Handicapping

David Hegan; Head of Handicapping

• The Caulfield and Melbourne Cups
• International and Australian Classifications & Ratings
• Oakleigh Plate and Newmarket Handicap
• Grand National Hurdle and Steeple

Edward Kalaja; Racing Officer and Handicapper

• Sir Rupert Clarke and Toorak Handicap
• International and Australian Classifications & Ratings 

James Ryan; Racing Officer and Handicapper 

Anthony Piccolo; Racing Officer and Handicapper 

CONTACT
Racing Victoria
400 Epsom Road, Flemington 3031
Direct: 03 9258 4671
information@racingvictoria.net.au

Racing Australia Service Centre: 1800 138 704

• A Handicapper’s role is to ensure racing is delivered at a competitive level through the allocation of weights to be carried by each horse in a race with the purpose of equalising their chances of winning.
• In Victoria, we handicap from the top weight downwards to the required minimum. The credentials of the top weighted horse ultimately determine the spread of the weight scale in a race. In some circumstances horses who are rated on the minimum will be racing out of their class and will seemingly be disadvantaged by the scale of weights. However, these horses are eligible and have an opportunity to nominate and compete in lower rated races. Horses weighted above the minimum are eligible only for that class of race or have proven to be competitive at that level.
• In Victoria the Handicapper will issue a set of weights for all Handicap races with a minimum top weight of 60kg with the exception of Group Races and 2yo races. The Ratings are an indication of what weight a horse may be allotted in a particular rating band. The eventual spread of weights is determined by the field strength, and is at the discretion of the Handicappers, however a minimum spread of 5kg will generally be provided.
• Once a horse has competed in a race their Rating will be assessed within 48 hours. In Maiden races only winners will be given a rating assessment during this time period. 
• A winning performance generally attracts a penalty. That is a horse which wins a race will on most occasions have its rating, within that particular class or level of competition increased in terms of those horses which have finished behind it. The severity of the penalty is at the Handicapper’s discretion and is based on a number of factors which include: strength of opposition, authority and merit of the win, the weight carried, and winning margin and time.
• In assessing rating movements Handicappers do not factor in apprentice claims due to the relative inexperience of the junior rider compared to his more senior counterpart. However, all overweight is accounted for in re-weighting as this is a discretionary judgement of the connections in addition to the Handicapper’s specific analysis.
• Generally speaking, winning performances will attract a re-handicap between 1 ½ and 2 ½ kilograms. Wins by greater than average margins and / or by very lightly raced horses may attract a slightly larger re-handicap. Horses placed second or third could have their Rating increased, depending on the merit of performance and their proximity to the horse(s) ahead in the finishing order.
• Ratings will not be automatically reduced for unplaced performances. An unplaced performance may be still be deemed competitive and as such any rating would not be lowered. For uncompetitive efforts, a rating may be reduced by 0.5 to 1.0kg. Staying horses that have proven to be uncompetitive until they reach their optimum distance range would generally not receive a reduction to their Rating when contesting sprinting races.
• Horses that race well above their current rating grade and prove competitive will on most occasions receive a Rating increase relevant to that level of performance. As a general rule, a horse that moves down to a lower rating band will be higher in weight, and a horse that moves up to a higher rating band will be lower in weight.
• Only ratings issued by the Victorian Handicapping Panel will be recognised. Horses from Overseas and/or other states of Australia will be given a rating at the time of nomination.

Using the RBH system, Handicappers allocate horses a numeric rating following a race performance within Victoria. The rating given considers the overall performance profile of a horse with strong emphasis on most recent form. The post-race rating assigned by the Handicapper will be assessed again prior to the publication of weights for each subsequent race nomination and is subject to verification and adjustment at the discretion of the Handicapping Panel given the race it is to be applied in. This is particularly relevant to feature flat black-type races and $100,000+ feature jumps events. Consideration will be given to direct weight relativities between entries, previous feature race form and peak performance ratings, especially for 2yo and 3yo horses entering Open-age Black Type races. Any of the above considerations may require a horses rating to be adjusted from the close of nominations to the release of weights for a particular meeting. 

