Following the successful introduction of Time Based Grading last year, and the positive feedback from the industry, Greyhound Racing NSW (GRNSW) will be introducing an expansion of the system from next week for maiden greyhounds.
In October last year, having completed substantial research, testing and finessing the system, GRNSW launched a key initiative of its Industry Future Blueprint, in Time Based Grading.
Time Based Grading was introduced to further maximise racing opportunities for greyhounds, to extend racing careers, increase utilisation rate and increase turnover.
The current structure gives greyhounds the opportunity to race against others which are running similar race times based on assessing the greyhounds last six race starts.
Time Based Grading, judging by feedback from participants, has been well received within the industry in NSW and highly successful.
As a result of this, GRNSW decided to work on expanding the Time Based Grading system to maiden greyhounds as the current system does not consider the greyhounds early in their racing careers that may not win a maiden race.
The purpose of expanding the initiative is to provide greyhound participants with an opportunity to race their greyhounds which may not have normally made the racetrack as a result of slow times as the greyhound was preparing for its racing career.
To be eligible for Maiden Time Based Grading, greyhounds will have had a minimum of one race start.
The Maiden Time Based Grading system will be established for greyhounds after having had one race start and a rating of 9-15 applied based on the greyhound’s race time at their first race start.
Greyhounds which have not started will be rated as an 8 and remain eligible for standard maiden races.
“We have been delighted with the response and feedback from participants since we introduced Time Based Grading last year,” GRNSW Chief Executive Officer Steve Griffin said. “The racing team inform me that the form of racing has proven very popular, that there was an appetite for this addition, and we all believe this will be a welcomed again by the industry.
“Again this is another way in which we are looking to maximise racing opportunities for all of greyhounds from the very young to more seasoned greyhounds, and like the original, I believe that the maiden version of Time Based Grading will be equally well-received and supported.”
The first Maiden Time Based Grading event will be programmed as a 400m event at the meeting at The Gardens on April 2. Nominations close for that meeting on Monday March 30.
Future Maiden Time Based Graded events will be programmed for the following week around NSW. The details are: 300m at Taree on Monday April 6, 340m at Gunnedah on Wednesday April 8, 400m at The Gardens on Friday April 10, 401m at Richmond on Friday April 10, 320m at Wagga Wagga on Friday April 10, 365m at Nowra on Monday April 13, and 350m at Grafton on Tuesday April 14.
