspreadofweightsinsomeraces,as

wellastodifferentiatebetweenhorsesracingindifferentclasses.Thismayaffectthenumberofpointsahorsemay

bere-ratedfollowingtherace.


GROUP1&GROUP2

GROUP3&LIsTEDRACEs PREMIEROPEn

FEATURE&InDUsTRY

OPEn RATInG85 RATInG75 RATInG65RATInG WGT WGT WGT WGT WGT WGT WGT

109 61.0 62.0 63.0 64.0 108 60.5 61.5 62.5 63.5 107 60.0 61.0 62.0 63.0 106 59.5 60.5 61.5 62.5 105 59.0 60.0 61.0 62.0 104 58.5 59.5 60.5 61.5 103 58.0 59.0 60.0 61.0 102 57.5 58.5 59.5 60.5 101 57.0 58.0 59.0 60.0 100 56.5 57.5 58.5 59.5 99 56.0 57.0 58.0 59.0 98 55.5 56.5 57.5 58.5 97 55.0 56.0 57.0 58.0 96 54.5 55.5 56.5 57.5 95 54.0 55.0 56.0 57.0 94 54.0 55.0 55.5 56.5 93 53.5 54.5 55.0 56.0 92 53.5 54.5 55.0 55.5 91 53.0 54.0 54.5 55.5 62.0 90 53.0 54.0 54.5 55.0 61.5 89 52.5 53.5 54.0 55.0 61.0 88 52.5 53.5 54.0 54.5 60.5 87 52.0 53.0 53.5 54.5 60.0 86 52.0 53.0 53.5 54.0 59.5 85 53.0 54.0 59.0 84 53.0 58.5 83 58.0 82 57.5 81 57.0 62.0 80 56.5 61.5 79 56.0 61.0 78 55.5 60.5 77 55.5 60.0 76 55.0 59.5 75 55.0 59.0 74 54.5 58.5 73 54.5 58.0 72 54.0 57.5 71 57.0 62.070 56.5 61.569 56.0 61.068 55.5 60.567 55.5 60.066 55.0 59.565 55.0 59.064 54.5 58.563 54.5 58.062 54.0 57.561 57.060 56.559 56.058 55.557 55.056 54.555 Lowestratingforwinninghorse 54.054 Highestrankedmaiden(unlessperformedoutofclass)53 52 51 50 49 48 47 46 45 LowestRankedMaiden


6.Weights

6.1 MInIMuMweIgHts

AsprovidedforinnZTRRacingPolicynohorseshallbeallocatedlessthan:

§ 52.0kginaHandicapGroup1orGroup2Race;

§ 53.0kginaHandicapGroup3,ListedRaceorPremierDayOpenRace;

§ 54.0kginallotherHandicapRaces.

6.2 MInIMuMtoPweIgHts

ThetopweightallocatedinaHandicapflatrace,atthetimeofweightdeclaration,shallnotbelessthan:

§ 58.0kgin2YOand3YOHandicapraces

§ 59.0kginallotherHandicapraces

InaccordancewithstandardRegulation8.3:

(a) IfattheclosingtimeofwithdrawalsforanyHandicapflatrace,thetopweightedhorsehasbeenallocatedless

than58kg,suchtopweightedhorseorhorsesshallbeallocated58kg,andtheweightsallocatedtothehorses

comprisingtheremainderofthefieldadjustedaccordingly.

(b) ForaTwoandThreeYearOldHandicapFlatRace,thethentopweightedhorsehasbeenallocatedlessthan

57kg,suchtopweightedhorseorhorsesshallbeallocated57kgandtheweightsallocatedtothehorses

comprisingtheremainderofthefieldadjustedaccordingly.

(c) IfattheadvertisedwithdrawaldeadlineforaMaidenFlatRace(exceptaMaidenTwoYearOldRace,Maiden

ThreeYearOldRace,orFilliesandMaresMaidenRace),thethentopweightedhorsehasbeenallocatedless

than58.5kg,suchtopweightedhorseorhorsesshallbeallocated58.5kgandtheweightsallocatedtothe

horsescomprisingtheremainderofthefieldadjustedaccordingly.

(d) ThesetweightsforMaidenTwoYearOld,MaidenThreeYearOld,andFilliesandMaresracesare57.5kgand

55.5kg.Becauseofthis,theminimumtopweightforthistypeofraceis57.5kg.


