Integrity - Grading - Frequently Asked Grading Questions

Frequently Asked Grading Questions

Click on the area below to be taken to related questions and answers.

Nominations
Grading Policy
Preferences
Allocation of greyhounds
Rollover provisions
Box Draws
Kennel notifications
Scratchings
Grading Enquiries

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Nominations

How can I nominate my greyhound for a race meeting?

Nominations can be made three ways - online, via fax or phone. The easiest way to nominate is via the online portal here or by fax on (02) 8580 5301 at any time. You can also nominate by phone on 1300 664 565, although this service is only available between 8-9am Monday to Friday.

Note: there are no phone nominations taken for TAB C meetings - nominations for these meetings are to be submitted strictly by fax or via the online nominations portal.

Online nomination trouble shooting

When adding a greyhound to your kennel and you are prompted for a 7 character number, add the letter O for owner/trainer or T for a trainer, and the appropriate number of 0’s to the start of your licence no. If you are an interstate trainer add either a V for Victoria (VIC) or Q for Queensland (QLD) and the appropriate number of 0’s to the start of your interstate licence number, for example, for a VIC Licence No. 3579 make it V003579 and for a QLD licence No. 47781 make it Q047781 to bring the number up to 7 characters (including the letter). It is recommended that Tasmanian and South Australian trainers also use the V and 0 system, while Western Australian trainers should add a W and 0’s.

How do I nominate for a Special Event?

Note that all dogs will be considered for Special Events unless the nomination says “NO” to Special Event. If a nomination has left the Special Event space empty, then the greyhound may be considered for any Special Event if it is eligible for such an event. It is the nominator’s responsibility to check the race programming prior to nominating. You can access this information either on thedogs.com.au website, in greyhound newspapers, club notices or by contacting the Club. If you do not want to go in a Special Event mark “NO” in the Special Event box or consider nominating for another meeting, as it is highly likely that there may be no other suitable event at the meeting.

Where can I access Race Programming information?

All NSW TAB tracks are required to lodge their programs to GRNSW three months in advance and these programs can be found here under “Calendars” and by clicking on the date and track. Programming can also be found in the Greyhound Recorder, race books, Clubs’ websites and from the Club itself. It is the Nominators responsibility to check what a Club has programmed prior to nominating their greyhound for a meeting. In the event there is a discrepancy in advertising between the publications and what appears on thedogs.com.au website, then the website will be treated as the correctly scheduled program and the Graders will produce a race meeting in accordance with that program. GRNSW accepts no responsibility for any discrepancies as it is the club’s responsibility to submit these programs and ensure advertising elsewhere corresponds with same.
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Grading Policy

Where can I find the Grading Policy

The TAB and Non-TAB Grading policies can be downloaded from thedogs.com.auwebsite under the “Integrity” tab.

How do I find out what tracks are classified as City (A), TAB (B) , TAB C (C) and Non-TAB (D)

This information is listed in Clause 8 (pages 10-13) of the TAB Grading Policy

Why is my 5^th grade Greyhound drawn in a 4/5^th grade?

When nominations determine that a 4/5^th grade race is to be programmed, the fifth grade greyhounds with the highest number of division wins and/or total wins of those greyhounds eligible to be drawn, will be drawn into the 4/5^th race. Any greyhound with more than two (2) wins is eligible for a 4/5^th grade event, as per clause 4.4 (ii) of the TAB Grading Policy.

Why am I reserve in a 4/5^th?

The same procedures apply when allocating reserves as per the above wherever possible. Greyhounds with the highest number of division wins and or total wins from the reserve pool, as determined by points, are drawn as reserves.

Why isn’t my Greyhound drawn when there is a vacancy in a 4/5^th grade?

Greyhounds with only 1 win are ineligible for a 4/5^th grade event – unless it is an advertised Special Event, for example, 4/5^th grade heats. This rule is as per clause 4.4 (ii) of the TAB Grading Policy.

Why is there a 4^th grade dog in a 4/5^th grade when there is a vacant box in a 3/4^th or FFA?

A 4^th grade greyhound is not eligible to be drawn in a 3/4^th grade race unless they have two (2) division wins and four (4) total wins. Whilst to be eligible for a FFA, they must have two (2) division wins and five (5) total wins.

