All horses declared in training via the online trainer declaration form have been issued with their starting grades for the 2020 season. No horse shall receive their current grade until they have been declared in training and for those trainers who have yet to declare, please remember there is a 28 day rule for clearance to race.
🐎🐎🐎🐎🐎🐎🐎🐎🐎🐎🐎🐎🐎🐎🐎🐎🐎🐎🐎
As agreed at the stakeholders meeting in February, a link to all horses grades will be available on a weekly basis on our website. It will be updated on Mondays after racing and republished. All horses grades are current grades with their age allowances given and have been converted into the new handicap system.
Also for purposes of converting from the BHRC handicap system to the IHRA handicap system, please download a conversion table for same
System
PACERS:
- Grade G is for horses that have never won a race
- Grade G1 is for horses that have one a grade G-race, who start 10Y behind the grade G horses.
- Horses that win their G and G1 grades in less than six races will automatically go to F grade, Horses that take six or more attempts will go to G1* and start on outside of G1. Winning in G1* you will automatically go to F (amended 2020).
- Grade F horses trail grade G by 30Y and a G1 by 20Y
- Grade E trails Grade F by 10Y and so on up to Grade A, and up to A1,A2,A3,A4,A5.
- One Win equates to one grade penalty rise.
- Grade drops will be given to all horses in Grades A to E for every 6 runs, regardless of the number of wins.
- Horses who win a Grade A race will rise to Grade A1, with zero runs (amended 2019)
- Grade drops will be given to the A5-A horses for every 3 runs, regardless of the number of wins.
- At the age of 10, a horse is entitled to a grade drop, (or 6 runs, where the case may be), carrying the previous year’s losses, this continues each year thereafter until retirement.
- At the age of 12, a horse is entitled to a grade drop after every 4 runs.
- 2 year old and 3 three year old trotters are entitled to two wins in each grade in all aged races before moving up a grade. These half grades will be denoted by an astrix beside the current grade (amended 2019).
- BHRC horses racing in Ireland will have any penalty free race wins considered when their grades are being calculated (amended 2019)
TROTTERS:
- Grade F to A is 20Y trail between each grade
- Grade A to A5 is a 10Y trail between each grade
- One win equates to one grade penalty rise
- Grade drops will be given to all horses in Grades A to E for every 6 runs, regardless of the number of wins.
- Horses who win a Grade A race will rise to Grade A1, with zero runs (amended 2019)
- Grade drops will be given to the A5-A horses for every 3 runs, regardless of the number of wins.
- At the age of 10, a horse is entitled to a grade drop, (or 6 runs, where the case may be), carrying the previous year’s losses, this continues each year thereafter until retirement.
- At the age of 12, a horse is entitled to a grade drop after every 4 runs.
- 2 year old and 3 three year old trotters are entitled to two wins in each grade in all aged races before moving up a grade. These half grades will be denoted by an astrix beside the current grade (amended 2019).
- Horses racing in Ireland and bought through the Le Trot System, will be grade F with no lifetime win and will be grade E with 1 lifetime win.
- The trailing distances between grades will reduce by 50% in mile races.
- BHRC horses racing in Ireland will have any penalty free race wins considered when their grades are being calculated (amended 2019).
- Trotters who are bred in the IHRA TF studbook, will start at grade G and rise by 50% after each win while racing as a 3,4 & 5-year-old. These trotters may drop between grades from G1* down to G, with every 6 runs (amended 2020)
** No splitting of horses will occur for those in the same grade for the same owner/trainer where only one race exists at any race meeting (amended 2020).
** Should any horse win a final with a purse greater than €3000, and not its heat, the horse will get a penalty grade rise of 2 grades.
** C Class allowance will not be permitted in races with purses exceeding €3000.
** The reference point for all horses which intend to run in the 2018 season, who competed in the 2017 season will be from their last run.
** Horses who are purchased from BHRC members are converted to the IHRA system by using their current BHRC grade and the conversion table of grades. The number of runs will be non-transferable and any penalty free wins will be taken into account (amended 2019)
** To assist on the with the administration owners/trainers must send in their trainer declarations, flu vaccinations and documents for any future season and all monies owed must be paid before race clearance is given (amended 2020).
For a PDF of the Handicap Rules, please click the following link.
