Handicapping Policy 2009/2010

With effect from the start of the 2009/2010 season, the following handicapping policy will be adopted :

Weight Scale & Allowances

  1. In all handicaps, the maximum allocated weight shall be 133lb and the minimum allocated weight shall be not less than 113lb.
  2. Northern Hemisphere-bred and Southern Hemisphere-bred 2-year-olds (as at 31st December) will receive a 5lb weight-for-age allowance in all handicaps, where applicable.
  3. Horses which are entitled to a 5lb weight-for-age allowance may be entered in handicap races for which the published upper rating limit is up to and including 5lb below their handicap rating.
  4. All Group 1, Hong Kong Group 1 and Hong Kong Group 2 races programmed for the season will be terms races. All Hong Kong Group 3 races will be handicaps.

Class Structure

  1. There will be five race classes in addition to Group and Griffin races. In handicap races, the standard upper rating limit for each class will be as follows :
Race Class Standard
Upper Rating Limit
1 120
2 100
3 80
4 60
5 40


 

 

 

 

Adjustment of Ratings

  1. The ratings of all horses will be reviewed immediately after running, regardless of future engagements.
  2. The maximum rating increase for horses placed second to fifth in a race shall be 5 rating points, except that in the season where horses have their first race start in Hong Kong, the maximum rating increase for these horses in that season shall be 10 rating points.

Allocation of Ratings

  1. Ratings for the 2009/2010 imports will be as follows:

    Previously Raced Horses (PP)

    Ratings will be allocated based on the Hong Kong Jockey Club Handicappers’ assessment of overseas performance

    Privately Purchased Griffins (PPG), International Sale Griffins (ISG) and Subscription Griffins (SG)

    a. PPG, ISG and SG who are 3 years old on 31st December in the season for which the permit is granted will be allocated a rating of 57 (Northern Hemisphere-bred) or 52 (Southern Hemisphere-bred) on arrival.

    b. PPG, ISG and SG who are 2 years old on 31st December in the season for which the permit is granted will race in Griffin races, which will be run on weight-for-age terms. Winners of one race will carry a 7lb penalty. PPG, ISG and SG which run in Griffin races will be allocated a rating subject to the following conditions :

    • Winners of two races and the winner of the Juvenile Sprint Trophy will be allocated a rating immediately.
    • After 1st May, a trainer has the option to request that a rating be allocated to a winner of one race.
    • No horse allocated a rating is eligible for Griffin races unless otherwise specified in the conditions of the race.
    • The initial minimum rating allocated to a Griffin winner will be 60 for Northern Hemisphere 3-year-olds and 55 for Southern Hemisphere 2-year-olds.
    • All other Griffins will be allocated a rating at the end of the season.
    • The maximum initial rating for a maiden Griffin at the end of the season that has been placed second, third or fourth will be 60, and that for a raced but unplaced Griffin will be 57.
    • Griffins which are unraced at the end of the season will be allocated an initial rating of 57 (Northern Hemisphere-bred) or 52 (Southern Hemisphere-bred).