Proposed for January 1, 2026
- Pathway prior to entering open age Ratings races;
- Increase in juvenile races and half NR points;
- Age concessions removed;
- Band drop back removed;
- Band races 4YO+ with NR minimum introduced;
- Band barrier draws;
- Junior FFA;
- 3YO bonus shifting to age and win based races only;
- Field size and prize money;
- Band threshold increase for NZ and overseas imports; and
- Tuesday prize money and programming changes.
Introduction of Pathway concept
- Horses must win through their Pathway races before being eligible to contest a National Rating race open to older or more experienced horses.
- A Pathway eligible horse includes:
- Horses with 0,1,2 or 3 Lifetime wins;
- Horses with 0,1 or 2 wins as a 3YO or older (excluding 2YO wins); and
- Horses eligible under race conditions published as a Pathway race.
- The Pathway has been introduced for younger horses, less experienced horses and horses with no or a low number of wins to address industry concerns about such horses meeting older much more experienced horses before they are ready under the National Rating Handicapping system.
- Example of lifetime win Pathway
- Maiden;
- 1 win race;
- 2-to-3-win race; and
- 4+ Lifetime wins – now eligible for open age Ratings race.
- Example of 3YO or 3YO+ win Pathway
- 0 wins (excluding 2YO wins);
- 1 to 2 wins (excluding 2YO wins); and
- 3+ wins (excluding 2YO wins) – now eligible for open age Ratings race.
2YOs
- Encouraged to race 2YOs.
- Only eligible for open age win based Pathway race if they fail to gain a start in a programmed 2YO race.
- 2YOs to be written out of all open age Rating races until late in the racing season
Juvenile race programming
- Additional races will be programmed at all race meetings for 2YOs and in particular 3YOs to allow maximum opportunities for juveniles to obtain half points as per the recent Australian Handicapping Rules amendments.
- Horses that fail to obtain a start in a race programmed for 2YOs, 3YOs or 2 & 3YOs can accept for another race on the same program and retain eligibility for half points.
- Should a juvenile horse (2YO or 3YO) only nominate for a race that is not a juvenile race the horse will take full NR points. (Example: a 3YO nominates only for a 3YO & 4YO race, the 3YO will take full NR points)
National Ratings races
- National Rating based races
- All 3YO+ (unless otherwise stipulated in the race program);
- Age Concessions no longer available;
- NR ranges widened to maintain field size; and
- Option to split races by Rating if viable.
- Horses that have won through their pathway
- Become eligible for 3YO+ Ratings races.
- NOTE: Age Concessions are no longer available.
Band races
- Band drop back after 10 non-winning starts removed
- The only Band drop back available will be to Band 1 horses that may be dropped back to Band 2 at the Handicappers discretion.
- Band Penalty races 4YO+ (3YO’s are not eligible unless otherwise advertised)
- NR minimum introduced (eg. Qualifying Pace NR50+, Band 5 Pace NR55+)
- Nominations of horses under the NR minimum are only accepted if nominations and field size allow in order of highest NR to lowest.
- Introducing barrier draws on Band (PBD/BAND)
- Junior Free for All of $17,500 introduced for horses no better than Band 2.
- Mares Open now of $16,000 to fall in line with the new Ratings Matrix.
- Ballot divisions now of $10,880 to fall in line with the new Ratings Matrix.
3YO Bonuses
- Available to 3YO winners of races restricted by age or wins only:
- 3YO only race
- 2YO & 3YO race
- 3YO & 4YO race
- Maiden race
- 1 Win race
- 2-3 Win race
- No Wins as a 3YO or older race
- Up to 2 Wins as a 3YO or older race
- $1,000 3YO Bonus payable to the winning owner.
- Applies to standard races only (Bonus not available in feature races)
Field sizes and prize money
- Races drawn with a field size of less than seven will have prize money reduced by one tier. (2YO, 3YO only & most Feature races excluded). Examples below:
- $4,000 race reduced to $3,500;
- $4,600 race reduced to $4,000;
- $6,200 race reduced to $4,600;
- $9,000 race reduced to $6,200;
- $10,500 race reduced to $8,000;
- $14,500 race reduced to $10,500;
- $17,500 race reduced to $14,500; and
- $20,770 race reduced to $17,500.
- Whilst Racing Queensland is committed to providing opportunities to all horses where possible we may not be able to maintain prize money levels in races with low field size due to reduced wagering outcomes and lower revenue.
Band threshold for NZ and other overseas imports
- Increase band threshold for NZ and overseas imported horses to $19,999 (e.g. 1. A winner of a New Zealand race valued at $18,500 will not take a Band Penalty, eg2. A winner of a $20,000 race in New Zealand will take a Band Penalty)
- Backdated to be effective January 1, 2025.
- Band Penalty exclusion for NZ or overseas races limited by wins.
- Band Threshold for interstate horses remains at $14,999.
Tuesday prize money and programming changes
- Races scheduled for horses no higher than NR50 now of $7,880
- Races scheduled for higher-rated horses now of $10,500, such as:
- Up to NR70
- NR70-99
- NR70-99 Veterans race to become NR70-99 open to all ages.
- Consistent Rating range races each week:
- Up to NR42 of $7,880
- Up to NR48 of $7,880
- Up to NR55 of $9,000
- Up to NR70 of $10,500
- NR70-99 of $10,500
- Above may vary on Tuesday’s that may have Heats of a feature race scheduled
- Increased options for 3YOs and Pathway eligible horses.
- Trotters Up to NR55 Handicap – former also eligible clause for horses with up to 3 lifetime wins replaced by – Also eligible horses with up to 3 wins as a 3YO or older. (in other words, up to 3 wins excluding 2YO wins)