The RBH template provides a guide for interested parties of the weight a horse may be allocated in each rating band. The weights shown on the template are guided by the policy which states that the top weighted horse for a race shall not be handicapped at less than 60kg. If the best-rated horse in a race equates to 57.0kg on the template and is therefore the highest weighted horse it will receive 60.0kg and all other horses nominated will have their weights increased by 3kg.

RBH templates between all states have been designed to be compatible; however interstate ratings can only be used as a guide. Any horse that has raced Interstate at their previous performance will be subject to a rating review by the Victorian Handicapping Panel. Ratings for Victorian horses can be viewed through stable assist or on both the Racing Australia and Racing.com websites. Trainers can also have their horse ratings confirmed by contacting the Victorian Handicapping Panel within two working days of their horses last race performance.

The numeric ratings are published with the purpose of providing trainers a guide to the weight their horse may receive when nominating for ratings –related handicap events. They will not always display the exact weight a horse shall carry, however clearly demonstrate the relativity between horses when weights are allocated.

The RBH template displays the rating figure and the corresponding weight figure a horse will carry in the various class of racing in Victoria. All horses are given a rating which equates to that of a fully mature four year old male. For fillies and mares competing in mixed-sex races, they receive a 2kg sex allowance for the entire racing season. In restricted class racing three year olds when competing against older horses will receive an allowance equal to that of those weights published for Set Weight maiden races. This sliding scale is adjusted quarterly from an initial 2 ½ kg in August to nil for the last three months of the racing season. Three year old fillies also receive this allowance as well as their 2kg sex allowance. 

Template example: BM70 race in August 

A 4-Y-O Gelding, 4-Y-O Mare, 3-Y-O Colt and 3-Y-O Filly have all been nominated. The Handicapper has assessed the four horses equal in relative ability and has allocated a Rating of 70 for all. The weight allocated to the 4-Y-O Gelding or Entire is 60kg. The 4-Y-O Mare which takes into account the 2kg Fillies & Mares allowance she receives is allocated a weight of 58kg. The 3-Y-O Colt or Gelding receives an age allowance of 2 ½ kg and is allocated a weight of 57.5kg. The 3-Y-O Filly also receives an age allowance of 2 ½ kg in addition to her 2kg Fillies allowance and is allocated a weight of 55.5kg.

A winning performance will generally see a horse have its Rating increased, with any increase to be at the discretion of the Handicapper. When arriving at a reassessment, the Handicapper considers the current Rating of the horse, the type of race the horse has run in, merit of win, strength of opposition and overall profile of the horse. Mostly, a horse’s Rating will increase by an amount equivalent from 1.5kg to 3.5kg (3-7pts). Horses rated 100 plus towards the top end of the population can reasonably expect a re-rating of 3-4 points (1.5kg to 2kg) for winning. This is primarily due to the limited number of horses in this rating category and that ratings at this level bring horses close in proximity to the black-type scales. However any horse that wins in a dominant manner or extended margin displaying ability well beyond its rivals can expect to receive an extra ratings increase. 3yo’s competing for at Saturday metropolitan level or for commensurate prizemoney can expect higher rating increases as well.

The following table can be used as a general guide to rating movements for wins in the relevant meeting categories and class:

*All increases displayed in rating points 

This methodology may not always apply when assessing performances in Weight – For – Age and Set Weight events as horses are not running off their handicap rating. Example: When winning the 2021 VRC Sprint Classic (G1), Nature Strip was rated 11 points higher than his nearest competitor. In terms of a weight differential in a Handicap race this would equate to 5.5 kilos. From a Rating perspective the specified conditions of the race where all runners carried Weight – For – Age advantaged him enormously. This winning performance would not attract an increase in Rating. 

Horses that place second or third in a race may also have their Rating increased, depending on the merit of performance and their proximity to the horse(s) ahead in the finishing position. In assessing rating movements for placed performances, the likely increase when racing off their true rating is generally 1 to 2 rating points. (0.5 – 1.0kg).

