In 2021, GRV undertook a review of its grading guidelines including hosting a grading survey and information sessions, out of which came a number of proposed recommendations.
Based on these recommendations, GRV has developed a new version of its grading guidelines, which were tabled at last month’s Industry Consultative Group (ICG) meeting and provided to representatives of the Greyhound Owners, Trainers & Breeders Association (GOTBA).
The updated version of the grading guidelines are being released for information ahead of an implementation date to be determined in the first quarter of 2022.
A summary of the main changes that have been incorporated into the new grading guidelines include:
- Modification to the ranking points table and formula of assessed starts.
- Introduction of a consistent order of entry for all levels of race meetings (Tier 3, Special Event and Maiden Events excluded).
- Removal of Aged Prizemoney (APM) as the main selection method used and a greyhounds individual ranking to be used as the main selection method.
- Redefine the definition of a city win.
- Removal of Metropolitan upgrade.
- Update the automatic upgrade criteria from $25,000 in prize money to $35,000 in prize money to reflect recent prize money increases.
- All heats to be graded using seeded/guarded method with the top 25% seeded based on individual rank and not based on Aged Prizemoney (APM) figure.
- All standard races will be banded together based on greyhounds of similar rank instead of Aged Prizemoney (APM) figure.
