Heat and Final conditions

Definitions

A race may be conducted as Heats, Semi-Finals and a Final, and may have a Consolation/s in conjunction therewith provided that:

i) The winners of the Heats, Semi-Finals, Final and Consolation/s shall incur Penalties in accordance with the Australian Handicapping Regulations.

ii) The Penalties for a win in a Heat and Semi-Final shall not apply in the Final or Consolation/s of the Event.

iii) The Penalties provided by these Regulations for a win in a Heat and/or Semi-Final shall apply in any race other than the Final or Consolation/s of the Event.

Conditions

The number of horses which will qualify from each Heat/Semi Final shall depend upon the number of Heats/Semi-Finals conducted. In the event that horses finish in the same qualifying position, the fastest individual mile rate recorded in the heats will determine the qualifiers for the final/consolation.

Except where qualifiers are determined by a point score, horses that have already qualified for the Final shall be ineligible to contest further heats.

Should any qualified horse be unable to take its place in the Final/Consolation, RQ Handicappers may select at their discretion a replacement from the next best placed horse with the fastest mile rate in the Heats/Semi-Final becoming the qualifier, except where the qualifiers are determined by pointscore. (If two or more horses finish with equal mile rates a ballot will be performed by RQ Handicappers).

Horses which qualify for a Final/Consolation, shall be deemed acceptors for such Final/Consolation and shall be liable for any penalties if scratched.

In the event of any Heat or Semi-Final being abandoned the conduct of the final is to be at the discretion of RQ Officials. If it is decided to conduct the final RQ Handicappers shall select the final field based on point score order at acceptance time for the abandoned race (or manually based on form at acceptance time for the abandoned race for finals valued at $10,000 or higher) from the Final Acceptors of such Heat/Semi-Final, and such horses shall be deemed as a qualifier for the Final/Consolation. Notwithstanding that the conduct of such final is to be at the discretion of RQ.

The Barrier Draw conditions applicable to the Heats/Semi-Finals shall also apply to the Final/Consolation and not take into account winning performances during the Heats/Semi-Finals.

The Barrier Draw conditions for the Final/Consolation will NOT take into account Rule 17 of the Australian Handicapping Rules (Reductions In Class) - a horse will carry its assessment from acceptance time for the Heat through to the Final and if such horse has not won in 10 consecutive race starts after competing in a heat while its assessment will be reduced by one class it will draw as per its original assessment at time of acceptance for the Heat in the Final.

In the event of a Series where the winners progress to the Final and the Heats fall short for the number required for the Final, the remaining qualifier/s will be determined by RQ Handicappers based on horses finishing in the most forward position/s in the Heats.

PRELUDE - If there are insufficient acceptors for a Club to conduct Heats and/or Semi-Finals they may with the approval of the Controlling Body conduct a Prelude. Horses that win a "Prelude" remain eligible for the Final and its Barrier Draw will be determined at time of the "Acceptances for the Prelude". If a prelude is conducted trainers may be asked to RE-NOMINATE horses for the Final or be advised that acceptors for the Prelude will be automatic acceptors for the Final. If trainers are asked to re-nominate their horses for the Final such horses will have preference in race field selection.

In the event of Heats and/or Semi-Finals being conducted the RQ Handicappers will draw up the Final and a Consolation (if required).

Selection For Heats - If Ballots Are Required

(except for RQIS, Futurity or Sales Funded events)

i) Horses that have already qualified for the Final shall be ineligible to contest further heats, unless otherwise specified in race conditions.

ii) Horses that have unfulfilled engagements (except for heats with finals where total prizemoney is in excess of $11,000) shall be the second ballot.

iii) Horses with the lowest race field selection points (except for heats with finals in excess of $11,000 where fields are to be selected manually) are to be the final ballots.

Additional Final Conditions

A Consolation of any Final can only be conducted when the event attracts sufficient acceptors for three (3) heats or more of eight (8) or more acceptors.

Finals shall carry prizemoney of a minimum of 50% more than the value of the heat. Consolations, when conducted shall carry a minimum of 10% more prizemoney than the value of the heat unless otherwise approved by the Controlling Body.

Futurity or Sales Funded events are exempt from these conditions.

The specified conditions of a race where the Heats are conducted in one State and the Final in another State must be approved by the Controlling Body of each of the States concerned.

Eligibility at Acceptance Times - Mobile and standing start events

Any horse that wins after acceptance time will remain eligible to fulfil its engagement.

Any horse that wins after acceptance will retain its barrier and handicap mark with the exception of Discretionary Handicap Events which will be left at the Handicappers discretion as to whether the horse should be re-handicapped.

In the event of a horse being 'out of the barrier draw' for the Heat/Semi-Final/Prelude, but being eligible for inclusion in the barrier draw for the final should it begin in a satisfactory manner in the Heat/Semi-Final/Prelude, the draw for the Final will re-include the horse in the draw.

In the event of a horse being made 'out of the barrier draw' in the Heat/Semi-Final/Prelude, the draw for the Final will exclude the horse in the draw.

If a horse has a reduction in class following a non winning performance in a Heat, such horse will be eligible for a drop back in class for the Final.

If a driver concession is claimed in a Heat/Semi-Final/Prelude it must also be claimed in the final, and should a horse not claim a driver concession in the Heat/Semi-Final/Prelude then no concession may be claimed in the Final.