IHRA Handicap Review by Stakeholders Committee & Ratified by IHRA Board:
1. The following additional amendments to the 2018 handicap system were discussed, agreed and will now be sanctioned for the 2019 season.
• Horses going from A – A1, their runs will be cleared to A1 (0 runs)
• Bank G1 horses runs (excluding all horses which are racing and receiving an age allowance)
• F horses with a bank of a max of 6 runs are capped
• There will be no opt up in the handicap system
• No deviations of weekly distances, regardless of FFA’s with exception to the VDM FFA
2. Le Trot to IHRA Conversion of Grades Table:
In 2019 the table is changing by replacing the existing conversion of “and/or” in each band to just “or” and the lesser of the two, will become the horse’s grade. As of from the October sale in 2018, all incoming French horses will get their grade with three runs. The new conversion table is as follows:
• Maiden or less than €15k won = Grade F
• 1 win or less than €25k won = Grade E
• 2 wins or less than €40k won = Grade D
• 3 wins or less than €60k won = Grade C
• 4 wins or less than €80k won = Grade B
• 5 wins+ or more than €80k won = Grade A
3. 5YO Grade Conversion into IHRA National Handicap Mark:
• The grade of each horse on 1/04/18 will be taken and their entire racing performance will then be applied as per the existing national system.
• A win will move them up a grade (G/G*/G1/G1*/F)
• Every 6 runs will count towards a drop except for any horse who has exceeded Grade F.
• The grade of the horse at the end of the 2018 season will be the starting grade for the horse in 2019
• Horses will be capped at Grade F.
• Horses in Grades G/G*/G1/G1* will be allowed to move up and down per 6 runs, but horses in Grade F will not
• Where possible a 5YO race will be ran each week, with preference given to the four G grades.
• A 10Y trail be applied to each grade in 1 mile races & a 20Y trail in 1.25 mile & 1.5 mile races.
4. Claiming Race Conditions Update:
• There will be no claiming races at Premium or Gold Meetings.
• Fill claimers into one race where possible with a minimum of 5 runners
• There will be a max grade drop of two grades, and any grade A2 or above may be dropped to a claim tag of no lower than a Grade B
•Horses may enter a claiming race at any time.
•Horses that win a claiming race will be required to have its next two starts in handicap races unless it is claimed and therefore can be re-entered, by the new connections in a claiming race for its next start.
• The series will be reviewed again in 12 months.
• The following is the amended table of claim tags for the forthcoming season.
Grade F €1250
Grade E €1750
Grade D €2250
Grade C €2750
Grade B €3250
Grade A €3750
