France Galop releases new optional handicap program
France Galop wishes to drag more highly rated horses into its handicaps program and has created an optional handicaps option for 2017. You can download the first release of the 2017 Optional Handicap by clicking here.
In 2016, the Handicaps program accounted for 30% of flat racing in France. These races are mostly intended for aged horses since 79% of Handicaps apply to this category, against only 20% reserved for 3yo and 1% for 2yo.
Besides, only 12 handicaps feature horses with a rating greater than 38/40kg (84/88Lbs), while in Great Britain, 52% of flat racing is made of Handicaps, including 22 high-profile Heritage Handicaps, which have enjoyed considerable success (large fields and high betting turnover).
New in 2017: "Optional" Handicaps
2 new handicaps are created in 2017 to draw more attention from trainers:
Optional 1: Saturday, March 11, 2017, Saint-Cloud, over 1,600 m.
Prizemoney: 35 K € (7 placings)
Condition: For 3 year old colts, geldings and fillies.
Optional 2: Tuesday, March 21, 2017, Chantilly, over 1900 m. (Fibersand)
Prizemoney 35 K € (7 placings)
Condition: For 3 year old colts, geldings and fillies.
The "Optional" Handicaps are exclusively restricted to 3-year-olds (born in 2014) who have raced at least 3 times at the age of 2 (in 2016) and qualified in the Premium Handicaps by December 31, 2016.
The practical arrangements for participation in these two races are as follows:
The ratings of the relevant horses will be published on Wednesday 11 January 2017 by France Galop, on its website (list attached).
On the basis of this list and after updating the values, all the horses will automatically be pre-entered, free of charge, in the following 2 races:
For Optional 1
March 1st, 2017, at 9:30 am: Updated publication of ratings
March 3rd, 2017, at 9:30 am: 1st free forfeit to be made by the trainers not wishing to run
March 6th, 2017, at 9:30 am: Publication of weights
For Optional 2
March 10th, 2017, at 9:30 am: Updated publication of ratings
March 13th, at 9:30 am: 1st free forfeit to be made by the trainers not wishing to run
March 15th, 2017 at 9:30 am: Publication of weights
New in 2017: Handicaps Class 1
In order to offer new possibilities to 3-year-old horses who participated in Class 1 race but did not make it to Listed and Group Races, the 2017 3yo program features 12 new Handicaps.
They are restricted to horses who have competed in at least one Class 1 race (or one B or D race in the first semester of 2016 at 2) or a higher level race. The reference of these Handicaps will be +14.
This specific program will begin in May 2017 and will include 12 races on the Parisian racecourses, i.e. 1 race per month on the 3 main distances (1,600, 2,000 and 2,400 meters).
The total allocation is set at 35 K € per race (7 placings).
In order to keep trainers and owners of horses meeting the conditions of these races updated, the ratings of the 3yo racing a Class 1 race will be published by France Galop every 15 days from March 1st, 2017.
The updated ratings of the horses eligible for these new races will be available on the new France Galop website in the Docuthèque section under the heading "Bulletins Officiels et Valeurs".