curious Posted August 30, 2024 Share Posted August 30, 2024 Bruce Sherwin Confirmed as Permanent NZTR Senior Handicapper Bruce Sherwin, appointed interim NZTR Senior Handicapper in May, has confirmed he will continue in the role permanently, effective from 26 August. Bruce’s skill set is highly suited to this role, given his extensive experience in relevant handicapping areas. He has overseen NZTR's Handicapping Complaints process since 2013 and has been an integral member of the NZTR Handicapping Review Committee since 2014, assuming the chairmanship in 2022. In 2015, Bruce was appointed to the New Zealand Pattern Committee, Asian Handicapping Committee and from 2022, he has served as New Zealand's representative to the Asian Pattern Committee. Bruce has previously resigned as a Director of the NZTR Board, and any potential conflicts of interest have been identified and will be actively managed to uphold the highest standards of integrity. 2024 Handicapping Review The 2024 Handicapping Review has now been completed. The review was carried out by a panel comprising Tim Aldridge, Craig Baker, Mike Breslin, Andrew Castles, Tim Mills, Bruce Sherwin, and Brad Taylor. The changes to the Handicapping Policy have been agreed and are set out in the link below. Handicapping Policy and the Standard Regulations will be amended and updated to reflect all changes that came into effect from August 1, 2024. Corporate Communications New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Contact: Catlyn Calder +64 27 252 2803 nztrcommunications@nztr.co.nz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted August 30, 2024 Share Posted August 30, 2024 1 hour ago, curious said: The 2024 Handicapping Review has now been completed. The review was carried out by a panel comprising Tim Aldridge, Craig Baker, Mike Breslin, Andrew Castles, Tim Mills, Bruce Sherwin, and Brad Taylor. Not sure some of those guys were the best informed to make descisions on handicapping! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curious Posted August 30, 2024 Author Share Posted August 30, 2024 2 minutes ago, Chief Stipe said: Not sure some of those guys were the best informed to make descisions on handicapping! Have you read the review? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted August 30, 2024 Share Posted August 30, 2024 Handicapping Review Attached. NZTR Handicapping Review 2024-25-3.pdf Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freda Posted August 30, 2024 Share Posted August 30, 2024 28 minutes ago, Chief Stipe said: Handicapping Review Attached. NZTR Handicapping Review 2024-25-3.pdf 3.07 MB · 0 downloads Bruce is a top bloke, irrespective of his views on handicapping. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curious Posted August 30, 2024 Author Share Posted August 30, 2024 (edited) 18 hours ago, Chief Stipe said: Not sure some of those guys were the best informed to make descisions on handicapping! Aside from Bruce, who among them would know much at all about handicapping? It seems a very strange lot of choices. Who appoints them? And was there any consultation with participants or outside experts on this? It seems bereft of analysis or rationale for decisions. Edited August 30, 2024 by curious 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted August 30, 2024 Share Posted August 30, 2024 2 minutes ago, curious said: Aside from Bruce, who among them would know much at all about handicapping? It seems a very strange lot of choices. Who appoints them? And was there any consultation with participants or outside experts on this? It seems bereft of analysis or rationale for decisions. Agreed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted August 30, 2024 Share Posted August 30, 2024 "The current Set Weights and Penalties (SWP) conditions, form a handicap/weights perspective, tend to advantage the well-performed Group winners and placegetters, and disadvantage progressive and/or lightly raced horses. The panel recommends trialling a selection of 3yo SWP races as 3yo Handicap races - 60kg topweight, 54kg minimum. This will be progressed at regional programming meetings." Why trial? What was the analysis/data they used to determine there was a "problem"? What will be the metrics to determine success? The number of starters? How will the "regional programming meetings" determine which races will be "trials" of the new policy? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted August 30, 2024 Share Posted August 30, 2024 "EARLY ENTRY RACES Lengthy discussion by the panel on early entry races – numerous benefits and negatives." Wow! They had a lengthy discussion! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted August 30, 2024 Share Posted August 30, 2024 The Dunstan and Stella Artois series are working well. Um what does that mean? From a handicapping perspective? A review is underway into the Whangarei RC Winter Championships. What's wrong with it? From a handicapping perspective? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted August 30, 2024 Share Posted August 30, 2024 The bottom of page 3 was repeated at the top of page 4. I guess for added emphasis? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted August 30, 2024 Share Posted August 30, 2024 "REVIEW OF RATING AFTER LONG ABSENCE The trainer of a horse that has not raced for twelve months or more may apply to have the horse’s rating reviewed and potentially reduced at the discretion of the handicapper." Mmmmm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted August 30, 2024 Share Posted August 30, 2024 Maybe they took a Bit Of A Yarn approach. Sit around the table and have a chin wag with a crate of the finest brown ale like Speights! Or... 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doomed Posted August 30, 2024 Share Posted August 30, 2024 27 minutes ago, Chief Stipe said: A review is underway into the Whangarei RC Winter Championships. What's wrong with it? From a handicapping perspective? The major thing wrong with it is that hardly anyone is interested. So why bother carrying it on? There are never ballots so an order of entry isn't really required. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted August 31, 2024 Share Posted August 31, 2024 6 minutes ago, Doomed said: The major thing wrong with it is that hardly anyone is interested. So why bother carrying it on? There are never ballots so an order of entry isn't really required. But what does it have to do with a Handicapping Review? Isn't programming a different subject for a separate review? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doomed Posted August 31, 2024 Share Posted August 31, 2024 16 minutes ago, Chief Stipe said: But what does it have to do with a Handicapping Review? Isn't programming a different subject for a separate review? Most certainly. The problem with that series isn't a handicapping one. Perhaps they are looking at the early entry provisions, who knows? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curious Posted August 31, 2024 Author Share Posted August 31, 2024 2 hours ago, Chief Stipe said: "REVIEW OF RATING AFTER LONG ABSENCE The trainer of a horse that has not raced for twelve months or more may apply to have the horse’s rating reviewed and potentially reduced at the discretion of the handicapper." Mmmmm That one's really a doozy. What criteria is the handicapper going to use to reassess the rating if the horse hasn't run again? I thought handicapping was based on performance. And why after 12 months, not 6 months, 3 months or 1 month if you are going to do that? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted August 31, 2024 Share Posted August 31, 2024 37 minutes ago, curious said: That one's really a doozy. What criteria is the handicapper going to use to reassess the rating if the horse hasn't run again? I thought handicapping was based on performance. And why after 12 months, not 6 months, 3 months or 1 month if you are going to do that? Master Fay would be a classic case. If a horse has ability and it is out for 12 months it isn't because it has lost that ability but probably because it has an injury. If it is fit to race it still has that ability! Handicapping in my opinion isn't a subjective exercise. If you lean that way then it becomes open to rorting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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