Why is my 4^th Grade dog in a FFA?

A 4^th grade dog that has achieved two (2) division wins and five (5) wins in total is eligible to compete in a FFA event. When there are sufficient nominations received to draw a FFA event, then the number of 4^th graders required will be drawn based on highest to lowest division wins.

Why is my dog a 4^th Grader at TAB or City?

A greyhound that has won two (2) city races or a total of ten (10) TAB races, excluding a maiden, is automatically re-graded as a 4^th grade dog, irrespective of its previous form at the track or if it has never started on a track.

Why is my dog a 4^th Grader at TAB C?

A greyhound that has won one (1) city race or a total of six (6) TAB or TAB C races, excluding a maiden, is automatically re-graded as a 4^th grade dog, irrespective of its previous form at the track or if it has never started on a track.

Why is my dog a 3^rd Grader at TAB C?

A greyhound that has won two (2) city races or a total of ten (10) TAB races, excluding a maiden, is automatically re-graded as a 3^rd grade dog, irrespective of its previous form at the track or if it has never started on a track.

What is a Division win?

Division wins are any wins recorded at the same or higher category meeting, e.g. for City meetings any City wins (category A); For TAB meetings any TAB or City wins (category B and A); For TAB C meetings any TAB C, TAB or City wins (category C, B and A).

Total wins

Total wins are the overall total number of wins recorded by a greyhound over any distance and in any category.

What is the difference between a Sprint and Distance win?

A Sprint win is any race won up to and including 564 metres. A Distance win is any race won over a distance of 565 metres or further. Apart from a greyhound’s overall total number of wins, a Sprint win does not affect a greyhound’s grade in the distance category and likewise, a distance win does not affect its grade in the sprint category.

How do the points work?

Points are those achieved by a greyhound at its last five starts and are worked out by computer. The points operate on a sliding scale according to division and grade. In the event a greyhound has less than five starts, then a pro rata scale is applied to equalize that greyhound’s points to five starts. The Weighted Points Score & Pro Rata Table is located on page 14 of the TAB Grading Policy. The points table is not used when grading a Non-TAB meeting, although it is applied to Non-TAB races when nominating for TAB meetings.

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Preferences

What is a Preference?

Preferences are an order of entry awarded to greyhounds which fulfill one of the criteria listed in the “Grading Guidelines” (clause 7) within the TAB Grading Policy, you will find an Order of Entry classification. Each of these classifications are referred to as preferences. Unless there is a Special Event or a race that a greyhound is ineligible for, then any greyhound with a preference may be elevated into the fields ahead of other greyhounds without such a preference. These preferences can be viewed in the “Grading Allocations” Reports. The lower the preference number the higher the preference.

Computer preferences are allocated in brackets as follows:

The following is the order of entry that a Grader shall use for the inclusion of greyhounds in fields for graded events:

(1) Last start winners at the category of meeting, track and distance of nomination;
(2) Last start placegetters at the category of meeting, track and distance of nomination;
(3) Greyhounds that were reserves at the previous meeting at the category of meeting, track and distance of nomination that had not gained a start at that meeting;
(4) Last start winners at a Category B race meeting when nominating at an alternative Category B race meeting or at a different distance at the track of nomination;
(5) Last start winners at a Category C race meeting when nominating at an alternative Category C race meeting or at a different distance at the track of nomination;
(6) Greyhounds dropping in grade at the category of meeting, track and distance of nomination; and
Greyhounds with the best race form amongst the remainder as determined by the Grader. For the purposes of Category A, Category B and Category C race meetings, the Grader shall determine best race from using the Weighted Points Score Table from the TAB Grading Policy.
What are Maiden preferences?

Maiden preferences are similar to those that apply in graded races and the following order of entry applies to maiden races as per below. Computer preferences are listed in brackets.