Horses running out of their class

From a handicapping perspective, a horse is deemed to be running out of its class when it is competing in a race off a higher weight than its rating would suggest. The weight the horse should be carrying in the absence of a minimum weight is referred to as its True Weight. For example, in a BM90 a 4YO Gelding rated 72 has a True Weight of 51kg but cannot carry less than the minimum weight for a BM90 of 54kg. In this instance, the horse is competing in this race off a rating of 78 – the rating equivalent to 54kg. Should the horse win, connections should reasonably expect the horse to be given a weight penalty in the same class against similar horses. The only way this is possible is for the handicapper to re-assess the horse to a rating above that of the rating it has run off (78). A 2kg weight penalty would require the rating to be lifted to 82 which would see the horse carry 56kg if it were to compete in a BM90 race again.

For horses that finish in the placings having run out of their class, a discretionary assessment will be made taking into the account the profile of the horse, ratings of the horses it has beat home and the weight it has run off relative to its true weight. As a general guide, a horse that has finished 2nd in a race could expect to have its rating increased ½ the way to the minimum rating of the race. For example, a Gelding rated 66 who has run 2nd in a BM84 on the minimum weight 54kg has run off a rating of 72. An increase ½ way to the minimum would see the horses rating lifted 3 points to 69.

Black-type Minimum Ratings

In black-type events, winners can be expected to be rated at a minimum according to the table below. Any placegetters will receive a rating commensurate with the weight and margin relative to the winner and the horses they beat with consideration also given to previous black type performances and/ or form at lower classes. Horses well exposed at lower benchmark levels that place at black type level can receive discounted rating increases.

Performances at WFA will generally attract higher ratings than those at SW/SWP level with handicap performances lower again, but all re-ratings are dependent on the level of black type race as well as the ratings and form of the other runners.

These minimum ratings for wins at black type level apply for Victoria and NSW races. Races run elsewhere may attract slightly less ratings.

Horses who subsequently win after the declaration of weights or once acceptances have closed for a meeting may be liable for a weight penalty to be issued at the discretion of the handicapper. 

Any horse that has their rating adjusted above the maximum rating for a restricted rating race after nominations have closed, weights being released or acceptances being declared, will become ineligible for that race. A horse must have an eligible rating at the time of starting.

In the example where a horse has nominated or accepted in a 0-58 restricted rating race and a subsequent win takes the horses revised rating to 59 or higher, that horse will become ineligible and unable to compete in a 0-58 race until such a time as its rating returns to 58 or below.

The Victorian Handicapping Panel at all times may exercise discretion when evaluating the Rating of a horse. A number of factors may contribute to a horse’s rating not being lowered despite that horse being uncompetitive in a race. These include: 

• Where a horse is competing at an unsuitable distance
• Track conditions 
• Where a horse resumes after an extended period 
• Interference suffered in running 
• Saddle slips 
• Rider loses their irons 
• Where a horse contests a significantly higher standard race 
• Where a horse remains wide throughout 
• Where a horse is slow to begin
   

Furthermore, if a horse is found to be lame, suffers a bleeding attack, is injured during the running of a race, falls, is brought down, runs off, fails to finish or loses its rider, no reduction in Rating will occur.

Click here to download the Ratings Based Template (August 2019).

Click here to download the Ratings Based Template - Jumps Events.

A benchmark race is a Handicap race where there is no upper or lower limit on eligibility. In simple terms, a benchmark race is open to all raced horses. For every point above the Benchmark horses receive an additional 0.5kg in weight. In Benchmark 58 races, unraced horses are ineligible to compete. Furthermore, raced maiden horses that have nominated for a BM58 will be put to the bottom of the ballot in rating order.

In the majority of Victorian Handicap events the minimum weight now relates to 54.0kg and the minimum top weight at the declaration of weights shall not be less than 60kg. 

The minimum top weight in Group One Races has been set at 58kg to ensure the best possible fields in terms of quality are attracted to Group races run under Handicap conditions. The Caulfield and Melbourne Cups have a minimum top weight of 58kg.

