Whats with these new weights?

I obviously missed something!! FM MR70 race and horses are carded to carry 66kg's?? When did these changes come about? and is it nation wide?

Lowest weight now 54kg so Mr 70 horse will carry 62KG, the horse carrying 66KG must be rated MR 78

World Radar carries 166Kg.

at these weights Andrew Fortune might just come back without too much effort

6 July 2020
Notice to Trainers:

Raising of Weights at Final Declarations:
Kindly note that as from the final declarations due on Tuesday 7th July 2020, the
current special conditions of raising the bottom weight to 54kgs in Handicap races
and to 52kgs in Plate races shall only be applied in instances where:
a) In Handicap races, more than 5 horses accepting are set to carry less than
54kgs. Reserve runners remain excluded from this practice. Or
b) In Plate races, more than 5 horses accepting are set to carry less than
52kgs. Reserve runners remain excluded from this practice.
Enquiries:
The Handicapping Team

I have been in Racing for life. I have trained for many years.

During this time, I have seen some really stupid rulings which were made in Racing. I have also seen some decisions over the years which were mindboggling and I have seen the persons who made those very decisions walk around , completely oblivious of the ineffectiveness of their decisions or in some instances, the damage caused....

This decision to raise the weights, though, has to be the ultimate, the very worst of all ineffective/useless decisions, imho.

I would love a live debate on this one.... LOL...

What is the primary driver behind this ruling? Are they saying it is not healthy for a jockey to be as light as they were under normal conditions? Not as easy to become as light with no gyms?

Thor wrote: What is the primary driver behind this ruling? Are they saying it is not healthy for a jockey to be as light as they were under normal conditions? Not as easy to become as light with no gyms?

Jocks unable to Gym and use Saunas to maintain weight (due to covid 19 regs)

So they make a MR80 into a MR76.... , because the MR80 horse will now carry 62kg.

Jocks will still only take the rides where they can do the weight...and there will still be rides which they cannot do the weight for....

The guys being knocked here are the lightweights. The heavyweights, well it turned out to be much of a muchness for them...
Thank heavens it's over come month end.
The first confirmation of the failure of the original "decree" was the letter of 6th July, as posted earlier in the thread by Ziets.
Knee jerk reactions will hamper our Industry and so will these know it alls who actually believe that they are the ONLY ones who know what's good for Racing and that the rest in Racing have no clue and are therefore never consulted or invited to contribute.

Bob Brogan wrote:

Thor wrote: What is the primary driver behind this ruling? Are they saying it is not healthy for a jockey to be as light as they were under normal conditions? Not as easy to become as light with no gyms?

Jocks unable to Gym and use Saunas to maintain weight (due to covid 19 regs)

Correct move by the handicappers. Other forward racing jurisdictions have done the same.

www.racing.com/news/2020-07-09/news-covi...ights-back-on-agenda

So what has been achieved ?
Excepting that maybe...

1) the "other forward thinking racing jurisdictions" are which other ones, besides Aus ? (We obviously are not leaders, need to follow others).

2)The bottom weight came up by 2kg.... Yippee!

3)Instead of just accepting this ruling, lets look at the card and at the riders/rides..... see how they have benefitted and how often.
The results are quite clear, to be honest....the facts remain.

.....all I see is tracks getting tighter.... horses getting smaller..... and jocks getting bigger....not a very good combination.....:S