Merit Rating Query

If a horse runs unplaced in a race can its Merit rating be increased??

I'm not sure but would it not depend on the race? A maiden running 5th in a Graded race (against winners) would surely have it's MR increased? Perhaps a handicapper could help

In fact,while on this subject,there are some rules(max MR for Kim maiden winner etc.)
Can anybody tell me where these rules exist? I can't find them.(thought they may be part of NHA rules) Please help someone!

MR can go up for running unplaced in a Graded or Listed
EG Art Of War - 5th in KZN Guineas last time - raised 90 to 96.

Other rules i know of
Maiden winner in Kimberley can only get a max nett MR of 60. So if you are rated 70 and win by 10 lengths there, your MR will drop(make sense of that!)

Max increase for winning a plated race is 6MR points.
No penalties for places in plated races(eg Stealing Roses 3rd to River Jetez yeaterday has an MR of 56. Will remain 56, even though it obviously ran way above that yesterday).

I would also like to get hold of a complete list of official handicapping rules.

Dr Who Wrote:

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> MR can go up for running unplaced in a Graded or
> Listed
> EG Art Of War - 5th in KZN Guineas last time -
> raised 90 to 96.
>

So the handicapper can murder Chippi for running a furlong above her rating in the Gr 2 Camelia last weekend. Fortunately, though, with dual merit ratings for sand and grass it should only be her turf rating which might go through the ceiling if the handicapper takes her run behind Surabi literally, leaving her nice and low rated for Flamingo Park.

It will be interesting to see what kind of a rating she has on turf in future. In the meantime she runs at Flamingo Park this coming Monday, off a pre-Camelia rating. If she shows the same form she showed in the Turffontein slop she will win by half a time zone, but one can only wonder just big a fluke that Camelia run really was.

That last race was run in a bog so i expect the form may be suspect

Surely it cannot be that the official rules are a secret.We must be entitled to know them!

have spoken to them a few times and they are very cooperative ,i suggest giving them a call and speak to roger smith..nice chap

( for more goto www.gallop.co.za/Programs/DG/Racing%20Op...d%20-%2020080220.pdf )

7.3.5 Handicap Races
7.3.5.1 From the lowest net merit rating upwards.
7.3.5.2 However, in the case of MR 69 and higher handicaps at
Flamingo Park and MR 71 and higher handicaps in Port
Elizabeth where horses have been allowed into a merit rated
handicap above the benchmark rating, these horses shall be
eliminated from the top downwards to four net merit rating points
above the net benchmark rating and then elimination shall be
from the lowest net merit rating upwards.
7.3.5.3 In MR 68 and lower handicaps at Flamingo Park and MR 70
and lower handicaps in Port Elizabeth, where horses have been
allowed into a race above the benchmark rating, these horses
shall be eliminated downwards to the net benchmark rating and
then elimination shall be from the lowest net merit rating upwards.
2007.03.05 Page 24
7.3.6 Plate Races other than Maiden, Maiden Juvenile and Juvenile Plates
7.3.6.1 Maiden horses, where applicable, from the lowest gross merit
rating upwards.
7.3.6.2 In Allowance Plates, horses set to carry more than 63kg shall be
eliminated first.
7.3.6.3 From the lowest gross merit rating upwards.
7.3.7 Maiden Plates
7.3.7.1 Two-year-old horses, in terms of Condition 7.3.8.
7.3.7.2 From the lowest gross merit rating upwards.
7.3.8 Maiden Juvenile Plates
7.3.8.1 Unplaced horses, by barrier draw.
7.3.8.2 Placed horses, by barrier draw.
7.3.8.3 Horses having their first start, by barrier draw.
7.3.8.4 Barrier draw shall be as defined in Condition 7.1.2

magiclips Wrote:

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> Dr Who Wrote:
>

---

>

---

> > MR can go up for running unplaced in a Graded
> or
> > Listed
> > EG Art Of War - 5th in KZN Guineas last time -
> > raised 90 to 96.
> >
>
> So the handicapper can murder Chippi for running a
> furlong above her rating in the Gr 2 Camelia last
> weekend. Fortunately, though, with dual merit
> ratings for sand and grass it should only be her
> turf rating which might go through the ceiling if
> the handicapper takes her run behind Surabi
> literally, leaving her nice and low rated for
> Flamingo Park.
>
> It will be interesting to see what kind of a
> rating she has on turf in future. In the meantime
> she runs at Flamingo Park this coming Monday, off
> a pre-Camelia rating. If she shows the same form
> she showed in the Turffontein slop she will win by
> half a time zone, but one can only wonder just big
> a fluke that Camelia run really was.



I wouldn't say too much Magic, did you know that the handicapper has the right to deem your horse equally proficient on both surfaces and to then penalise you on the sand for a grass performance and vice versa. If I was you I would be claiming the grass run was a fluke !!!!

My initial question was asked once looking at Art of War. He ran to a 92 at best. Where did they get a 96. Did the increase The Law to a 95 after the race? Perfect season to to a 96.

End of they day the horse runs unplaced and gets a 3 kg penalty.

Neraly forgot in its previous race also ran 5th probably closer to a 96 but hey no penalty. Please explain.

They overrate these horse to quickly.

Could be the reason why the cream of the crop are sent overseas before our handicappers 'kill' them.