The minimum top weight in Group Two and Three Races is 59.0kg, however handicapper discretion allows for a higher top weight of up to 60kg should the race lack depth, a spread of weight, be similar in standard to a Listed event or any recent open race with comparable nominations. The minimum top weight of 59kg is still used for 2yo races where there can be a lack of exposed form and in many cases, unraced colts and geldings are often required to carry top weight.

The minimum weight in Group 1 Races are as follows: 

• Oakleigh Plate and Newmarket Hcp: 52kg (for 3yos 50kg) 
• Sir Rupert Clarke and Toorak Hcp: 52kg 
• Caulfield and Melbourne Cups: 50kg (for 3yos 49kg) 
• For other Black Type Races the minimum weight is 54kg in Listed and Group 3 events and 53kg for Group 2 Events. 

Saturday Metropolitan Minimum Riding Weights

For Saturday metropolitan handicaps (other than Group and Listed races) and rating races up to Benchmark 96, a horse will be permitted to be ridden at its true weight down to a limit of 53kg subject to the availability of a suitable rider.

This rule will apply when a horse’s true weight is lower than the advertised minimum weight of 54kg, noting that the minimum for Benchmark 100 races is already 53kg.

For example, in a Benchmark 90 race, a 90-rated horse is assigned 60kg, decreasing in 0.5kg increments for each rating point to the minimum weight of 54kg which is the equivalent of a 78-rated horse. Under the new rule, a horse rated 77 will be permitted to carry 53.5kg and horses rated 76 and below may carry 53kg.

In Saturday metropolitan handicaps and ratings races up to Benchmark 96 in which an apprentice claim is allowed, this must be applied from the higher of the true weight and 53kg limit if the horse is eligible to carry less than the advertised 54kg minimum.

For example, if a horse’s true weight is 52kg and the race minimum is 54kg, an apprentice jockey can only claim from 53kg. Further, if the horse’s true weight is 53.5kg, an apprentice can only claim from 53.5kg.

Minimum top weight at time of acceptances

A minimum top weight at the declaration of acceptances for general handicap events of 58kg applies to all Handicap races, other than Group 1 races (57kg) and the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups (none). If at the time of acceptances there is no 58kg top weight and weights need to be raised, then a minimum of 54kg (55kg at night meetings) will be maintained where applicable to provide a spread in weights.

Quality Handicaps

In Group or Listed races and/or Handicap races where the advertised conditions are run as Quality handicaps the highest weighted horse shall not be allocated more than the maximum weight as prescribed in the race conditions.

Allowances for 3yos 

When competing against older horses in provincial and country Ratings Based races, three-year-olds receive an age allowance, dependent on the time of year and level of race. 

The following scale used at country level reflects a simplified form of the developing maturity of the horse as the season progresses:

When competing against older horses in Metropolitan races, the following scale will apply with any allowance at BM90 or higher to be determined at the discretion of the handicapper when assessing an individual horse’s form against that of the WFA scale:

Night Meetings

The minimum weight at night meetings shall be 55kg, except for Group and Listed Races and any designated feature races (as prescribed in the race conditions).

Picnic Racing

All weights at Picnic meetings relate to a 63kg minimum. The minimum top weight at the declaration of handicaps at Picnic races is 67kg. Minimum top weight at acceptance time is 66kg.

To download the Weights Scale, click here

Maiden

In horse racing, weight-for-age (WFA) is a definition of the conditions for a race. In essence, it means all horses will carry a set weight in accordance with the WFA Scale. The weight allocated varies depending on the horse’s age, its sex, the race distance and the month of the racing season. WFA races are primarily run at Group 1 level, the highest standard. A review of the WFA scale was undertaken in 1997 and again in 2007 and as a result, the weights adopted in the WFA scale have been increased.

