PLATE RACES

Never too old to learn - how fair is this!

Novice, Graduation, Progress, Allowance, Advance and Superior Plate races

There are fixed weights allocated depending on number of wins and age. However, a 0.5kg allowance is given for each unplaced run from the horse's last placed run up to a maximum allowance of 3kg's. A consistent horse is now penalized while the unplaced one's are being looked after. I find this condition shocking!

On the upside there is no penalty for being placed and a maximum of 6 points for winning

Pretty soon every race will prioritize rewarding failure.

I have shares in a few horses which include 2 of same age and sex. The one that is 30 points inferior now earns more easily and more often. Who knew?

Wait until you are waiting for your 3 yr old to get that second win and you are pipped by a 6yr old 6x winner who is now reduced to a MR65 having once been a 90....how anybody can think that is good for racing (or ownership) is beyond me.
Imagine BOLT missing out on a gold Medal to a 50 yr old,whose career is extended by getting a 50 metre start or Jack Nicklaus keeping out new champions by getting a 200metre start at every hole in the Masters.
Ability Rating should not be reduced except in special circumstances,and certainly not to compensate for age, fitness or soundness .....when a career has run its course it should make way for those that follow.
Too many horses running, for too little money is inevitable,if careers can be continually reborn and recycled IMO!

@ Rob Faux
Well said and 100% true.

Rob - very true. Now even the handicappers and race programmers started compromising ability. Where are the days when a Novice Plate was 60kg's for a 1 time winner, 58kg's for maidens (older than 3) and 55kg's for 3yo's. Now it is becoming a science. To prove my point look at this - a Graduation Plate (max 2 time winners) Friday 2011-10-07:

5 DECEPTIVE 57.5 70 ( 69) 8 t A W Kennedy Gavin Smith 2A16/2F16/1A14
6 DANCINGINTHEDESERT 56.5 75 ( 74) 2 Xt A K Minnie Alan Greeff 5A16/13A10/7F14
7 PEMBERLEY 56.0 74 ( 73) 9 Bt A F Coetzee Alan Greeff 10F16/12A16/13F16

All of the above are 4yo and 1 time winners.