6.3 tHreeyearoldallowances

ThreeYearOldscompetingagainstolderhorsesinopenageracesreceiveaweightallowance,dependenton

thetimeofyear(asperthetablebelow).Thescalereflectsthedevelopingmaturityofthehorseastheseason

progresses.The3YOallowanceissubjecttostandardRegulation8.1wherea3YOcannotbeallocatedlessthan

theminimumweightforthatrace.

AUG-OCT nOv-JAn FEB-APR MAY-JUL

2.5kg 1.5kg 0.5kg -

6.4 fIllIesandMaresallowance

From14november2011,filliesandmareshavereceiveda2kgallowanceyearroundinallopensexraces.Three-

year-oldfillieswillalsobeeligibletoreceivetheirageallowanceontopofthissexallowance.Theapplicationof

theFilliesandMaresAllowanceissubjecttostandardRegulation8.1whereaFillyorMarecannotbeallocatedless

thantheminimumweightforthatrace.

6.5 aPPlIcatIonofallowances

Three-year-oldallowancescanbeclaimedinallopenageraces,andfilliesandmaresallowancescanbeclaimedin

allopensexraces,butcannotbeclaimedbelowtheadvertisedminimumweightforthatrace.seetheexampleof

newZealandHandicappinginActionbelow,toseehowthisworks.

6.6 JuMPIngraces

ForbothsteepleandHurdleraces,therearefourcategoriesofrace:

§ Maiden–66kgMaresand68kgGeldingsandEntires–setweights

§ RestrictedOpenRaces–65kgminimum

§ OpenRace–65kgminimum

§ PrestigeJumpingRace–65kgminimum


7. Ratings Based Races

Ratingsbasedraceswereintroducedon1August2005.

EligibilityforRatingsbasedracesisdeterminedatthetimeofnomination(unlessotherwisestatedinthe

conditionsofaparticularrace).Thereforeifahorse’sRatingisadjustedupwardsandbeyondthatparticularRatings

bandsubsequenttonominationsclosing,thehorseisstilleligiblefortheracebecauseeligibilityisdeterminedat

thecloseofnominations.Itmay,however,incuraweightpenaltywhichwillbedeterminedbytheHandicapper.

7.1 oPenraces

Openracesareopentoallhorsesexcepttwo-year-olds.

Thetopweightwilldeterminethespreadoftheweightsbelowit.Thetopweightedhorseisrequiredtocarry59kg

atthetimeofdeclaration.InOpenracesitispossiblefortheactualweightofahorsetodropfromoneracetothe

nextdespitethathorsewinninganOpenraceatitspreviousstart.Thisisareflectionofthemakeupofthefieldin

subsequentracesthatthehorsestartsin.

Thefieldisweightedinrelationtothetopweightandthestrengthofothernominations,nottowhatthehorses

havecarriedintheirpreviousrace(s).

7.2 BencHMarkraces

BenchmarkHandicappingdiffersfromthepreviousratingssystem,inthatitopensthetopoftheweightscaleto

includemorehorses,byallowingthenominationofhorsesabovetherace’sbenchmarknumber.Thisallowshorses

theopportunitytoraceinawiderselectionofraces,albeitcarryingextraweight.

Benchmarkracesaredesignedtoallowhorsestonominatewitharatingabovethatofthe‘benchmark’racerating,

andcarryweightabovetheminimumtopweightof59kg.Anextra0.5kgisallocatedforeachpointabovethe

benchmarkfigure.ForexampleifaraceisadvertisedasaRating75Benchmark,amalehorsewitharatingof77

cannominateandcarry60kg.Allsexandageallowancesarestillapplicabletobenchmarkraces.

ThemajorityofracesinnewZealandareprogrammedusingthefollowingclassifications.Thedescriptions

providedbelowareaguideonly.RatingsaredeterminedbytheHandicappersbasedontheraceperformancesof

anindividualhorseandinaccordancewiththeprinciplesandmethodologysetoutinthisGuide.

7.2.1ratIng85BencHMark

Theseracesareopentoallhorses.Thosehorsesaboverating85willcarry0.5kgextraforeachpointabove85.This

Ratingbandmaygenerallyincludethree,fourandfivewinhorses,butmayalsoincludehorseswithmorethanfive

winsthathavelostform.