The following is the order of entry that a Grader shall use for the inclusion of greyhounds in fields for Maiden Events conducted at Category A, Category B or Category C race meetings:

(30) Last start placegetters at the category of meeting, track and distance of nomination;
(40) Greyhounds that were reserves at the previous meeting at the category of meeting, track and distance of nomination that had not gained a start at that meeting;
(50) Greyhounds placed in two (2) of their last three (3) race starts;
(60) Greyhounds placed in one (1) of their last three (3) race starts;
(70) First start greyhounds having satisfactorily competed in a performance qualifying trial at the track at which the greyhound is nominated as determined by the Weighted Points Score Table from the TAB Grading Policy;
(80) First start greyhounds having satisfactorily competed in a performance qualifying trial or qualifying trial at any track, as determined by the Weighted Points Score Table from the TAB Grading Policy;
(90) Greyhounds unplaced after having one (1) race start; and
Greyhounds unplaced as determined by the Weighted Point Score Table from the TAB Grading Policy.

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Allocation of Greyhounds

How are dogs allocated into races?

Greyhounds are drawn into the relevant number of races within a grade and distance as per the TAB Grading Policy, firstly by grade, then preferences and points. Once the pool of dogs is determined, greyhounds are allocated into the divisions by highest to lowest number of division wins then total wins, unless guarding is applied.

My dog either won, was placed or was a reserve last week, yet is not drawn this week?

Preferences do not carry over to Special Events or heats. Therefore greyhounds are drawn according to grade and points in such events. If there is no special event programmed for the meeting and your dog has not gained a run, then it would be because there was no event drawn that your dog was eligible for or there may have been insufficient races to draw all the greyhounds with preferences over that particular grade and distance.

My dog was a reserve last week, why isn’t it drawn this week?

Preferences only carry over to the same track, category of meeting and distance. Preferences do not carry over to Special Events or heats. Clubs like Bathurst, Dapto, Nowra and The Gardens have both Category B (TAB B) meetings and Category C (TAB C) meetings.

How come I have 2 or more greyhounds drawn in the same race?

Guarding (separating owners and or trainers) can only be applied if all dogs in a race have 4 wins or less, or in Special Events and heats. In normal graded races, if there is a dog in your race (whether or not it is your dog is irrelevant) with 5 wins or more, guarding cannot apply.

Guarding of owners and trainers

Guarding (separating owners and or trainers) only applies in maiden events, special events or grade five events where all greyhounds have four wins or less, unless the conditions of the race stipulate differently. In normal graded races, if there is a dog in your race (whether or not it is your dog is irrelevant) with 5 wins or more, guarding cannot apply.

Where can I access the Grading Allocations Report

The Grading Allocations Report can be found on thedogs.com.au website by clicking on the Grading Allocations tab located above race 2 on all TAB box draws. It shows each greyhound’s grade, division wins, total wins and preferences and points, and illustrates how the grading process works. Club Secretaries also receive a copy of the Grading Allocations Report, which can be viewed at the track.

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Rollover Provisions

What are rollover provisions and how do they work?

In order to assist participants in placing and drawing of their greyhounds, the GRNSW nominations system provides what is termed a “Rollover Option”.

This enables trainers to indicate that they wish their greyhound to be considered for a race meeting which has a nominations closing time that falls after the nominations closing time for their preferred meeting. This means that should the greyhound fail to secure a start at the first preference of meeting, it may be possible to gain a start at another meeting without having to renominate for the second meeting.

When indicating the desire to be considered for rollover to another meeting, trainers should note:

That they must clearly state on the nomination form or the online advice, that they wish to be rolled over to another meeting, indicating the second meeting in the area provided;
Greyhounds cannot be nominated for two meetings which are to be raced on the same day;
Greyhounds drawn as a reserve in the first nominated meeting will not be rolled over into the second meeting; and
Greyhounds cannot be rolled over to a meeting for which nominations close at the same time on the same day, with the notable exceptions of Wentworth Park Saturday nominations rolling back into Friday, and Unibet Gardens Friday rolling into Saturday.

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Nominating a greyhound for two distances

Greyhounds may be nominated for more than one race distance at any single meeting, with the first listed distance regarded as the desired nomination. Any greyhound nominated for two race distances may be drawn at the alternate distance indicated, should such an inclusion ensure complete field allocation for that meeting.

Box Draws

Box Draws

All TAB and Non-TAB box draws are done at GRNSW via the computer system and is beyond reproach. The Graders have no control over what Greyhound receives what box. The system is Audited annually by an independent auditor. It all comes down to luck of the draw. Any perceived anomalies are merely perceptions.

