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Racing NSW Chief Executive Mr Peter V’Landys, AM, has today announced that minimum weights will be raised in New South Wales by 1kg effective from Monday 23 March to assist jockeys in maintaining good health during the coronavirus situation.

“Racing NSW is to raise minimum weights by 1kg for the health benefit of jockeys and improve their resistance to getting sick,’’ Mr V’Landys said.

“The well-being of our participants is paramount” Mr V’landys added. “This change will stay in place indefinitely until the virus situation changes”.

The 1 kg increase is in accordance with the request of the NSW Jockey’s Association to increase the minimum weight from 53kg to 54kg and takes effect for all race meetings from Monday.

Details are:

Metropolitan races - Minimum weight raised to 54kg
Provincial and Country races - Minimum weight raised to 55kg

Further to the above:

• All Country and Provincial races will now have a minimum of 55kg (excluding Listed races)
• All Metropolitan handicap and Set-Weight races will now have a minimum of 54kg (excluding Group 1 Handicaps and WFA) – true weights will still be permitted at the discretion of trainers and jockeys
• In all Metropolitan Saturday Benchmark and Open races the rider is permitted to ride at a true weight not less than 52 kilograms and must be declared no later than 9.00am on the day of acceptances. (As is currently allowed)
• In all Group 2, Group 3 and Listed Handicap races run in the Metropolitan area the rider is permitted to ride at a true weight not less than 53 kilograms (AR167) and must be declared no later than 9.00am on the day of acceptances.
• Other Group, Listed or Feature races as determined by Racing NSW run outside of the Metropolitan area will continue to have a 54kg minimum. Two Year Olds in any Set Weight race can still utilise the 54kg minimum if applicable
• In addition to the above, all Black Type Set Weight + Penalties races will also have a 54kg minimum, meaning the base weight when required will be no lower than 54kg. Penalty scales will remain the same.
• The Group 1 Doncaster Handicap and the Group 1 Sydney Cup will continually be assessed with further information regarding the possible raising of weights made in due course.
• As is the current case all jockeys can continue to apply to ride 1kg over the advertised weight in any race. In Group 1 races, applications up to 2 kg can be made.
• Given the higher weights being carried in handicap races there is no increase to the topweights proposed, minimising the impact on higher weighted horses.

Some variances may occur if necessary. Racing NSW will ensure all the different race types are weighted according to the new minimum weight.

For further information please contact Mr Peter V’landys AM, Racing NSW Chief Executive, by phone on (02) 9551 7556.