Theseracesareopentoallhorses.Thosehorsesaboverating75willcarry0.5kgextraforeachpointabove75.This

Ratingbandmaygenerallyincludetwoandthreewinhorses,butmayalsoincludehorseswithmorethanthree

winsthathavelostform.


Areopentoallhorsesrated65andbelow,aswellasthosehorsesratedabove65withonewinorless.ThisRating

bandmaygenerallyincludeonewinhorses,butmayalsoincludehorseswithtwoormorewinsthathavelostform.

7.3 MaIdenraces

AsallMaidenracesareconductedsetweightraces,Maidenhorsesareratedforballotingpurposesonly.Maiden

horsesthatareratedabove54andstartinaRatingsracewillbeweightedbasedontheirRating.

MaidenhorsesstartwithaRating45.Ratingsarethenadjustedbasedonraceperformances:

§ Maidenwinre-ratedbetween63-65dependingonthestrengthoftheperformancewhichwillbedetermined

bytheHandicapperhavingregardtotheadvertisedprizemoneyfortheraceandtherelativestrengthofthe

field.

§ Placedsecondre-ratedto52

§ Placedthirdre-ratedto51

§ Placedfourthre-ratedto50

§ Placedfifthre-ratedto47

subsequentsecondplacedperformanceswillresultinahorsebeinggivenanextratworatingpoints,subjectto

theconditionthatahorsehavingrunsecondatitsmostrecentstartwillnotberatedbelow52orabove54.

subsequentthirdplacedperformanceswillresultinahorsebeinggivenanextraoneratingpoint,subjecttothe

conditionthatahorsehavingrunthirdatitsmostrecentstartwillnotberatedbelow51orabove54.

subsequentfourthorfifthplacedperformanceswillnotresultinanychangetoahorse’sratingsubjecttothe

conditionthatahorsehavingrunfourthatitsmostrecentstartwillnotberatedbelow50andahorsehavingrun

fifthatitsmostrecentstartwillnotberatedbelow47.

Maidenhorseswillloseapointforanunplacedeffort(sixthorworse)andafterthreeunplacedperformanceswill

revertto45,whichistheminimumratingahorsecanreceiveinnewZealand.


Horsesthatfinishsixthatanyoftheirfirstthreecareerracestartswillbere-ratedto46.ThatRatingrevertsto45

afteronestartunlessthehorseagainfinishessixthorbetter.

UnplacedrunsinGrouporListedracesareignoredforMaidenhorses.

examples:

FORM. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .RATInG

0287..................Rating50

8202..................Rating53

4522..................Rating54

3908..................Rating45

796...................Rating46

769...................Rating45

500...................Rating45

7.4 2yoHandIcaPraces

Two-Year-OldHandicapracesarerunasdiscretionaryhandicapswithoutreferencetoRatings.Thereasonsforthis

arethat2YOMaidenhorsesfrequentlystartin2YOHandicapsandtheirratingsarederivedfromafixedpoints

systemdesignedforballotingandnothandicappingpurposes.

7.5 3yoHandIcaPraces

Three-Year-OldHandicapracescanalsoattracthorseswithawidespreadofRatingsincludingMaidenhorses.

ThereforetheHandicappermayneedtoapplyamorediscretionaryapproachintheseracesandweightsmayneed

tobemorecompressed.ThiscanresultinhorsesondifferentRatingsreceivingthesameweight.

7.6 setweIgHtandPenalty(swP)races

InsWPracesweightsaredeterminedbyasystemoffixedpenaltiesforwinningperformances.Thesepenaltiesare

setoutintheraceconditions.

ConditionsmayvaryfromonesWPracetoanotherandareadvertisedintheThoroughbredRacingMonthly(TRM)

magazine.

7.7 setweIgHtandPenalty2yoand3yoraces

TheweightsforallsetWeightmixedgenderopenTwo-Year-OldandThree-Year-OldGroupandListedraceswill

be56.5kgforColtsandGeldings,and54.5kgforFillies.ForallothernonGroupandListedsetWeightraces,the

weightswillbe57.5kgforColtsandGeldingsand55.5kgforFillies.

7. Ratings Based Races continued


8. Weight-For Age (WFA) Races

TheWFAscaleisdesignedforhorsestomeetoneventermsonceconsiderationhasbeengiventoage,sexand

thetimeofyearthattheraceisbeingconducted.

