Grading Procedures Amended

Racing Queensland advises stakeholders of three amendments to the Grading Procedures.

The changes will take effect at race meetings drawn on or after Wednesday 4 September 2019. The timing of implementation is linked to a multi-state Ozchase system development release.

1) Class 1 Eligibility

The Class 1 eligibility rules have been amended as follows:

• To be eligible to nominate for a Class 1 event (excluding Maiden finals), a greyhound must have won an event at a Class 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 Track.

The relaxed eligibility rule now allows maidens to win at Capalaba, and then nominate for a Class 1 Novice at Albion Park on Thursday.

As such, the Order of Entry for Class 1 Novice events has been amended to include Class 5 performances.

Stakeholders should note that Class 5 form will continue to be disregarded for all other Class 1 events.

2) Pathways Maiden Eligibility

The Pathways maiden eligibility rules have been amended as follows:

• Greyhounds having had less than 3 starts ineligible.

The revised eligibility rule aims to provide fairer competition for maiden greyhounds that are finding it difficult to win their first race.  

The Order of Entry for Pathways maiden events has been amended to ensure that greyhounds having had 10 or more career unplaced runs are always first in the order of entry, regardless of their recent form.

3) Time Standards

The time standards for the following venues have been amended:

• Albion Park – the track was renovated in March 2018. Initially the average winning time was faster than before the renovation and the time standards were lowered in October 2018. However revised maintenance practices employed by the Club have now seen the average winning times revert back to normal.
• Rockhampton – the track was renovated in September 2018 and the 407m boxes realigned. The average winning time for both distances is now slower than before the renovation.
• Bundaberg – the track was renovated in August 2018. The Club has also been upgraded to a TAB venue. The average winning time for the 460m is now faster than prior to August 2018.
• Capalaba – the Club has been upgraded to a TAB venue. The average winning time is now faster than prior to December 2018.

TRACK	Distance	Old Time	New Time
Albion Park	331m	19.37	19.43
Albion Park	395m	23.04	23.10
Albion Park	520m (Class 2 & 3)	30.46	30.52
Albion Park	520m (Class 1)	30.33	30.39
Ipswich	431m	25.56	No change
Ipswich	520m	31.04	No change
Rockhampton	407m	24.10	24.40
Rockhampton	510m	30.09	30.57
Townsville	380m	22.38	No change
Townsville	498m	29.34	No change
Bundaberg	460m	27.26	27.06
Bundaberg	550m	32.16	No change
Capalaba	366m	20.34	20.29

All changes can be read here in the Grading Procedures document.

For more information call RQ on 07 3869 9407.