Australia’s black-type pattern has come under international scrutiny. (Photo by Jason Mcawley/Getty Images)
Racing Australia potentially faces its last chance to remedy its Pattern protocols and guidelines at a board meeting on Friday otherwise the country’s thoroughbred industry risks having the pivotal black-type process taken out of its own hands.
The Asian Racing Federation had given Racing Australia a mid-November deadline to respond to a list of concerns it holds about a series of black-type races and why a process used to demote and upgrade Listed and Group races was not in place.
The issue was discussed at a specially convened Asian Racing Federation meeting late last Friday, with any specific ramifications for Racing Australia’s non-compliance deferred until at least its next meeting a fortnight later.
What occurs at Friday’s Racing Australia meeting – and any correspondence, if any, that is provided as a result – is sure to be discussed by the ARF and Asian Pattern Committee delegates in Hong Kong on December 12.
The Asian Racing Federation has threatened Australia with the prospect of its racing industry being demoted to a Part II country of the International Cataloguing Standards Blue Book, a move which would place the industry on a par with racing jurisdictions such as Malaysia, India, Zimbabwe and Scandinavia.
Such is the seriousness of the potential demotion, it prompted Thoroughbred Breeders Australia and Aushorse to issue a statement on Monday pleading with Racing Australia to find a solution.
“There’s been a lot of positioning in recent weeks, but we shouldn’t lose sight of the fact that Pattern decisions flow straight through to breeders and their livelihoods,” TBA president Basil Nolan said.
In the same statement, Widden Stud principal and Aushorse chair Antony Thompson warned the uncertainty could disincentive investment into the country’s thoroughbred industry.
“Australia’s reputation in the global bloodstock market relies on having a Pattern that both international and domestic buyers can trust,” Thompson said.
A proposal for Black Type Guidelines, which relied heavily on ratings, to be instituted was agreed upon in September 2024 by Racing Australia’s principal racing authority delegates but amid a stakeholder backlash, Racing Victoria backed away from the plan.
Racing Victoria and Racing NSW, which in recent times have been unable to agree on a solution to carry the Pattern forward, hold the power of veto over Racing Australia and, as a result, no agreement has been reached in the 14 months since that meeting.
RA’s September board meeting this year did not go ahead because it was unable to achieve quorum.
It is unclear whether there will be a quorum at Friday’s meeting, nor whether a uniform agreement will be reached to reform the Pattern process, which can then be taken to international authorities to be ratified.
Racing NSW chair Saranne Cooke last week issued a participants’ bulletin to clear up what she said was “misinformation” regarding the Pattern.
“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,” Dr Cooke wrote.