From1August2008AustraliachangedtheirFilliesandMaresallowancefrom2.5kgto2.0kg.Accordinglynew

Zealandmadethedecisiontoadopta2.0kgFilliesandMaresallowanceforWFAeventsfrom8December2008.

AcopyofthestandardWFAscaleisfoundbelow.

standardweIgHt-for-agescaleforflatraces(effective8december2008)

Aug Sep Oct NOv Dec JAN Feb MAr Apr MAy JuN Jul

DiStANce AGE

1000 mto1200 m

2 45.0 46.0 47.0 48.0 49.0 50.0 51.0

3 51.5 52.0 53.0 53.5 54.5 55.0 55.5 56.0 56.5 57.0 57.5 58.0

4 58.5 58.5 58.5 58.5 58.5 58.5 58.5 58.5 58.5 58.5 58.5 58.5

5+ 58.5 58.5 58.5 58.5 58.5 58.5 58.5 58.5 58.5 58.5 58.5 58.5

Over 1200 mto1400 m

2 44.0 45.0 46.0 47.0 48.0 49.0 50.0

3 50.5 51.0 52.0 53.0 54.0 54.5 55.5 56.0 56.5 57.0 57.5 58.0

4 58.5 58.5 58.5 59.0 59.0 59.0 59.0 59.0 59.0 59.0 59.0 59.0

5+ 59.0 59.0 59.0 59.0 59.0 59.0 59.0 59.0 59.0 59.0 59.0 59.0

Over 1400 mto1600 m

2 43.5 44.5 45.5 46.5 47.5 48.5 49.5

3 50.0 50.5 51.0 52.0 53.0 54.0 55.0 56.0 56.5 57.0 57.5 58.0

4 58.5 58.5 58.5 59.0 59.0 59.0 59.0 59.0 59.0 59.0 59.0 59.0

5+ 59.0 59.0 59.0 59.0 59.0 59.0 59.0 59.0 59.0 59.0 59.0 59.0

Over 1600 mto2000 m

2 42.5 43.5 44.5 45.5 46.5 47.5 48.5

3 49.0 49.5 50.0 51.0 52.0 53.0 54.0 54.5 55.5 56.5 57.0 57.5

4 58.0 58.0 58.0 58.5 58.5 58.5 59.0 59.0 59.0 59.0 59.0 59.0

5+ 59.0 59.0 59.0 59.0 59.0 59.0 59.0 59.0 59.0 59.0 59.0 59.0

Over 2000 mto2400 m

3 48.5 49.0 49.5 50.5 51.0 52.0 53.0 54.0 54.5 55.5 56.0 57.0

4 57.5 57.5 57.5 58.0 58.0 58.0 58.5 58.5 58.5 59.0 59.0 59.0

5+ 59.0 59.0 59.0 59.0 59.0 59.0 59.0 59.0 59.0 59.0 59.0 59.0

Over 2400 mto3200 m

3 48.0 48.5 49.0 50.0 50.5 51.5 52.5 53.5 54.0 55.0 55.5 56.0

4 57.5 57.5 57.5 58.0 58.0 58.0 58.5 58.5 58.5 59.0 59.0 59.0

5+ 59.5 59.5 59.5 59.5 59.5 59.5 59.5 59.5 59.5 59.5 59.5 59.5

FilliesandMarestobeallowed2.0kgfrom1stAugustto31stJuly


9. Nz Handicapping in Action

InallBenchmarkracestheBenchmarkweightissetat59kginaccordancewiththeminimumtopweightprovision:

R75BEnCHMARkHAnDICAPMIn54kG

HORsE AGE/sEx RATInG WEIGHT

1 FightingBlossom 6g 77 60.0

2 Rafa’sPride 5g 75 59.0

3 DirtyRed 5m 78 58.5

4 LuckO’theirish 5g 73 58.0

5 Bluebags 6h 70 56.5

6 ThenewBlack 4m 73 56.0

7 Jefferson 7m 72 55.5

8 TommyTwister 3g 72 56.0

9 Friendly 3f 66 54.0

10 Rhodes 6g 65 54.0

11 BumperFarrell 6m 65 54.0

#1 fightingBlossom–Asarating776YOgeldinginaR75benchmark,FightingBlossomiseligibletostartand

willbeweightedat60kgandcarry1kg(equivalentof2ratingspoints)abovethe59kgminimumbenchmark

weight.

