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Jay Abernethy says racing in the north is being hobbled by a ratings points system that is not working as designed.

Jay: Horsemen adamant we need revised handicapping system for the north

Horsemen are pushing for a separate handicapping system to be introduced in the north before harness racing begins at the end of the month.

Harness Racing New Zealand has just approved minor tweaks to the present ratings matrix to acknowledge the lower stakes that will be on offer but in a letter to Harness Racing New Zealand CEO Peter Jensen yesterday, North Island Trainers’ and Drivers’ Association president Jay Abernethy says the points system is not working in the north as designed.

“It is promoting horses too quickly through the grades and doesn’t allow them to drop back fast enough to the grade where they are most competitive.”

Abernethy says the association considered a number of options and it became clear that it would be easier to tweak the present ratings system than to throw it out and start again.

“Whatever is proposed must be simple and easily understood.”

Abernethy says while it was nearly impossible to find a solution that everyone agreed with 100 percent, the suggested changes best represent the northern horsemens’ concerns and are supported by 139 of them.

  • Instead of penalising horses eight points for a win, the new system sees six points added regardless of the track.
  • Horses who finish further back than fourth will drop back one point (presently further back than fifth)
  • And horses rated at 70 and above will drop back two points until they reach 70.

The horsemen want the race winners’ matrix to be suspended in the north while the new system is trialled until the end of the year.

First win

Other changes proposed include:

  • A maiden’s first win will move it from an MR rating to an R rating without accruing any points. Whether it is an MR50 or MR44 it remains on that mark and becomes an R rated horse ie: R50 or R44.
  • No limit on how far a horse can drop back until it reaches R40. Horses drop points on their true form and need to be able to find their true ratings.

Age group concessions include:

  • Two-year-olds get one penalty free win for races under $15,000. (The horse will revert to MR50 as a three-year-old).
  • Every third win as a three-year-old will be penalty free and
  • Four-year-olds can have one penalty free win in a race for juniors or invited drivers.

“We know there is more work to be done such as better support for fillies and mares races and two-year-old and three-year-old caps but this is a start.”

Harness Racing New Zealand has previously been opposed to adopting different ratings system in the two islands but it has become obvious that with much smaller fields in the north, horses are reaching non competitive levels too quickly and aren’t dropping back quickly enough.

In the post COVID-19 landscape, with much lower stakes at Auckland, owners could not afford to wait months before their horses earned prizemoney again.

“We believe with the many changes thrust upon our industry now is the time to trial an amendment.”

Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them

Nathan Delany

Nathan’s comments

Thursday night at Cambridge

Race 1: Im Not The Maid
5.14pm

“She went pretty well last week considering they came a fast last half (56.3) and she sat parked from the 800. She’s back to the amateur grade, and should get a good run from the two draw, so hopefully we can get a bit of cash.”

Race 4: Dreams Of Eric
6.38pm

“She didn’t handle the right-handed bends at Auckland last week (galloping at the 300) so we’ll stick to Cambridge from now on. There’s a bit of gate speed in the race so Harry (Harrison Orange) should be able to sit in somewhere. I think he’s a good chance to run top three.”

Ray Green

Ray’s comments

Friday night at Auckland

Race 1: Leo Lincoln
5.59pm

“He’s racing very well. He would have run second last week (to American Me) had he not spooked at the winning post. These are tidy horses he’s racing against but he’s holding his own.”

Race 1: Kevin Kline
5.59pm

“He’ll go better back to a mobile start. He did well to finish so close last week after a slow start than having to do all the donkey work when parked for the last lap. Maurice really likes him because he just puts him into cruise control and he keeps going.”

Race 3: Lincoln Downs
6.58pm

“She’s not as good as the other filly but some lift their game when the money’s up so maybe she can pick up a cheque.”

Race 3: Lincoln’s Spice
6.58pm

“She looks a pretty decent chance of winning. She’s a real little tradesman, does nothing wrong, is easy to handle, is a nice drive, tries hard, is great gaited and has the potential to get stronger.”

Race 5: Tyson
7.51pm

“We found out he raced with a virus last time. The next morning snot was pouring out his nose and that’s why he didn’t finish it off as well as we expected. He only whacked away in the run home. With that gone, he should race better.”

Race 5: Johnny Lincoln
7.51pm

“I think he’ll be competitive and he’s the best of ours in the race. He won well last week and has trained on well. He’s promising. I couldn’t go as far as to say he’s a classic colt yet but we’ll find out soon enough.”

Race 5: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.51pm

“He’s doing my head in. He had no excuse for breaking last week. Maurice (McKendry) didn’t blame the wet track. He said he was gliding along, travelling beautifully, when for no apparent reason he put in big steps. I’ll put a hood on him this time to see if it’s a nervous issue.”

Race 8: The Rascal
9.23pm

“All going well, he should win what is a poor maiden field. He’s elevated himself from the transfer list and is going well now. He doesn’t have huge gate speed, so he may not lead but he should get a good trip from one. On paper, he’s our best chance of the night.”

Whales Harness