Grading system proposed

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33155, 20 February 1973, Page 8

Grading system proposed

f.V.Z. Press Association) HAMILTON. At a special meeting of the j Racing Conference in Hamilton yesterday the president of the conference (Mr H. H. | Smith) told representatives (that he had received a report! from the special sub-! ] committee which had been ! appointed to investigate a (system of classification of horses. Mr Smith said the sub-! .committee had submitted a ! suggested scheme and recommended that this be studied, I with a view to the executive I committee sponsoring a remit to the annual conference in July. The proposals are:— In flat races a maiden horse would be one which had not won a flat race at a totalisator meeting; a class 1 horse would be one which had not earned more than $1500; a class 2 horse, one which had not earned more than $3000; a class 3 horse, one which had not earned more than $4500; a class 4 horse one which had not earned more than $6000: an open class horse one which had earned more than $6OOO. For jumping races there would be two classes: class B for horses which have not earned more than $3OOO. and class A for horses which have earned more than $3OOO. The

provision for qualified hun I ters would continue to appl; Jas at present. ' The sub-committee furtha ? reported a proposed amend J ment to rule 179 (1) whereb] J the “hack limit” was to ’! increased from $l5OO t< t; $2500. It was the sub-committee’i I i considered view that becaust J! of the possibility of the tern '(“hack” being deleted fron the rules at the annual con Jference in July no actioi I I should be taken at this stag< ]I to amend the hack status. J The recommendation wa ' adopted at the special meet ( ing, and the remit to ament ' the hack status was with drawn. The executive com mittee later decided to cir culate the details of the pro posed classification scheme t< ; all clubs for their views an< ’ comments. The special meeting passet , a remit dealing with tht ; claiming of apprentice jockej allowances for flat races. i The new rule, which be I comes effective immediately ; means that apprentices cat ( now claim in races worth u] i to $2500 to the winner Thi previous figure was $l5OO. : There are certain races ii 1 which the allowances are no . claimable: mainly races fo; I two - year - olds, high-weighti : and the principal flat race o! ■ the day.