Equibase Company, the Thoroughbred industry's official database for racing information, has incorporated two changes to its performance-based horse rating that takes into consideration the weight of accomplishment at the highest levels and early career recognition for maiden special weight winners with limited starts, the data gather said in a press release on Wednesday.The Equibase rating–which is intended to provide an unbiased performance score based on race outcomes and measurable factors such as speed, race strength, track conditions and trip factors–launched last fall with inaugural ratings races conducted at Santa Anita in October.Since then, nearly 30 races using the ratings have been held at four tracks across the country. The ratings were developed with input from industry stakeholders with the goal of improving race competitiveness and increasing field sizes.“It was our expectation that the ratings would evolve, and while we don't anticipate making changes frequently, we are committed to continued improvement in partnership with the racing offices and horsemen who use these ratings every day,” said Kyle McDoniel, president and COO for Equibase. “These changes are a direct result of that continued collaboration.”The rating now includes a par anchor for each class of race from a grade one stakes to a lower-level claiming race. Horses that perform consistently at or above their established level will sustain or exceed their par. Horses that perform below it will drift downward at a measured rate that reflects genuine performance change.The second change addresses horses that have made limited starts, which previously produced a rating based on a single maiden win. With limited context from prior starts, that rating was frequently lower relative to what the win actually demonstrated. Now, horses that win a maiden race in their first two starts receive an upward adjustment to their rating that reflects the significance of that win.“These changes also bring the ratings into better alignment with how racing offices already write conditions,” said Chance Moquett, senior manager of strategic projects and business development for Equibase. “The class distinctions that racing secretaries have always understood intuitively now are represented in the numbers.”The Equibase Rating is calculated through an algorithm that factors in race records, performance analytics, and historical data from racetracks in addition to the new considerations. The ratings have been incorporated into condition books at several racetracks–including Keeneland–for race planning and are available on Equibase's website next to the horse's name in entries, statistical profiles and past performances.Click here for more information on Equibase Ratings.The post Equibase Rating System To Weigh A Horse’s Early Accomplishment And Highest Level Attained appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.