Harness Racing New Zealand (HRNZ) advises the industry of important amendments to the Harness Racing New Zealand Regulations – Conduct of Meetings, Programming, Handicapping and Rating Regulation, specifically relating to Clause 17: Junior Driver Rating Concessions.
Correction to Clause 17.1 – Eligibility Threshold Increased
Effective immediately, the wording of Clause 17.1 has been revised to correct the eligibility threshold for junior driver concessions. The original clause stated:
“Race-winning 4YO and older horses driven by a junior driver that has driven up to and including 10 career wins at the commencement of the meeting concerned will receive a two-point rating reduction if that win is not a Rating Penalty Free race.”
This was incorrect. The clause now correctly reads:
“Race-winning 4YO and older horses driven by a junior driver that has driven up to and including 50 career wins at the commencement of the meeting concerned will receive a two-point rating reduction if that win is not a Rating Penalty Free race.”
This adjustment ensures that the rating concessions remain in line with historical practices and support junior drivers in building experience and opportunity within the industry.
Deferral of Clause 17.3 – Designated Races Concession Framework
HRNZ also advises that Clause 17.3, which was drafted to introduce an expanded rating concession framework for designated races, will not be implemented at this stage.
This clause was introduced by the Utilisation Reference Group (URG) to provide a new concession similar to those applied in various states of Australia, with the intent of creating an opportunity to drop horses back in grade and provide extra opportunities for them.
The clause proposed a system allowing horses otherwise ineligible for specific races to receive rating point reductions based on the junior driver’s experience level, summarised as:
- 3 point reduction for junior drivers with 0-10 career wins
- 2 point reduction for 11-25 career wins
- 1 point reduction for 26+ career wins
Following further consideration, HRNZ has determined that this provision requires additional consultation and development. Accordingly, Clause 17.3 is deferred and will not come into effect until further notice.
Commitment to Consistency and Further Review
Importantly, these updates mean that junior driver rating concessions remain consistent with the practices in place prior to the introduction of the new rating system on 30 June 2025.
To ensure junior drivers continue to have meaningful pathways and appropriate opportunities, HRNZ will soon establish a dedicated working group to review the operation of junior driver concessions. This group will include representation from junior drivers themselves, with the aim of refining these provisions to best support their development and participation.
Further Information
For any questions or further clarification, please contact Matthew Peden – Head of Racing & Wagering: matthew.peden@hrnz.co.nz.