 BENCHMARK
RACING AND MERIT BASED HANDICAPPING FROM 1ST OCTOBER 2009
After consulting extensively with the industry, Racing NSW
will replace the ratings system of programming and handicapping
from 1st October 2009 with a revolutionary and innovative system.
The
BENCHMARK system will bring together the best elements and
resources of modern regulatory handicapping, and private
handicapping by form analysts working independently of the
regulating authority.
Ratings will be superseded by a published
BENCHMARK that denotes the weight each horse will carry at
its next start, with each
BENCHMARK point equalling half a kilogram.
“The BENCHMARK system is a very exciting development
for racing in this State,” said Racing NSW Chief Executive
Peter V’landys.
Under the BENCHMARK system handicapping will
be truly merit based. Immediately after every start, each
horse will be assessed
according to the true merits of its performances against
the entire horse population racing in NSW. Accordingly, there
will
be no standard penalties.
The BENCHMARK assessment process will
begin with a mathematical (computer-based) calculation from
proprietary software developed
by Racing & Sports Pty Ltd under contract to Racing NSW.
The computation takes into account an exhaustive list of relevant
factors such as the quality of the field, sectional and race
times, state of the track, number of starters, weight carried,
beaten margin and recent and historical individual performances.
The
computer ranking is reviewed by experienced form analysts
from Racing & Sports who then provide Racing NSW with a
recommendation within 48 hours of each horse running.
Finally
the panel of the Racing NSW Handicapping Department reviews
the background to the recommendation, the race film
and other race data, and confirms or varies the updated BENCHMARK
for each horse.
A significant step in the start up process is
that each horse will be re-assessed before 1 October 2009
using the Merit based
system, which may position it higher or lower on the scale
than its current rating. This realignment is necessary to
launch the BENCHMARK system with allocations that accurately
reflect
the true merit of each horse relative to the entire NSW horse
population.
In particular, Country performed horses will generally
be re assessed on a lower range, with the result that they
may effectively drop approx 5 - 8 points (2.5 – 4 kilos)
from their current assessment when compared to their Metropolitan
and Provincial counterparts.
Ratings races will be replaced
by BENCHMARK races. The BENCHMARK figure published in the
race program denotes the horse that
will carry the minimum required topweight of 58kg in that
event. Allowances apply for fillies and mares, and for 3-year-olds.
Horses
that are assessed above the BENCHMARK number of the race
are still eligible to compete, albeit with a higher weight,
rather than be pushed to a higher grade as happens with the
current ratings races.
“The BENCHMARK systems increases options for every horse
as it can be nominated for more races on each program, then
the
connections can decide which race to contest after assessing
its weight and competitiveness,” said Mr V’landys.
For
example in a BENCHMARK race of 80 a horse with a BENCHMARK
of 80 (with no allowances) will carry 58kg. A horse with
a BENCHMARK of 86 (with no allowances) can be entered for the
race and will carry 61kg i.e. 6 BENCHMARK points equals 3kg.
Alternatively a horse with a BENCHMARK of 77 will carry 56.5kg
i.e. 3 BENCHMARK points equals 1.5kg.
A filly or mare is given
a 2kg allowance. Accordingly a mare with a 76 BENCHMARK will
carry 54kg.
This is better illustrated
by the full example below, for a BENCHMARK 80 race to be
held in October, which takes into account
allowances for fillies, mares and 3-year-olds.
RACE BENCHMARK - 80 / Minimum Weight -
53kg
Allowance for Fillies & Mares - 2kg / Allowance for 3YO - 2.5kg
|
Horse
|
|
Sex
|
|
Age
|
|
Benchmark
|
|
Weight
|
|
Purple Prince
|
|
G
|
|
7
|
|
86
|
|
61.0kg
|
|
Little Pip
|
|
F
|
|
3
|
|
82
|
|
54.5kg
|
|
Exercise Pad
|
|
G
|
|
5
|
|
80
|
|
58.0kg
|
|
Boutique Girl
|
|
M
|
|
4
|
|
80
|
|
56.0kg
|
|
Harding's Boy
|
|
G
|
|
6
|
|
78
|
|
57.0kg
|
|
Madeline
|
|
M
|
|
4
|
|
78
|
|
55.0kg
|
|
George Regal
|
|
H
|
|
5
|
|
77
|
|
56.5kg
|
|
Henrietta
|
|
M
|
|
5
|
|
76
|
|
54.0kg
|
|
Rooster Boy
|
|
C
|
|
3
|
|
75
|
|
53.0kg
|
(horse names fictitious) 1 Benchmark Point
- 1/2 kilo
|
NATIONAL
WHIP REFORMS
WINNERS ARE GRINNERS
