Racing Guidelines: Vic online hub launched

Harness Racing Victoria (HRV) has refreshed the new Victorian Racing Guidelines in their entirety, which can be viewed at the Ratings Based Handicapping System hub.

Previous Racing Information and Programming Guidelines have been combined and updated to reflect the transition to the national Ratings Based Handicapping System (RBHS) and will take effect from  Monday July 1.

Some notable changes that have been made include:

Qualifiers for races run as Heat/Final

Previously, in instances when a horse who finished in a qualifying position is no longer able to take its place in the final (scratched, already qualified, etc), the next horse from that heat became the qualifier. As of 1 July horses will qualify for the next phase of the series explicitly based on their finishing position and mile rate regardless of which heat they contested, unless conditions on the race state otherwise.

Manual field selection

As of 1 July only races worth $15,000+ will be selected manually unless stated otherwise on race conditions. Career races programmed at metropolitan meetings will be selected in accordance with the Automatic Field Selection System.

Applying Concession Claims after acceptances

In instances where horses accrue rating points after acceptance time in another race and exceed the parameters of a race, trainers can then engage a Concession Driver with the relevant claim to remain eligible.

Concession Claims in barrier draw only

There is now an option on certain races where Concession Driver claims don’t apply for eligibility purposes but have the facility to do so in the barrier draw only. It will state on the race conditions where this applies.

Trotters in pacers races

Trotters contesting pacers races in Victoria can do so in accordance with the below scale:

Concession claims & Mares Allowances apply to the Pacing Classification if applicable to the race.

Accrue same points as per the Points Matrix from their performance in such race as they would contesting a trotters race.

Vicbred Bonuses

For all first win Vicbred bonuses no class restrictions will apply. Previously 4YO and older horses were required to be C0 or T0 at time of win. Visit www.vicbred.com.au for full details.