#2 rafa’sPride–Asarating755YOmalehewouldbehandicappedtocarrythe59kgminimumtopweight.

#3 dirtyred–AsaR78mareinaR75BenchmarkHandicapDirtyRedisalsoeligibletostartandwouldbe3pts

(1.5kg)abovetheBenchmarkweight(equivalentof60.5kg),whichisreducedto58.5kgwhenthe2kgmares

allowanceisincluded.

#4 lucko’theirish–Asa5YOmale,inaR75racehewouldcarry1kg(2pts)lessthantheR75Benchmarkhorse.

#5 Bluebags–Asa6YOmale,inaR75racehewouldcarry56.5kg.

#6 thenewBlack–InthiseventThenewBlackresumesoffaR73markinanR75event,soshewouldhave1kg

(2pts)lessthanRafa’sPride(57kg),beforethe2kgmaresallowanceisincluded,reducingherweightto56kg.

#7 Jefferson–asaR72mareshecarries55.5kg.

#8 Tommytwister–AR72oldermalewouldbeweightedtocarry57.5kginanR75event,howeverasa3YO

TommyTwister(nov-Janperiod)isentitledto1.5kg(3pt)ageallowance,reducinghisweightto56kg.

#9 friendly–Becausesheisalreadyweightedattheminimum(54kg),her2kgfilliesand1.5kg3YOallowances

cannotbetakenasnohorsecanbeweightedtocarrylessthantheadvertised54kgminimum.

#10 rhodes–AsaR693YOcoltheisweightedon54kg.

#11 Bumperfarrell–Becausesheisalsoalreadyweightedatminimum(54kg)her2kgmaresallowancecannotbe

taken.


10. General

10.1 BallotIng

RatingsareutilisedintheBallotingConditionsofthenZTRstandardRegulationsforthepurposeofdetermining

theorderofballotsandeliminations.ThemajorityofracesconductedinnewZealandareruninaccordancewith

thestandardRegulations.

Forthoseracesthatarenotrunundertheseconditions,andwherethefieldisselectedbasedonothercriteria,the

entryandqualifyingconditionswillbeadvertisedintheTRM.

10.2 doMestIcversusInternatIonalratIngs

ThedomesticRatingsBasedHandicappingsystemshouldnotbeconfusedorjudgedagainsttheendofseason

InternationalorAnZRating.

TheInternationalandAnZRatingsarecompiledattheendofeachseasonandareapeakperformancerating

basedonthehorse’sbestperformanceforthatseason,takingintoaccountsthestrengthofthefieldthat

performancecamein.Internationalratingsarebasedonanscaleofratingsthatdiffersfromthescaleofratings

usedfordomesticratings.

10.3 weBsIte

RatingsaredisplayedalongsidenominationsonthenZTRwebsite(www.nzracing.co.nz)atthetimeoftheir

release.RatingsarealsoavailableonlineforallhorsesthatarecurrentlyracinginnewZealandbythefollowingsort

options;byhorsename,bydescendingRating,byascendingRatingandbytrainer.


11. Handicapping Complaints Process (from 25 March 2013)

newZealandThoroughbredRacinghasinitiatedaformalprocessforhandlingcomplaintsrelatingtothere-rating

ofhorsesand/ortheweightingofahorse.

TheHandicappingComplaintsProcessprovidesfortheownerorlessee,ortheTrainer(asdetailedinnZTRRules

ofRacing215)tomakeaformalcomplaintastothere-ratingand/ortheweightingoftheirhorse.nZTRwillalso

responddirectlytothenewZealandTrainersAssociationinregardtoanyformalcomplaintofbehalfofoneof

theirmembers,

nZTRwilllooktoresolveanyhandicappingcomplaintsreceivedasquicklyasispractical.

ThisHandicappingGuidehasbeenprovidedtoassistindustryparticipantsunderstandingofthemethodand

decisionmakingprocessusedbytheHandicapperswhenarrivingattheweighthorseswillreceivebyvirtueoftheir

performancesinthenumerousracestheycompetein.

TheaimoftheHandicappingGuideistoprovidegreatertransparencyastohowthenZTRHandicappersoperate

thatwillensurethatthehandicappingsystemremainsfairandconsistent,withthehighestlevelofintegrity,atall

times.

