First thing I absolutely want to stress in no uncertain terms.
The NHC is not "fitting in" alongside the flat. It doesn't have to slot in and follow the same rules as the flat. In no way at all is everything about the flat and nothing I've said should give you that idea. The only reason it has to run alongside the flat is purely and simply technical reasons with TOM. I'm sure the NHC could have continued by itself but as we know that's not why we stopped things. This thread is for ideas about UKRA, there is another thread for NHC on ORL World, please use that for improvements you can think of to NHC
Second thing I want to stress in no uncertain terms, the decision on removing handicaps has not been taken. However I shall ask, if the current system of handicaps still results in the best trainers winning, surely a change is needed?
I've had a look at people like myself who won 2 races in UKRA last season
paultweddle Listed & 0-80 Handicap
Moi 2x G3s
Jason 2x maidens
Kevcon 2x 0-80 handicaps
Hackett 2x maidens
ste1975 1x 0-80 handicap, 1x 0-90 handicap
So maybe there is an argument to keep the lower handicaps? However many of those handicap wins were after a bad initial outing (worked up, race wide, blocked in) giving a false handicap rating, does that mean someone else has been done out of a deserved victory? It's not elitest to get rid of lower handicaps.
I also don't agree that it should be easy for people to win a league race. I remember my first season, Tenaja Trail, I thought was the best thing ever, uploaded to the league thinking "haha going to wipe the floor with these muppets" and it came 15th or something. I was like "WHOA, competition! I like it" Because lets face it, after 20 seasons of playing you win every G1 and the only question is how far. The league is the only thing that keeps you playing.
jackdaw - loving the ideas for NHC.
hackett wrote:
How would you do the ratings for these horses once the races are over?
If my horse won the epsom derby listed would i get a rating lower then that of the last place of the Epsom Derby G1? How would that rating match with a horse that has won a group 2 race the same week?
How would horse ratings be managed, sounds a hard job to me mate. Im not knocking this mate but if i didnt get into the Epsom Derby G1 because my horse was rated 21 of the entrants me missing out by one then id rather leave my horse for a Group 2 race, after all you can judge if your likely to make cuts for races by looking at what else has been entered in the races and if my horse performs well in that group 2 id probably be rated high enough to enter the next group 1 for sure if it meant i missed out on the G1 action for the sake of easier managment of rating horses then so be it!
I understand this, it's difficult because a lot of trainers make their declarations late and then you find out too late. Can't think of many ways around this, you would definitely get a lower rating for winning a Listed race than a G1 race
giddy wrote:
I would prefer even less upload windows, maybe have 7 days from when each trainer uploads their first horse to when their stable is locked (that way trainers who start late don't have to wait until halfway through the season), and then another upload window at the halfway point of the season.
This is a very interesting idea. I wonder if it can be built into TOM.