I think cup races is an excellent idea. I agree that its better With big money handicaps than degraded Group races. It should feel that you have the best horse if you win a Group race, not because the best horses are not entered.

And then I will wish for one Norwegian race, the Oslo Cup. That would be great

there are quite a few G1 Handicaps over 2 miles

The Adelaide Perth Sydney Auckland & Wellington Cups

We should include either the Auckland or Wellington Cups.
I am from Adelaide and the Adelaide Cup isn't really a strong race any more but some extra 2 mile G1 hcps wouldn't be a bad idea.

More low rated Hunt races was going to be my next suggestion. Just out of curiosity - are the Hunter Chase races open to Novices and Open rated horses?

It would be cool if we can chop some of the Aussie G1s for more lower rated races and some lower rated races as I and Jim have chatted about above.

I am happy to work out the new races for you Gray if you just want to concerntrate on the Hunt.

No comment from me, the league is still recovering from the last time we debated such things. Just make sure the proposed changes are clearly outlined so people can pick teams to match.

Sounds good to me

this

ditto

Hi Gray

If you are going to concentrate on the NH schedule, how about looking at some of the distribution of races. e.g. week 9 of the hunt has 4 h'cap chase races over 2 miles. Races 11, 17, 25 and 32 are the ones in question. Do we need 4 similiar races in the one week. This is only one example. I have noticed similiar things in other weeks. Some weeks there are a lot of Group races and only a few h'caps and vice versa.

Jim

Howdy

I have some suggestions from the perspective of a new trainer because well, i am one.
Disclaimer: None of my comments are criticisms, just suggestions.

I assume the chance to upload to TOM between weeks 5 and 6 will happen again in the next season.
If so i think its a great opportunity for new trainers to join the league and not have to wait months (and potentially giving up and never joining).

Thing is, when i joined for week 6 there were virtually no maiden events (4 out of 38 races) to earn a rating so i was left with only group races (Grp 2 and Grp 3) which seemed to result in a higher rating than deserved.
It would be nice if there were more races a new trainer with un-rated horses could enter, even just for week 6.
Perhaps the default rating of 75 could could count as an actual rating, allowing them to enter handicaps.
New trainers are unlikely to have a strong stable and therefore unlikely to "scoop the pool" with unraced horses.
This would mean they could enter handicaps rated from 0-80 and up to 0-110 which would bring the number of available races to 14.
Better still make the default rating 70 and that would mean there would be 17 instead of 4 available races in week 6.
As well as, or instead of, throw in some double entry races for Maidens in week 6 and 7 and they would be up and racing.

None of these suggestions will help me now but i'm thinking you would all like to see new trainers in the League encouraged to "hang in there".


The other suggestions i have is to update the League info "sticky" posts.
The "FAQ Online League" post has this link http://ukratimes.yolasite.com/frequently-asked-questions.php which no longer exists.

The "League Rules" post says the following:
"3. Handicaps - horses will be allowed in handicaps 2f either side of their best maiden run. If they have not run in a maiden then 2f either side of their best run. The exception to this is 2m + where horses will be elgible for 2f less than their best run and all races greater than their best run."

But it appears the rule is now applied slightly differently.....

For example, i entered a 5f horse in its first race at 7f Group 2, because it was the only race available. Now rated, i entered him in a 8f 0-110 believing he was a "7f" horse. He did better in the 8f handicap race and was subsequently not allowed to race at 5f anymore.
The rules in the post do not mention the best of the first 2 runs.

Please refer to disclaimer above

Cheers

Just have to remember the first week back on the flat is Royal Ascot and there may not be enough room.
Martin was a big gun for having the flat break between week 6 and 7 - that might work better if we run a heap of maidens in week 7.

We only have a break for two weeks if we are running the league over the Christmas Period the spring/Summer season has no 2 week break and good reasons for it I like my Holidays as do other League helpers and we try and finish the League before the summer Holiday Period (schools Out) in the UK.

There was a time that no uploads was aloud after the Season Started apart From Jango I don't think anyone I can think of Joined plus I don't think either that enough Trainers would Join after week 5 or are upload enough horses to have a week of Maidens.

We can Move when we open Uploads but if we move Earlier to after 4 weeks seems a bit early and after week 6 seems a bit late week 5 is best in my opinion and new Trainers just need to learn if joining after week 5 to treat it like a taster.

Gray

Jango makes some interesting points.

I think extra maidens wont really work but I do like the idea of new trainers (first season) in the window racing their new horses in the hcps - that does make sense!
I think it could be open to new trainers who start at week one to run in hcp races for any new horses they upload in the window as well.
Of course any experienced trainer goes through the normal procedure of entering in maidens and G2 and G3 races.

Sorry I disagree with you Doug if I got a sprinter that has been running since week 1 and got a rating of Say 90 and gets beat by a unraced 75 In the Wokingham Handicap I wouldn't be a happy chappie


Gray

I also think Jango makes some interesting and valuable points. Some extra Maidens could help, but maybe more a guide that introduces the newcomers to the league and what to expect. I had to learn it the hard way last year, and I think even so I did pretty well. There was a lot of things I didnt understand, but I also expected that and wanted to use the first season as a learning season.

In regard to my results this season I think this counts as a learning season as well

I joined in week 2 last season and slowly but surely managed to enter my horses. I think most works fine, but newcomers need to know more what to expect and how things work. It can seem very confusing when you are and outsider to it. It is nice that you can upload after week 1.

I also think it is important to find the right balance in easing in new trainers and keeping it competetive for the rest.

There is so much that works well now, but I like these discussions and suggestions to further enhance the league and make it better.