11.1 HandlIngacoMPlaIntorQuery

§ Inthefirstinstancetheowner/lesseeortrainershouldspeakdirectlytothenZTRHandicapperstogainan

understandingastothewayinwhichthere-ratingorhandicappingoftheirhorsehasbeenassessed.

InmostcasesitwouldbenZTR’sexpectationthatthehandicapperswillbeabletoresolvethevastmajorityof

handicappingenquiriesorcomplaintsinthismanner.

§ Iftheowner/trainerisnotsatisfiedwiththeresponsereceivedfromtheHandicappers,theymayescalate

theircomplaintbyemailingcomplaintshcp@nzracing.co.nzorbymakingacomplaintinwritingtonZTR

HandicappingLiaisonOfficer,POBox38386,WellingtonMailCentre5045.

§ AllcomplaintsreceivedinwritingwillbedirectedtonZTR’sHandicappingLiaisonOfficer.

§ TheHandicappingLiaisonOfficerisindependentofnZTRmanagement.TheHandicappingLiaisonOfficeris

empoweredtocarefullyconsiderandmakearecommendationtothenZTRChiefExecutive,whereitcanbe

establishedthattherehasbeenamaterialerrorinthere-ratingorhandicappingofahorse.

§ Allcomplaintswillbeacknowledgedwithinoneworkingdayofbeingreceived.Pleasenote:whenwriting

totheHandicappingLiaisonOfficerpleaseprovideinwritingthefulldetailsofthecomplaint,alongwithan

understandingoftheexplanationprovidedbytheHandicappersandanexpectationastowhatyoubelieve

needstohappen.Pleaseincludeyourfullname,addressandcontactdetailsandconfirmyourrelevantinterest

inthehorsethatisthesubjectofthecomplaint.


11.2 InvestIgatIngacoMPlaIntorQuery

§ UponreceiptofacomplainttheHandicappingLiaisonOfficerafterreviewingtheinformationprovided,will

seekaformalresponsefromthenZTRHandicappers.Dependingonthecomplexityofthecomplaintthe

responsefromthenZTRHandicappersshouldbeprovidedtotheHandicappingLiaisonOfficerwithintwo(2)

workingdaysoftherequestbeingmade.

§ ThenZTRHandicappingLiaisonOfficermayalsoseekfurtherinformationbeforemakingarecommendation

tothenZTRChiefExecutive.

§ PleasenoteRule216(1)providesthatthenZTRHandicappersmayamendtheallottedweightand/orrating

ofahorseonlyiftheChiefExecutiveissatisfiedthattheallottedweightand/orratingwasincorrectbecause

of:

§ aclericalerroratthetimeofreleaseofsuchweightand/orrating;

§ incompleteorinaccurateinformationontheperformances,age,sexoridentityofthathorse:or

§ anerrorbytheHandicapperintheassessmentoftheageorsexofanyentryoroftheconditionsofthe

race.

§ WheretherecommendationoftheHandicappingLiaisonOfficerresultsinthenZTRChiefExecutive

supportinganyamendmentoftheallottedweightand/orratingofahorse,asprovidedforbytheRulesof

Racing,nZTRwillpublishonitswebsiteacopyofthereportfindingsthathassupportedthechange.

§ WherenoactionwillbetakenbynZTRinregardtoacomplaint,nZTRwillprovidethecomplainantwiththe

reportfindingsthathavebeenprovidedbytheHandicappingLiaisonOfficerfortheirinformation.


allowance

Areductionintheweighttobecarriedbyahorseconferredasaresultoffactorswhichincludeageorsex

allowances.

apprenticeallowance

AweightallowanceconferredtoahorseasaresultofthathorsebeingriddenbyanApprenticeRider.

Ballotingorder

Theorderbywhichhorsesareeliminatedfromaracewherethetotalnumberofhorsesremaininginthefieldatthe

closeoffinalwithdrawalsexceedsthestartinglimit.

Benchmarkrace

Aracewhichallowshorsestonominateabovetheadvertisedbenchmarkrating.Horsesthatnominateabove

thisfigurewillreceiveanextra0.5kgforeachpointtheyareabovethebenchmarkratingoftherace.Applicable

allowancesaresubsequentlytakenoffthisweight

Blacktyperace

AracethatisclassifiedaseitherGroup1,Group2,Group3orListedbythenewZealandPatternCommittee(also

referredtoasastakesRace).TheseracesarethehigheststandardofthoroughbredhorseraceinnewZealand.

