Race fields are selected by using one of two methods.
A) Automatic Race Field Selection.
B) Manual Race Field Selection - Metropolitan Meetings
Preferences
If a horse accepts for two or more races at a meeting, a trainer may notify the RQL Handicapping Panel of a preference for one race over another.
Horses are always considered in the first instance for the race entered as their 1st preference.
A horse will be considered for subsequent preferences should they receive a ballot from their preferred event.
Preferences for horses nominated for multiple races on Harness Web will be determined by the time and order entered. For example a nomination lodged at 7.30am on a particular day will be considered as first preference over a nomination lodged at 7.35am that day for the same horse.
Should acceptances for more than one race meeting close on the same day and trainers wish to start their horse at both meetings, if circumstances allow, the trainer must indicate their intentions to RQL Handicapping staff otherwise the nominated horse/s will be considered for one start only.
Trainers are encouraged to communicate any requests to RQL Handicapping staff prior to the 10.00am deadline when acceptances close to avoid any disappointment. Requests can be phoned in, indicated on fax or email or noted on the "Nom Comment" section in Harness Web.
Examples of requests include:-
i) Two starters or none
ii) I have nominated 3 horses for the one race, if there is only one division I would like only 2 starters
iii) Early race please
iv) I have nominated six horses but can only transport four, so four starters maximum please.
All communication with RQL Handicappers regarding the race meeting being drawn that day will cease at 10am unless trainers have been notified that nominations have been extended.
Any horse which qualifies in a Heat, Repechage or Semi-Final and is scratched from that Final before Acceptance Time will incur the penalties as described in Clause.
Where a race is being split to allow for the maximum number of races budgeted per meeting to be conducted, races are to be split in the following order of preference:
i) Owners
ii) Trainers
iii) Drivers
In feature races of $20,000 or more an emergency will be drawn should there be sufficient acceptors. An emergency will not be drawn for feature races of less than $20,000 unless otherwise approved by the Controlling Body.
A horse that is engaged as an emergency for the Final of a race may be granted a start in another race on the same day. If there is a scratching from the Final, such horse is required to contest the Final and will be scratched without penalty from the other race. Should such horse scratch from the Final, it will be deemed ineligible for the other race.
A horse that is engaged as an emergency in a feature race of higher stakemoney may be granted a start in a race of lesser stakemoney at the same meeting. If there is a scratching from the feature race, such horse is required to contest the feature race and will be scratched without penalty from the other race. Should such horse scratch from the feature race, it will be deemed ineligible for the other race.
A horse that is engaged as an emergency in a career penalty race may be granted a start in a restricted penalty or penalty free race with stakemoney up to $3,000 on the same day. If there is a scratching from the career penalty race, such horse is required to contest that race and will be scratched without penalty from the other race. Should such horse scratch from the career penalty race, it will be deemed ineligible for the other race.
A horse that is declared as an emergency in two or more heats/divisions of a race shall be deemed as a starter in the heat/division from which the earliest timed scratching was taken. Such horse shall then be automatically scratched from the other heat(s)/division(s). The trainer of such horse may not scratch from one heat(s)/division(s) in preference to another heat/division.
A horse that accepts for a Heat & Final Series will carry its class from acceptance time through to the Final. For example a C2 horse that wins its heat although becoming a C3 classed horse will be drawn as a C2 class in the Final.
A horse that receives a reduction in class after competing in a Heat will also carry its class from acceptance time through to the Final. Therefore such horse will NOT be eligible to drop in grade if it qualifies for the Final. For example a horse that competes as a C3 in a Heat that receives a reduction in class following a non winning performance during that heat will drop back to a C2 class horse but will be drawn as a C3 in the Final.
A horse that has been excluded from the draw competes in a Heat and is eligible to return back into the draw will have the opportunity to go back in the draw should such horse qualify for the Final
For full details of Heat and Final Conditions please refer to the Automatic Field Selection section.
Pursuant to Rule 133 (1) & (2) every effort will be made to meet the above conditions, however the inclusion of any horse over another shall not be grounds for requesting a redraw, nor shall any liability of any nature be incurred by the RQL as a result of any error. In all cases the decision of the RQL Handicapping Panel will be final.
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