Declining field sizes force RQ to change acceptance process
Queensland stables will gain greater visibility before final acceptances under changes intended to encourage fuller races, limit scratchings and improve confidence among punters and wagering operators.
Racing Queensland will introduce a suite of reforms aimed at boosting TAB field sizes and reducing scratchings after three consecutive seasons of declining average field numbers.
The changes, which follow the announcement of TAB meeting optimisation measures for the 2026/27 season in May, are designed to improve wagering confidence by providing trainers with more information before final acceptances and encouraging more competitive fields.
From September 1, trainers will be able to view all horses accepted for a race before the acceptance deadline under a progressive acceptors system, allowing them to make more informed placement decisions.
RQ is also exploring assigning barriers at the declaration of weights rather than after acceptances to give trainers additional data before acceptances are finalised in a system similar to the one used in Western Australia.
The number of emergencies for each race will be capped at five.
Average TAB field sizes in Queensland have fallen for three straight seasons, from 9.6 in 2023/24 to 9.56 in 2024/25 and 9.3 in 2025/26.
“Competitive field sizes continue to be a primary driver of commercial returns from wagering,” RQ’s acting chief executive Lachlan Murray said.
Queensland Australian Trainers Association executive Richard Andrews said the progressive acceptors model had been well received in other jurisdictions and should help trainers make better-informed placement decisions.
“Ultimately, trainers must give their horses and owners the best opportunity to perform well, so poor draws will result in scratchings in any given race and rail placements add to this,” Andrews said.
“The ATA looks forward to working with RQ on other initiatives, including programming, particularly in southeast Queensland, to further enhance field sizes.
“Like any initiative or a return to previous systems, we look forward to seeing how it improves the current situation and will work closely with RQ to analyse the effects.”
In southeast Queensland over the past week, provincial meetings have been especially decimated by scratchings, creating a plethora of betting deductions for punters investing before a 7.30am raceday withdrawal deadline.
From 121 acceptors that included emergencies at Ipswich last Thursday, only 76 horses were left across the eight races.
Eagle Farm on Saturday had 87 starters from an original entry of 111, with the corresponding Gold Coast fixture accommodating 81 horses from the same number of acceptances.
“Large scratching volumes negatively impact wagering levels and as a result, returns to industry,” Murray said.
“This has been driven through punter uncertainty and reduced confidence in wagering, particularly when early markets are offered.”
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