Merger of Novice and Maiden races

From the beginning of the next flat season, restricted 2-y-o Novice and Maiden conditions will be merged into one race type. This aims to increase the number of races available for each horse to run in, whilst also providing a suitable balance of opportunities across the race programme for different types of horses.

Horses can qualify for these races through their auction value, or, if they have no auction value, their median auction value. This means that there will no longer be 2-y-o Auction or Median Auction races, but instead five classes of Novice or Maiden race as shown in the table below:

 

The exact value thresholds for the Restricted Race Bands will be finalised in early December, following a review of the autumn sales.

Using the values in the table as an example, the race conditions for a Band C Restricted Novice or Maiden race would be as follows:

 Open to 2-y-o Novice horses which:

• Sold at auction for no more than £30,000
• Or, if they were not sold at auction, whose sire has a median price of no more than £25,000

A horse running in a Band A-D Restricted Race will receive a 2lb weight allowance for each Band it runs in above that which it is qualified for. For example, a horse that was sold for a value of £10,000 would receive a 4lb allowance when running in a Band B Restricted race. Similarly, a horse that had no auction value but with a median value of £33,000 would receive a 2lb allowance when running in a Band A Restricted race because it qualifies for a Band B Restricted race. No weight allowances would be given in Open Novice and Maiden races on account of banding.