Racing Queensland (RQ) utilises the Ratings Based Handicapping System (RBH). The RBH template accommodates the diversified standard of racing within Queensland.
A template has been designed, which provides handicappers with the flexibility necessary to accommodate the various racing clusters within Queensland, at the same time delivering ratings that provide greater transparency to the handicapping process.
The Queensland RBH system has been created to accommodate all races except maiden and two-year-olds. Maiden horses are not allotted a rating until they have won a race. The Queensland RBH system is different from other jurisdictions, where every rating point represents a 0.5kg difference. If this process was applied horses would be receiving the same weight penalty “across the board” whether it was at a high or a low class of racing, metropolitan, provincial or country for example.
The fairness of the Queensland rating system template is in the inbuilt “sliding scale”. Rating figures with a plus sign allow for horses to be penalised less in high-class races (metropolitan and midweek metropolitan) for winning lower-class races (provincial 2 and country).
The movement of a horse’s rating openly shows owners and trainers (and all interested parties) the handicapper’s impression of the merit of a horse’s performance from one race start to another.
Following each performance, the handicapper shall carefully consider to what extent (if any) a horse shall have a rating change. Rating changes will reflect the standard of the performance as determined by the handicapper and the template shall display to the user what that rating amendment means in terms of actual weight change in any race the horse may be nominated. The major benefit of RBH is that it provides a reference guide to owners and trainers prior to nominating.
The actual weight a horse may be allotted in a race is subject to rules that govern the minimum top weight in a race. This may well change the “template” weight of a horse, but it will clearly show the relativity that will be determined between every horse nominated.
Ballot applications are simple and fair. All horses on the template are treated as mature-age male horses. This allows all horses to be treated equally in the ballot if performances are of equal value, disregarding age or sex.
In all mixed sex races mares shall receive a weight reduction of 2kg from their rating weight. In races where 2yo and 3yo horses race against older (4yo+) horses they will receive a weight allowance from their rating figures depending on what time of year the race is run.
All assessments leading to rating amendments are carried out with the standard of performances being fresh in mind and considering all the relative deliberations and considerations of handicappers. Unsuitable distances, track conditions, interference, last start winners, being slow away, a wide passage in transit, saddle slips, bleeding attacks and horses pulling up lame are all factors that might contribute to a horse’s rating not being lowered. Owners and trainers can access their horse’s new rating within two working days of the result of a race.
View RQ Handicapping Procedures