Alterations to Box Draws

Owners and Trainers are advised that, subject to the provisions of GAR 22 and LR21A, no alterations to published box draws will be made unless the Grading Department is notified about a problem within three hours of the box draw being published on thedogs.com.au website. Please note that races will only be re-drawn in the following circumstances:

The omission of an eligible greyhound that was correctly nominated;
Incorrect grading allocation of a greyhound in a field;
The incorrect allocation of a reserve greyhound(s);
Ignorance of special conditions that have not been applied to an event by the grading department; and
The inclusion of a greyhound in a feature race when advised that it was not to be considered for the event.

Please note that if your enquiry does not relate to any of the above points, it will not be considered by the Grading Department outside of the allocated daily phone enquiry period of 2-3pm.
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Kennel Notifications

Kennel Notifications

Trainers are required to lodge a kennel notification for all greyhounds that come in to and leave their custody, within 72 hours. Even if you have reared the greyhound since it was a pup, you will still need to lodge a kennel notification for that greyhound when it is named.

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Scratchings

How do I scratch my dog?

TAB Meetings:

The deadline for notification of a scratching at all TAB meetings is 9am on the day of the meeting. Scratchings can be made at any time online at www.thedogs.com.au through the nominations portal using your log-in details or by phoning GRNSW on 1300 797 538.

Non-TAB Meetings:

To scratch a greyhound at a Non-TAB meeting you must contact the Club concerned. Scratchings at Non-TAB meetings can be made right up until the close of kennels on the day of the meeting. Contact details for all Clubs can be found on thedogs.com.au website under the “Tracks” section.

Scratchings due to Ineligibility – Trainer’s Responsibility at all times

It is always the responsibility of the trainer of a greyhound to scratch it from any subsequent engagement if the greyhound becomes ineligible for that event for any reason, e.g. winning a maiden beforehand, incurring a stand down incapacitation due to being injured in running, marring, failing to pursue, unsatisfactory performance or for being scratched from any prior event.

Late Scratchings

Late scratchings can be made by either phoning the scratchings phone line on 1300 797 538 or the club conducting the meeting. The scratching phone line is not manned after 10am on weekends or public holidays, whereby it is recommended that you contact the club concerned.

How do I know if my reserve greyhound got a start

Scratchings are posted on thedogs.com.au website as they occur, whilst final scratchings are posted usually by 9.30am daily. It is the responsibility of the trainer to check whether or not a reserve dog has gained a start at a meeting. GRNSW will endeavour to contact each trainer, however we are often unable to reach everyone. It is recommended that if you have a reserve at a meeting, that you remain close to the phone on the morning if the meeting. If you change your phone number please notify the Grading Department immediately.

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Grading Enquiries

I have a question about a TAB meeting, who can I speak to?

General grading enquiries, for example, on the grade of a greyhound at a particular track or eligibility to compete in certain events, can be submitted to GRNSW for response via the online Grading Enquiry Form or facsimile - the GRNSW Grading Department will respond to these enquiries within 48 hours of receipt.

Alternatively, participants without access to the internet or email can contact the Grading Department via phone on Mondays to Fridays between the hours of 2-3pm with any general grading queries. Please note that the Member Services team will not answer grading enquiries unless the enquiry relates to an urgent problem that requires a box re-draw. Grading phone calls will not be taken outside of the 2-3pm allocated grading enquiry time slot.

How can I contact the Grading Department?

Online: go here to nominate, scratch and find information on grading - 24 hours a day 7 days a week.

Facsimile: (02) 8580 5301 – 24 hours a day 7 days a week.

Phone Nominations: 1300 664 565 between 8-9am on Weekdays for Category A and B meetings only.

Scratchings: 1300 797 538 between 8-9am 7 days a week.

Grading Enquiries: 1300 664 565 between 2-3pm Mondays to Fridays or online via the Grading Enquiry Form under the Grading Information Section.

I have a query about a Non-Tab meeting, who can I speak too?

Non TAB Grading is completed by the individual club. It is recommended that you try and call the club in question. As it is sometimes difficult to contact a Club or Secretary, or if the reply is unsatisfactory, the next step would be contacting the GRNSW Integrity Department.

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