Eoghain Ward

THE start of a new season often means the introduction of multiple changes in regulations and rules. However, the 2015/’16 campaign begins this weekend with just one alteration, a revised weight structure, an area which seems to be tinkered with on a near-annual basis.

Racing weights for point-to-points were traditionally kept very straight-forward and simple to make things easier for the many once-a-year clerks of the scales on duty around the country. Having just three weight bands allowed for a faster turnaround between races and minimised the possibility of errors.

However, we now have a more complex weight structure following a series of Turf Club amendments.

A few years ago penalties were removed to create a more simplistic system. There were only three possible weights a horse had to carry - 11st 7lb for four-year-olds and ladies’ races, 11st 10lb for mares taking on geldings in winners’ races, and 12st for all other races. Simple as it was, this system, by and large, was fit for purpose.

With the introduction of a 5lb allowance for mares - and for riders with fewer than 20 winners - on top of new weights for mares’ maidens, the number of possible weights doubled from three to six. Now the Turf Club has made further amendments which will reduce the total number of weights carried to four. The latest changes are:

  • All four-year-old maidens and ladies’ races will now carry 11st 10lb (up 1lb from 11st 9lb) .
  • All five-year-old and upwards mares’ maidens will now carry 11st 10lb (down 1lb from 11st 11lb) .
  • All winners and open races will now carry 12st 1lb (down 1lb from 12st 2lb)

    • These conditions, plus the 5lb allowance where applicable, means there are now just four possible weights for all runners.

    It seems odd, however, that the Turf Club has not reverted to a system closer to the original as four-year-olds are now set to carry 3lb more than they did as recently as spring 2013.

    The latest amendments should be seen as a positive step to reduce the workload for the volunteer clerks and minimising the opportunity for errors.

    However, one drawback is that the reduced weight for all five-year-old and upwards mares’ maidens, winners and open races halves the 2lb back protector allowance which was introduced at the start of the 2013/’14 season.

    This allowance was introduced to assist the many riders who were struggling to make weight for mares’ races in particular.

    Young riders often rely on getting mounts on mares to get them started.

    Now if they wish to claim their 5lb allowance on a mare racing against geldings, they will have to ride at 11st 5lb, or 11st for four-year-olds, which could limit their opportunities.

    On the whole, however, this has to be seen as a forward step, and one which hopefully will have a positive impact on the sport.