Harness Racing Victoria (HRV) will restrict all C0 class races in Victoria from November 1 to four-year-old and older pacers.
The programming adjustment follows analysis of open-age C0 races in the 2017-18 season, which revealed:
- From 162 races run, 74 comprised one or more 3YO starters (45.68%)
- Of those 74 races, 52 were won by a 3YO (70.27%)
- A 3YO started favourite in 62 of those 74 races (83.78%), winning on 42 occasions (67.74%)
- Of those 42 wins, 36 were odds-on favourites (85.71%), while 30 were $1.40 or shorter (71.43%)
“The data clearly showed that the practice of three-year-old pacers competing in, and more often than not, winning open-age C0 races is detrimental to our racing product from a wagering perspective,” HRV General Manager of Racing Stephen Bell said.
“It also shows that it is difficult for a four-year-old and older horse to win a C0 race, which obviously makes it harder for owners and trainers to keep that horse on the racetrack.”
The change means that a three-year-old pacer having won two three-year-old races – thus being assessed as a C0/3C2 – will now be required to have its first open-age start in a C1 race.
Under the Australian Handicapping Rules, a horse only incurs one career penalty for a win. Therefore a C0/3C2 pacer will become a C1/3C3 pacer after winning its first C1 class race.
Such horse will remain eligible to again contest a C1 class race, now as a C1/3C3 pacer.
Effectively, a three-year-old pacer will not be adversely affected, as it will still be able to win four races and be assessed C2/3C4, now in most cases by winning two three-year-old races and two C1 class races, whereas in previous seasons it will have won two three-year-old races, a C0 class race and a C1 class race.
The analysis also highlighted that 22 open-age C0 only races were deleted, 18 of which contained one or more three-year-old nomination.
“This amendment will provide more competitive racing in the four-year-old and older C0 races and will enhance the prospects of four-year-old horses winning their $7000 Vicbred First Win Bonus,” Mr Bell said.
“It will also assist five-year-old and older horses winning their $3500 Vicbred First Win Bonus.”
