Welcome to the Grader’s Corner. This section will be used by the Racing Queensland’s  Graders to answer FAQs from trainers, explain common grading misconceptions and discuss an array of other topics which can help trainers better understand grading, nominating, and race eligibility.

Pathways Maiden

Recently we’ve had several trainers ask why we’ve drawn a last start place-getter into a pathways maiden race or why their greyhound was left out of the pathways maiden despite having worse form in their past three starts than another greyhound drawn in the field.

RQ changed the pathways maiden order of entry in September 2019 to give greyhounds with 10 or more career unplaced runs priority entry into pathways maiden races. Greyhounds without form in their past three starts follow these greyhounds in the order of entry. If the greyhound has not had at least three starts, they are ineligible for pathways races.

Upcoming Racing in November

Ipswich has two Thursday night Class 1 meetings for the running of the Ipswich Cup ($113,000) with the heats on November 5 and the final on November 12. The Cup has been upgraded to Group 2 status for the first time this year. Albion Park will race on Friday, November 6, and Friday, November 13, in the weekly Friday twilight timeslot during the Ipswich Cup period.

Capalaba will conduct a non-TAB race meeting (TAB prizemoney) on Melbourne Cup Day Tuesday, November 3. The feature of the day will be the Capelbourne Cup ($5,250). Due to Capalaba racing on Tuesday, Ipswich have picked up the fortnightly Friday day timeslot on Friday November 6.

In North Queensland, the heats of the NQ Cup ($17,800) are on November 24 at Townsville over 498m. To be eligible greyhounds must have been domiciled north of post code 4570 since August 24, 2020.

Finally, the Dave Brett Memorial Maiden ($17,800) has a new timeslot in November with heats on Wednesday the 18th at Albion Park. Formerly run during the winter, the change to a summer timeslot aligns the rich maiden series with the peak breeding season (October/November to March/April) when when 18-24-month old pups are commencing their racing careers.