The IHRC in consultation with the affiliated clubs and in accordance with the Constitution have agreed to modify the existing National Handicapping System for the 2013 season. The current 17 Grade system will be condensed down to 12 Grades with the addition of a Novice Grade.
All horses currently in Grade 1 with only one lifetime win will convert to Novice, all others will remain as Grade 1. Grades 2 to 6 will remain unaltered as the money bands in the new system up to that point are identical to the existing system. Grades 7 to 17 will convert directly from their finishing money amount in 2012 to the new Grades 6 to 12. Once converted to the new system age allowances for horses ten years of age and over will be applied to the middle of the grade below their existing grade. The 2012 end of season runs allowances (penalty free runs not included) will be applied based on the new sliding scale from €25 per run for Grade 1 to €250 per run for Grade 12. A ten yard trail will apply between consecutive grades.
A copy of the new system is available to download from the link on the home page……………………