• Overweight: An amount of weight that a horse may carry in a race in addition to the weight allocated by the Handicapper, as a result of its rider being unable to make the declared weight.
• Penalty: The amount by which a Handicapper increases a horse’s weight and/or Rating by the way of a winning or placed performance.
• Rating: A numerical assessment by the Victorian Handicapping Panel of a horse’s overall racing history. Ratings are updated within 24 hours of a race performance.
• Rating Band: A category into which a horse might be placed based on its Rating and the types of Rating races regularly programmed.
• Rating Race: A race for which eligibility is determined by a horse’s Rating at the close of nominations.
• Benchmark Race: A rating based handicap race where there is no upper or lower limit on eligibility. The weights assigned to each entry relate to the benchmark rating assigned to the race. 
• Set Weight Race: A race where all horses competing are allotted the same weight subject to a sex allowance for fillies and mares. 
• Top Weight: As determined by the Handicapper, the highest weight allotted for a particular race. 
• Standard WFA Race: A race in which all horses carry a set weight according to the Standard Weight for Age Scale as provided under AR 104. This weight varies depending on the horses’ age, its sex, the race distance and the month of the year.

Elimination of Surplus Horses from Races

LR 62B Ratings Based races 

(1) Method of elimination of surplus horses: Subject to LR 62B 

(2) Elimination must be effected in order from the horse or horses with the lowest ballot ratings figure upwards as follows: 

(a) Horses with the lowest ballot rating will be eliminated first. 
(b) When two or more horses are of the same ballot rating, the oldest will be eliminated first. 
(c) When two or more horses are of the same ballot rating and age, elimination shall be in order of lowest aggregate prizemoney received. 
(d) When two or more horses are of the same ballot rating, age and aggregate prizemoney, elimination shall be by lot. 

(2) Adjustments – Penalties after declaration of weights: For the purpose of elimination pursuant to LR 62B(1), if the conditions of the race provide for penalties for wins after the declaration of weights, the handicapper may promote minimum horses in the elimination order by altering their ballot rating, which shall not affect their weight in the race. [amended 1/8/23]

LR 62C Non-Ratings Based races

(1) Set-weight races (selected SW races other than Maiden Races) 

Method of elimination of surplus horses: 

FIRST – horses which have not received $30,000 for being placed 1st to 5th inclusive in any flat race in the 24 months* prior to the date of the race, in order of lowest aggregate career prizemoney received. Horses in this category with equal aggregate career prizemoney shall be eliminated by lot. 

SECOND – horses which have not received $60,000 for being placed 1st to 5th inclusive in any flat race in the 24 months* prior to the date of the race, in order of lowest aggregate career prizemoney received. Horses in this category with equal aggregate career prizemoney shall be eliminated by lot. 

THIRD – horses which have not received $90,000 for being placed 1st to 5th inclusive in any flat race in the 24 months* prior to the date of the race, in order of lowest aggregate career prizemoney received. Horses in this category with equal aggregate career prizemoney shall be eliminated by lot. 

FOURTH – remaining horses in order of lowest aggregate career prizemoney received. Horses in this category with equal aggregate career prizemoney shall be eliminated by lot. * which commences from and includes corresponding day two years prior

For the purpose of this Rule LR 62C(1), “prizemoney” shall not include: 127 (a) prizemoney earned in Picnic races; (b) for other races worth less than $50,000, prizemoney received for finishing 5th to 10th; or (c) for races worth $50,000 or more that were not Group or Listed Races, prizemoney received for finishing 6th to 10th.

(2A) Set Weights and Penalty races (races for horses older than two years of age) 

Method of elimination of surplus horses: Horses which have received the lowest (or no) weight penalty for the race, and so on upwards until the safety limit is reached. Horses in the same weight penalty category shall be eliminated according to Ratings Based Races (as defined by LR 62B).

(2B) Set Weights and Penalty races (Two Year Olds)

Method of elimination of surplus horses: 

FIRST – horses which have received no weight penalty for the race, in order of lowest aggregate prizemoney received. Horses in this category with equal aggregate prizemoney shall be eliminated by lot. 

SECOND – horses which have received the lowest weight penalty for the race, and so on upwards until the safety limit is reached. Horses in the same weight penalty category shall be eliminated in order of lowest aggregate prizemoney received. Horses in the same weight penalty category with equal aggregate prizemoney shall be eliminated by lot. 

