On 16 August 2016 Tasracing advised participants of changes to the method for selecting races divided by points as follows:
Following consultation with the Office of Racing Integrity (ORI) and after considering feedback received from industry participants, Tasracing will add the following clause to all races divided by points:
When races are divided by points (high and lower points divisions), the Unfulfilled Engagements and Extended Races policies do not apply if the total number of acceptors is equal to, or less than, the combined field limits.
The intent of the change was that all races divided by points would not consider any other policies if the total number of acceptors was equal to, or less than, the combined field limits.
Since the change has been advertised, two situations have arisen where another policy, “Out Of Class” Racing, has been implemented when selecting races divided by points – TPC on 25 September 2016 and LPC on 13 November 2016. Both times, a C1 was divided by points and a 3C0/3C1/C0 was deleted due to insufficient acceptors.
Consistent with the “Out Of Class” Racing policy, the horses from the deleted 3C0/3C1/C0 were offered vacant positions in the low points C1 division even though all had sufficient points for inclusion in the high points division. Two C0 horses accepted for the TPC low points race and one for the LPC low points race. The three C0 horses dominated the races finishing first and second in the TPC race and first in the LPC race.
After considering feedback received from industry participants, ORI and acting on our own thoughts, Tasracing has enacted a further amendment to the Races Divided By Points policy to exclude the “Out Of Class” Racing policy when selecting fields to be divided by points. Reasons include:
- The performance of the three C0 horses in the low points C1 races indicates they appear to be clearly advantaged against low points C1 horses.
- Low points C1 races aim to provide an opportunity to earn stake money for C1 horses with poor form. The inclusion of high points C0 horses reduces the possibility of that outcome.
The amended policy is:
When races are divided by points (high and lower points divisions), the Unfulfilled Engagements, Extended Races and “Out Of Class” Racing policies do not apply if the total number of acceptors is equal to, or less than, the combined field limits.
The decision is effective from 1 December 2016.
For Noting