ThelistofGroupandListedracesapprovedbynewZealandPatternCommitteeisacceptedbytheInternational

CataloguingstandardsCommitteeforpublicationbyTheJockeyClub(Uk)inTheBlueBook.GroupandListed

racesarebrokendownintoGroup1,Group2,Group3andListedRaces

featurerace

Ahighqualityraceusuallyrunforhighstakes(prizemoney)forwhichentriesmaybetakenandweightsdeclared

earlierthanwouldbethecaseforotherraces.

grade

AcategoryintowhichahorsemightbeplacedbasedonitsRatingandthetypesofraceforwhichitiseligible.

Handicaprace

AraceinwhichtheweightstobecarriedbythehorsesareallocatedbytheHandicapperbasedoneachhorse’s

Ratingforthepurposeofequalisingtheirchancesofwinning.

Maidenrace

AMaidenflatraceisrestrictedtohorsesthathavenotwonaflatrace.AMaidensteeplechaseraceisrestrictedto

horsesthathavenotwonasteeplechaserace,andMaidenHurdleracesarerestrictedtohorsesthathavenotwon

aHurdlerace.

Minimumweight

Theminimumweightthatahorsecanbeallocatedinaparticularrace.Theminimumweightforeachracetypeis

advertisedinnZTR’sThoroughbredRacingMonthly(TRM)magazine.

12. Glossary Of Terms


openrace

Araceopentoallhorsesexceptforhorsesagedtwoyears,unlessthishasbeenadvertisedasaraceconditionin

theTRM.

overweight

Anamountofweight,generallynotexceeding0.5kg,thatahorsemaycarryinaraceinadditiontoitsallotted

weightbecauseitsriderisunabletomaketheallocatedweight.

Penalty

TheamountbywhichaHandicapperincreasesahorse’sweightand/orRatingfollowingawinorplaced

performance.

rating

Anumericalassessmentofahorse’spriorperformance(s)madebytheHandicapperwhichisusedtodeterminethe

weighttobecarriedbythathorseinanyHandicaprace.RatingsarealsousedtodeterminetheBallotingtheorder

forsomeraces.

ratingBand

AcategoryintowhichahorsemightbeplacedbasedonitsRatingandthetypesofRatingracesregularly

programmed.

example: A horse rated 70 might be considered to be in the rating 75 Band, because the most suitable races for

which it is eligible (which are regularly programmed) are rating 75 races.

ratingrace

Araceforwhicheligibilityisdeterminedbyahorse’sRatingatthecloseofnominations.

example: A rating 75 race is for all horses that have a rating up to and including 75 at the time of nomination.

setweightrace

Aracewhereallhorsescarrythesameweightsubjecttoasexallowanceforfilliesand/ormaresandanyapplicable

3YOallowances.

topweight

Thehighestweightallottedinaparticularrace.

weight-for-age(wfa)race

AraceinwhichtheweightstobecarriedbythehorsesaredeterminedbytheWeight-for-Age(WFA)scale.Under

theWFAscaleweightsaredeterminedaccordingtoahorse’sage,sex,theracedistanceandthemonthofthe

year.


13. NZTR Handicapping Panel

deannowell,chiefHandicapper. . . . . . . . . . +64(0)92996127. . . . . . . . . . . . .+64(0)274959992

Brettscelly,seniorHandicapper . . . . . . . . . . +64(0)45765092. . . . . . . . . . . . .+64(0)21888955

georgestrickland,cadetHandicapper. . . . . +64(0)45766269. . . . . . . . . . . . .+64(0)272078460

timlambert,cadetHandicapper…. . . . . . . . +64(0)45766246

nZtrHandIcaPPInglIaIson(coMPlaIntsandQuerIes)

c/-davidJewell,racing&operations. . . . . +64(0)45766262 . . . . . . . . . . . .+64(0)275113152

[email protected]

newZealandtHorougHBredracIngInc.106-110 Jackson Street

petone

Wellington 5045

New Zealand

pO box 38 386

Wellington Mail centre

Wellington 5045

New Zealand

t +64 4 576 6240

f +64 4 568 8866

w www.nzracing.co.nz

new zealand thoroughbred racing handicapping guide v3.pdf · 2 nztr handicapping policy version 3...

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