Racing Victoria has announced changes to the weight allocation for all Group 1 handicap races in the state to align them with the conditions of the Melbourne Cup and Caulfield Cup.
Starting from the 2025/26 racing season, the minimum topweight for every Group 1 handicap will be set at 59kg. The minimum topweight at acceptance time will stay at 57kg, but any required weight increases will still maintain a 52kg minimum allotted weight and a 5kg weight spread.
“This update differs from the old rules, which had any weight increase applied uniformly to both the top and bottom of the scale,” Racing Victoria (RV) said in a statement.
The changes follow a review of the handicap conditions for the Melbourne Cup and Caulfield Cup, which previously increased the minimum allotted weight from 50kg to 51kg and the topweight from 58kg to 59kg.
The Australian Trainers Association and the Victorian Jockeys Association were both consulted before finalising these changes.
In addition to the Cups, the Group 1 handicaps in Victoria include the Oakleigh Plate, Newmarket Handicap, Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes and Toorak Handicap.
Conditions for Group 2 and two-year-old handicaps will remain the same, with a minimum topweight of 59kg, a 58kg minimum at acceptance time, and a minimum allotted weight of 53kg for Group 2 events and 54kg for two-year-old races.
Other handicap races, from Group 3 down to benchmark 52 grade, will have a minimum topweight of 60kg and a minimum weight of 54kg when weights are declared, with the topweight at acceptance time to be 59kg.
“These amendments provide a consistent 5kg weight spread for all TAB day meetings, which represents a 1kg increase from the current system,” RV said.