For the purpose of this Rule LR 62C(2B), “prizemoney” shall not include: (a) prizemoney earned in Picnic races; (b) for other races worth less than $50,000, prizemoney received for finishing 5th to 10th; or (c) for races worth $50,000 or more that were not Group or Listed Races, prizemoney received for finishing 6th to 10th.

(3) Early Season Selected 2YO races 

Method of elimination of surplus horses: 

FIRST – horses which have not been placed 1st to 4th inclusive in a race and have not been placed 1st to 3rd inclusive in a 2YO official trial in any Metropolitan Area of Australia or official trial in Victoria. If horses in this category exceed the number to be eliminated, then elimination shall be by lot. 

SECOND – horses which have not been placed 1st to 4th inclusive in a race but which have been placed 1st to 3rd inclusive in a 2YO official trial in any Metropolitan Area of Australia or official trial in Victoria. Official trial winners will receive preference over those placed second and third. Horses placed second will receive preference over those placed third. Surplus horses in this category remaining after the exhaustion of such preferences shall be eliminated by lot. 

THIRD – horses which have not won a race.

(4) Maiden set weights and maiden weight-for-age flat races

Method of elimination of surplus horses: 

(a) First: Raced horses which have not won prizemoney in any of their last four starts on the flat. The horse with the greatest number of consecutive runs since winning prizemoney must be eliminated first according to age, oldest first and in the case of horses of the same age elimination must be by lot.

(b) Second: Horses which have received the lowest average prizemoney within their last four starts on the flat. Horses which have equal average prizemoney must be eliminated by lot. 

For the purpose of this Rule LR 62C(4), “prizemoney” shall not include:

(a) prizemoney earned in Picnic races; (b) for other races worth less than $50,000, prizemoney received for finishing 5th to 10th; or 128 (c) for races worth $50,000 to $74,999, prizemoney received for finishing 6th to 10th.

(5) Non-handicap hurdle and steeplechase races 

Method of elimination of surplus horses: 

(a) Maiden Class 

(i) First: Horses which have started in a jumping race but have not received prizemoney in their last four jumping races. Elimination must be effected according to the greatest number of consecutive runs without earning prizemoney, by age, oldest first, and in the case of horses of the same age elimination must be effected by lot.
(ii)Second: Horses which have received prizemoney within their last four jumping starts, in order of average prizemoney won, lowest first. In the case of horses with equal average jumping prizemoney elimination must be effected by lot. 
(iii) Third: Horses which have not started in a jumping race. Elimination must be effected according to aggregate flat prizemoney won, lowest first. In the case of horses with equal aggregate prizemoney elimination must be effected by lot. 

(b) In Set weight and Penalty races to which this LR 62C(5) applies, elimination must commence with horses which have received no weight penalty in order of aggregate jumping prizemoney, and then the lowest weight penalty for the race and so on upwards until the safety limit is reached.

For the purpose of this Rule LR 62C(5), “prizemoney” shall not include: (a) prizemoney earned in Picnic races; (b) for jumps and flat races worth less than $50,000, prizemoney received for finishing 5th to 10th; (c) for flat races worth $50,000 to $74,999, prizemoney received for finishing 6th to 10th; or (d) for jumps races worth $50,000 or more, prizemoney received for finishing 6th to 10th.

Restricted Trophy 

Race 1 For horses which at the time of starting have never won a race on the flat of the value to the winner of more than $5000. 

Restricted Trophy Race 2 

For horses which at the time of starting have not won more than 2 races on the flat and further provided that neither of these races was worth more than $15,000 to the winner. 

Restricted Trophy Race 3

For horses which at the time of starting have not won more than 3 races on the flat and further provided that the 3 wins shall only be comprised of their first win (any value) and/or any other races worth no more than $5000 to the winner. 

Open Trophy Races 

Open to all horses.

Except that the first win of a horse shall count as a Maiden win all other wins in "Trophy Races" do not count when determining the class of a horse (i.e. Classes 1-6).