Hi Adam,

Definitely want to make group racing just for the best horses field restrictions is a must.

As potential handicapper for UK flat league, I would welcome any questions/problems arising from ratings.

Some may be even be valid.

Lots of handicaps being added don't worry about that!

I genuinely want any trainer to have a chance of winning a handicap.

I know from personal experience that this can happen - I entered possibly the worst horse ever in the history of the league and won a handicap off something like 40.

The horse in question was called Expensive Problem - it never won a group race in my game, best was a 0-110 handicap.

Steve

Hi everyone...

For our NHC Mantra

i would like to see every NHC stable win at least 1 race

during the next season but would not like to see tiny entries in restricteds

like it was at the end of last season winning a one horse race

isnt my idea of winning a race with at least one or more opponents

im sure ppl will be more happy to beat someone rather than walk over

a race.. to this extent i would rather see limited h'cap events

as we all start on a mark of 100 in NHC 0-110 h'caps early on could be a

better way to go and then gradually bring down the ratings til we have

probably 0-60 or 0-70 h'caps at the back-end of next season which should

give everyone a chance of winning and still keep the entries up

beating 3,4 or more trainers i think would give everyone satisfaction...

what do you guys think?

we want to try and bring in more commentaries to NHC races covering as

many as possible which would bring more fun into racing rather than

skipping to the result at the end...we are also bringing in Irish racing from

Irish tracks covering Punchestown,Leopardstown and the like...

a sort of ATR type of racing coverage tho also holding on to last seasons

Moores Million competition which was popular with a series of Hurdle races

in the same mould as MM races but just for hurdlers suggested by Ryan &

Craig..we want to capture all that is good with Jump racing

and the Flat guys bringing their own brand of racing to the Flat combining

European and American events... with a touch of Arab thrown in maybe?

Rich has given his blessing for us to try this in a schedule being compiled

by Craig & Dave with Ryan & myself bouncing ideas off all the Trainers.

thnx to Craig ,Dave & Ryan for their help in this

we should hopefully have a schedule we all can be proud of

and will enjoy in the next upcoming season...

Paul(LR)

Hi Steve

Looking forward to the new schedule! Was i right in thinking that the USRA will be scraped and that theres just one flat schedule? Has it been confirmed that this will work on TOM? 0-60 handicaps are right up any new trainers street which is great, they can compete against each other hopefully knowing they may be able to pick up a win, untill they decide if they want to put the time in to challenge the elite, next season looks like it really will be the best ever!

Any time frame regarding the new schedule your working on?

I think Scatters mentioned it before that there needs to be a few more just older horse races (4+ races), would be a good addition.

March 31st ETA.

There are only 2YO, 3YO and 4+ races (no 3+) in the first six weeks, after this I intend to run mainly 3+ races.

I want there to be excitement when champions from both 3YO and 4+ races meet in the big events.

Just one schedule, but will include international races.

Steve

Steve, matching 3yo and 4yo+ horses has the 3yo at the advantage as with the weights they are far superior. That is what I have observed, and believe me I have played a huge amount of games. The 3yo have a clear advantage so I will say from now that the 3yo will win the match ups no contest. Nevertheless let it be so and the proof will be in the results.

I would love to be proven wrong because I like the idea of a horse coming back for serveral seasons as a 5,6, 7yo etc

Appreciate the time you are putting in to get this right, and you too Rich, haven't forgotten you, keep up the good work guys.

Cheers.

This is really Hard work.

I've already done 2 Festivals and week 1/2

Whats so hard about it is finding a balance with the distances/handicaps.

Rich am gonna send u the schedule over soon can you take alook and get back to me please.

I think we should allow uploads all thru-out just to let new trainers who want to join the league late in the season.

Also I'd like to see new uploads from people who are improving. It keeps trainers playing more which I think Mark would like to see. If the uploads were closed after week 2, what's the point of playing more since you cant upload the new horses you find?

Last season, my first set of uploads were just horrible but as the season progressed I finally got some decent ones. If those uploads were not allowed I would have probably quit and just waited for the next season.

Looking good so far fella.

You're right about the balance of races. Remember we don't have to have one of every distance each week, if we can implement a max 8/9 run rule then this probably wouldn't be suitable anyway.

I do agree with this but we are also dropping the number of weeks in the season to 12 and making the seasons more frequent (i.e there will probably be two more before SO5).

I will consider allowing a stable to upload mid season if they come late and potentially offer 1 or 2 extra slots during the season but the schedule will not be changed to fit them in.

Been speaking to Paul and Hooley about scrapping the 3yo races in the NH and changing them to 4yo Only races.

In real life there is not many 3yo races at all, well maybe at the start of the season thats it.

There is no 3yo races at any of the Festivals.

What are your thoughts on this guys???

Update on the NH schedule...

5 weeks of the schedule is done already only 7 left to go.

Week 1/2/3 and 2 festivals done

I'd keep NHF races as 3yo only, then maybe we can get a natural progression from 3 to 4 with NHF runners to Novice Hurdlers.

Very nice idea mate, been nice to have a few NHF 3yo running in prep for season after

Can I just have some clarity on this upload question, before I continue.

There will be no maiden races after week two in the flat schedule.

I don't believe uploads after this date should be included.

Can I have a definite answer one way or the other

Decisions need to be made now rather than later, as any changes will throw the whole schedule out of line.

Thanks

Steve

John,

I will address your concerns by adding quite a number of 4+ races in the second half of the season as well as 3YO and 3+ events.

Handicaps will remain 3+ races for weeks 7-12 as weight for age shouldn't affect these.

Steve