IHRA 2016 Handicapping System
Pacers:
Grade G (Maiden) is for horses that have never won a race. Grade G1 is a new Grade equivalent to Novice these Horses will start 10 Yards behind the Grade G Horses.
Grade F trails a Grade G by 30 Yards and a Grade G1 by 20 Yards.
Horses cant drop down to Grades G & G1 Grade E trails a Grade F by 10 Yards and likewise up to Grade A After Grade A is Grade A1 to A5 with a 10 Yard trail between each.
A win ONLY moves a Horse up to the next grade.
Finishing placed Horses points as follows; Win= automatic moves up one Grade. 2nd = 3 points 3rd = 2 points
Between Grade E and Grade A horses will earn a grade of a drop if they do not accumulate more than 5 points in their last 4 starts, ie: 2 x 3rd place or a 2nd & a 3rd are the best placing in your last 4 starts to allow a grade drop.
Between Grade A1 and A5 horses will earn a grade of a drop if they don’t accumulate more than 5 points in last 2 starts.
To get a drop in Grade E you have to accumulate less than 7 points (max 6) in the last 6 starts. Grade F will be a Preferred draw, horses dropping down from Grade E will start on the outside and work their way in each week.
Horses moving up from Grade G1 will start on the inside draw and work their way out each week, with more than one Horse a ballot for position will apply.
When a Horse reaches 10 Years they are entitled to a Grade drop carrying the previous year’s losses, this continues each year thereafter until retirement.
Trotters:
Grade F to Grade A is a 20 Yard trail between each grade Grade A to A5 is a 10 Yard trail between each grade
A win ONLY moves a horse up to the next grade
Finishing placed Horses points as follows;
Win= automatic moves up one Grade 2nd = 3 points 3rd = 2 points Between Grade E and Grade A horses will earn a grade of a drop if they do not accumulate more than 5 points in their last 4 starts, ie: 2 x 3rd place or a 2nd & a 3rd are the best placing in your last 4 starts to allow a grade drop.
To get a drop in Grade E you have to accumulate less than 7 points (max 6) in the last 6 starts.
Grade F will be a Preferred draw, horses dropping down from Grade E will start on the outside and work their way in each week.
Horses that have not won in that calendar year will start on the inside draw and work their way out each week, with more than one Horse a ballot for position will apply.
When a Horse reaches 10 Years they are entitled to a Grade drop carrying the previous year’s losses, this continues each year thereafter until retirement.
Added in 2017
2. For 12 Year old horses, the number of loses will be reduced from 4 runs to 3 within grades of A to E. The number of losses needed to go from Grade E to Grade F will be reduced from 6 to 4.