Further measures to address balloting issue Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) has announced an extension of its quality control measures to help improve balloting problems, with the minimum handicap ratings both on the Flat and over hurdles increasing again in 2009. On the Flat the minimum qualifying rating will be increased from 45 to 47. Any horse rated 43 or lower at the end of the 2008 Irish season (December), which has run five or more times (six or more times in the case of three-year-olds), will no longer be permitted to run in Irish flat races. (Such horses will be allowed to re-qualify by gaining an improved rating through running overseas). Any horse rated 43 or lower which has run less than five times at the end of the 2008 season will be raised to a mark of 44 at year end. This is consistent with the current policy that no horse is removed from the system until it has run at least five times (or six times in the case of three-year-olds). No horse will be dropped to a mark below 44 when the Handicappers conduct their end of season ratings review. Next year, all horses rated 44-46 will be required to run off a mark of 47, but as per the current system they will not be disadvantaged in the ballot for lower grade (i.e. 47-60/65) random ballot handicaps, because they will be treated for balloting purposes as though rated 47. The same criteria by which horses are currently removed from the system by their handicap rating will continue to apply, but with a rating of 43 or lower (up 2lb from 41 this year) effectively disqualifying horses next season. Over hurdles the minimum qualifying rating will be increased from 77 to 80. Any hurdler rated 77 or lower at the end of 2008 will no longer be permitted to run in Irish hurdle races (again they can re-qualify by running overseas). All hurdlers rated 78-79 will be required to run off a mark of 80 next year but, in a change from current procedure, they will no longer be disadvantaged in the random ballot system for low grade handicaps. Rather than being the first horses eliminated, instead they will be treated for balloting purposes as though rated 80. The same criteria by which horses are currently removed from the system by their handicap rating will continue to apply, but with a rating of 77 or lower (up 3lb from 74 this year) effectively disqualifying horses next season. Hurdlers finishing more than 45 lengths behind the winner in their first five hurdle runs will no longer be permitted to run in Irish hurdle races (again they can re-qualify by running overseas). Announcing these measures, Jason Morris, HRI Director of Racing, stated: 'The level of balloting and eliminations from races in Ireland is still a source of understandable concern within the industry.' 'Some progress has been made following the quality control measures introduced for this year and, over the first seven months, eliminations dropped from 3,026 to 2,072 on the flat and from 10,726 to 10,154 for National Hunt racing.' 'However, the levels remain too high and HRI remains committed to implementing measures that will progressively bring about improvement over the current situation. Irish racing must continue to create a balance between the demand for racing opportunities and the need to develop an industry based on quality, merit and competitive prize money levels.'
