Last Saturday in Australia there were an astonishing 15 stakes races run in a time period most trainers see as being out of season, barring the Perth Summer Carnival, when we consider that our elite horses are programmed towards spring and autumn, so what is going on?
This constant push to extend the traditional Sydney and Melbourne carnivals further into the spring and let’s face it, today is the first day of summer, has led to a proliferation of meaningless Black Type.
Click here for all stakes-winners from last weekend.
Take a look at the quality of the horses that ran in some of these races and you will be left questioning as to how these horses gain Black Type and yet others that have won certain races this spring are left without, all due to bureaucratic rubbish resulting from men unable to get along for the good of racing.
We have the best racing in the world, but the Black Type pyramid does need an overhaul to modernise it and bring it in tune with what racing is and not what racing was.
Here is what Racing NSW sent to participants last week.
Racing NSW wishes to correct the record in respect of the widespread misinformation surrounding the status of Black Type Guidelines and the Pattern in Australia. Certain so called independent industry media outlets are presenting advertiser-driven narratives rather than facts, resulting in deliberate misrepresentations that advance the agendas of vested interest groups.
Racing NSW strongly supports the implementation of the Asian Pattern Committee endorsed Black Type Guidelines and the creation of an Independent Black Type Advisory Group (BTAG) to ensure expert, impartial oversight of all key aspects of the Pattern and to safeguard the integrity, fairness and credibility of Australia’s black type system.
What the Black Type Guidelines and the Pattern Are
The Black Type system exists to ensure that races featuring consistently high-quality performances are properly recognised.
- Group 1 races are the highest level. They are internationally significant, attract the best fields, and have major influence on the breeding value of horses. Just as importantly these races generate maximum wagering which is the industry’s main source of income.
- Group 2, Group 3, and Listed races also hold strong importance but sit below Group 1 in the hierarchy.
For any Australian race to be awarded Group 1 status, it must be approved by the Asian Pattern Committee. Their endorsement ensures that Australia’s standards remain consistent with international racing jurisdictions.
Importantly, Group 2 and lower races do not require Asian Pattern Committee approval. These have traditionally been undertaken by Racing Australia.
Just as important is that races which have not performed to the relevant standard should be downgraded.
Unfortunately, some jurisdictions don’t wish to have their races downgraded and are resisting change to maintain a monopolistic approach.
What Has Happened Over the Past Year
During the last 12 months:
- Racing Australia worked closely with both the Asian Pattern Committee and the Asian Racing Federation.
- Together, they revised the Australian Black Type Guidelines so that they closely match the Asian Pattern Committee’s rules, while still complying with Australian competition law.
- As a result, the Asian Pattern Committee and the Asian Racing Federation endorsed these revised Guidelines.
These updated and internationally endorsed Guidelines were then sent to Racing Australia for final approval.
Racing NSW supported approving them. In fact under these guidelines Racing NSW may have two Group 1s downgraded.
However, Racing Australia did not approve the internationally agreed Guidelines, as some jurisdictions don’t want any of their races downgraded and are being influenced by their clubs to maintain the status quo.
Racing NSW’s Position
Because Racing NSW supported the internationally agreed Guidelines, the current situation is not the result of any action taken by Racing NSW. Instead, it stems from Racing Australia’s decision not to approve the internationally endorsed revisions.
Changes to NSW Races in 2024
Racing NSW upgraded several NSW races to Group 2, Group 3, and Listed status in 2024. These upgrades:
- Were made under the Black Type Guidelines that Racing Australia formally adopted unanimously in September 2024. Those decisions have always been done by Racing Australia and have never been challenged in the past.
- Those Guidelines have not been repealed and are still in place.
As stated earlier, Asian Pattern Committee approval is only required for Group 1 races, so these upgrades were made fully within the rules.
Support for an Independent Black Type Advisory Group
Racing NSW has also supported creating an independent Black Type Advisory Group (BTAG).
This group would provide expert advice to Racing Australia on matters relating to the Pattern, such as:
- What the Australian Pattern should look like,
- Which races have historical, traditional, or cultural importance,
- When exceptions should be considered before any race is downgraded,
- The relative quality and status of races,
- How the Black Type Guidelines should operate,
- And recommendations on elite-level race structures.
The goal of BTAG would be to ensure Australia’s Pattern remains strong, fair, transparent, and internationally credible.
As you can conclude from the above Racing NSW will continue to act in the best interests of the Racing Industry in NSW as a whole and will never capitulate to self interest groups who only consider themselves and not the health and viability of the Industry.
Racing NSW remains firmly of the view that Racing Australia should endorse the revised guidelines that it worked closely on with both the Asian Pattern Committee and the Asian Racing Federation, which match the Asian Pattern Committee’s rules and comply with Australian competition law.