Members Update IHRA 2020 Handicap System
IHRA National Awards:
Driver of the Year:
- Based on all races ran under IHRA rules
- Based on a points system throughout the year (1st:16pts, 2nd:8pts, 3rd:4 pts, 4th:2 pts & 5th: 1 pt)
Apprentice of the Year:
- Based on all races ran under IHRA rules
- Based on a points system throughout the year (1st:16pts, 2nd:8pts, 3rd:4 pts, 4th:2 pts & 5th: 1 pt)
- Apprentice series to run across the entire season, 1-2 races per month and advertise on the calendar.
- Winner of this award will be the IHRA’s nomination for the UET’s Apprentice Championship the following year
Lady Driver of the Year:
- Based on all races ran under IHRA rules
- Based on points system throughout the year (1st:16pts, 2nd:8pts, 3rd:4 pts, 4th:2 pts & 5th: 1 pt)
Owner of the Year:
- Based on all races ran under IHRA rules
- Based on number of wins and placings if necessary
Trainer of the Year:
- Based on all races ran under IHRA rules
- Based on number of wins and placings if necessary
Trotting Mare of the Year:
- Based on all races ran under IHRA rules
- Based on number of wins and placings if necessary
Pacing Mare of the Year:
- Based on all races ran under IHRA rules
- Based on the number of wins and placings if necessary
Trotting Horse of the Year:
- Based on all races ran under IHRA rules
- Based on the number of wins and placings if necessary
Pacing Horse of the Year:
- Based on all races ran under IHRA rules
- Based on the number of wins and placings if necessary
3-Year Old Trotter of the Year:
- Based on all races ran under IHRA rules
- Based on the number of wins and placings if necessary
3-Year Old Pacer of the Year:
- Based on all races ran under IHRA rules
- Based on the number of wins and placings if necessary
2-Year Old Pacer of the Year:
- Based on all races ran under IHRA rues
- Based on the number of wins and placings if necessary
Performance of the Year:
- This is a new award to recognise an outstanding driving performance by a driver or a horse’s ability during a race. A shortlist of races (6) throughout all three regions during the season will be made available to review and vote on by all members,
IHRA Regional Awards (these will be based on only races run at each individual region):
Portmarnock:
Trotter of the Year:
- Based on all races ran under IHRA rules at Portmarnock Raceway
- Based on number of wins and placings if necessary
Pacer of the Year:
- Based on all races ran under IHRA rules at Portmarnock Raceway
- Based on the number of wins and placings if necessary
Driver of the Year:
- Based on all races ran under IHRA rules at Portmarnock Raceway
- Based on points system throughout the year (1st:16pts, 2nd:8pts, 3rd:4 pts, 4th:2 pts & 5th: 1 pt)
Owner of the Year:
- Based on all races ran under IHRA rules at Portmarnock Raceway
- Based on number of wins and placings if necessary
Trainer of the Year:
- Based on all races ran under IHRA rules at Portmarnock Raceway
- Based on number of wins and placings if necessary
Small Owner of the Year:
- All owners with 5 or less horses in training throughout the season
- Based on all races ran under IHRA rules at Portmarnock Raceway
- Based on number of wins and placings if necessary
Small Trainer of the Year:
- All trainers with 5 or less horses in training throughout the season
- Based on all races ran under IHRA rules at Portmarnock Raceway
- Based on number of wins and placings if necessary
Cork/Annaghmore:
Trotter of the Year:
- Based on all races ran under IHRA rules in Cork or Annaghmore respectively
- Based on number of wins and placings if necessary
Pacer of the Year:
- Based on all races ran under IHRA rules in Cork or Annaghmore respectively
- Based on the number of wins and placings if necessary
Driver of the Year:
- Based on all races ran under IHRA rules in Cork or Annaghmore respectively
- Based on points system throughout the year (1st:16pts, 2nd:8pts, 3rd:4 pts, 4th:2 pts & 5th: 1 pt)
Owner of the Year:
- Based on all races ran under IHRA rules in Cork or Annaghmore respectively
- Based on number of wins and placings if necessary
Trainer of the Year:
- Based on all races ran under IHRA rules in Cork or Annaghmore respectively
- Based on number of wins and placings if necessary
*Cork Winter Awards to be included in the Cork Regional Awards.
