Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
The Asian Racing Federation announced on Wednesday that the Asian Pattern Committee will assume full control over all decisions regarding black-type status in Australia. As a result, Racing Australia will no longer have the authority to determine which races are upgraded or downgraded.
“The Asian Racing Federation (ARF) advises that, given the exceptional circumstances that exist, the Asian Pattern Committee (APC) will, for the time being, make decisions regarding the status of all black type races in Australia,” said a press release.
The Asian Pattern Committee consists of Chair Takahiro Uno (Japan), Secretary Andrew Mealor (Hong Kong), and members Rob Rorrison (Australia), Greg Carpenter (Hong Kong), Bruce Sherwin (NZ), Vee Moodley (South Africa), and Stephen Hindle (UAE).
Greg Carpenter, in particular, will provide an important perspective to the committee. With an extensive career in the Australian racing industry, including his tenure as Racing Victoria’s Chief Handicapper, Carpenter brings a wealth of expertise and a deep understanding of the complexities of the Australian racing landscape.
“The APC will commence its decision-making for black type races in Australia so that any status changes are determined prior to the start of the 2026/27 Australian racing season.”
The APC will have its work cut out to meet the deadline, having previously acknowledged that Australia’s lack of race downgrades - nearly 13 years since the last - is a significant issue and a necessary component of a properly functioning pattern system.
Greg Carpenter | Image courtesy of Victoria Racing Club
Australia has 608 black-type races, up from 549 in 2000. Recently, 40 races were rejected for upgrade by the APC which would have pushed the number past 650. In the continuing absence of downgrades, this number dilutes the black-type product.
For buyers and vendors at the upcoming yearling sales, the APC's commitment for the upcoming season provides some reassurance that any horses sold or purchased will be competing in Part I status races in the near future.
Additionally, it ensures there will be no disputes over the status of black-type races, with all upgrades and downgrades coming from a unified authority. The hope is that this temporary measure will allow Australian PRAs to come together and re-establish a functioning Pattern Committee that represents the interests of all states.
However, Hamish Esplin, Chair of Thoroughbred Breeders NSW is less than impressed at how Australia has ended up in this position.
“Any decision whereby Australia loses its autonomy in so far as being able to decide what races are black type is not a good thing. I can understand where the Asian Pattern Committee is coming from, and they are trying to bring it to a head clearly,” said Esplin.
“Any decision whereby Australia loses its autonomy in so far as being able to decide what races are black type is not a good thing ... The word ‘disgrace’ does not do enough justice (to the situation).” - Hamish Esplin
“Yet, the bureaucrats of our industry have put us in this position where we no longer have a say in what constitutes the elite racing in this country. The word ‘disgrace’ does not do enough justice (to the situation), it is clear to me that this has been done by bureaucrats.”
Hamish Esplin | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Two sides of a heated discussion
On the other side of the debate, Racing NSW CEO Peter V’Landys told betsy.com he supports the decision.
“Racing NSW was in favour of new guidelines that mostly mirrored in the main the Asian Pattern guidelines in any case,” he told the site. “Unfortunately other jurisdictions weren’t. This intervention may be the nucleus for the PRAs to finalise a set of guidelines.”
That optimism may be short-lived, given the push to have 17 New South Wales races upgraded, proposals already rejected once by the APC. Considering that Australia hasn’t had a race downgrade since 2013, it is likely the APC will be inclined to thoroughly review all existing races for downgrades before approving any further upgrades.
It's notable that V’landys claims the rejected guidelines "mostly mirrored" the Asian Pattern guidelines despite the apparent omission of a crucial clause - evaluating the merit of race grades within the broader complexities of the racing landscape and aligning with the established pattern of black type.
The proposed guidelines supported by Racing NSW centered on a ratings-based system. However, the APC guidelines call for a far more thorough assessment, including the crucial ‘good judgement’ criteria. This deeper evaluation was a key reason why the other states rejected the Racing Australia proposal.
Section v of part three of the APC guidelines state:
“The above guidelines notwithstanding, each Committee member is expected to exercise good judgment to every grading decision taking into account all factors that include more than race ratings or statistical analysis, such as the effect on the shape of the Pattern in the country concerned and/or the effect on the shape of the entire Asian Racing Federation Pattern, as well as circumstances that may impact the race rating of a specific race.”
“Consideration should be given to the shape and structure of the pattern, the number of pattern races and horse population in each jurisdiction.” - Asian Pattern Committee Ground Rules
Additionally, when determining race upgrades and downgrades, the APC emphasises the importance of considering the bigger picture: “consideration should be given to the shape and structure of the pattern, the number of pattern races and horse population in each jurisdiction”.
A ratings-based system would disproportionately disadvantage smaller states, such as South Australia. This is particularly noteworthy given that South Australia’s representative, Rob Rorrison, serves as both the Racing Australia Chair and a member of the ARF. Under a rating-only system, South Australia would lose multiple Group 1 races and black-type races, destroying its stakes race ecosystem.
The APC has made it very clear that ratings alone are not sufficient.
“What none of us understand is how we have got to a position where on the one side you have Racing NSW in their own manner saying that ‘this is what everyone wants.’ It could not be further from the truth,” Esplin said.
“The world that they want is a world solely based off ratings, and any comment you see made from Racing NSW that detracts from that is just wrong.” - Hamish Esplin
“The world that they want is a world solely based off ratings, and any comment you see made from Racing NSW that detracts from that is just wrong. They want a world that is objective, and no one else wants a subjective analysis. Those that understand the game and have been in the game for a long time and have money and investment in this game understand that that is wrong.”
Esplin went on to highlight the nature of Racing NSW’s push. “There is no doubt that this is being driven by ideology, ideology formulated within Racing NSW via Racing Australia, and an ideology for which the breeders do not agree.”
Why have the ARF made this decision?
The 2025 Blue Book has already been published, so no changes will take effect this season. However, there’s some controversy surrounding the 17 black-type races upgraded by Racing NSW and Racing Australia, which are not officially recognised by the ARF.
For example, The Hunter, won by Coal Crusher (Turffontein), is listed as a Group 2 race on Racing Australia’s website, but internationally it’s still considered a city-class race.
Racing NSW recently justified this in a Participant’s Bulletin on November 28, stating that “importantly, Group 2 and lower races do not require Asian Pattern Committee approval. These have traditionally been undertaken by Racing Australia.”
However, under APC guidelines, any race meeting the criteria for admission to the Pattern must initially be introduced as a Group 3 race, except in exceptional circumstances. Additionally, new Group 1 or 2 races can only be created without prior running under highly specific conditions and must receive majority approval from the Committee.
APC have made it clear that all upgrades and downgrades will be in their control.
“The APC will now be responsible for making status change decisions (including upgrades and downgrades) for all Group 1, Group 2, Group 3 and Listed races in Australia.”
“This course of action has been adopted in circumstances where there has not been a properly functioning black type quality control system in Australia since as far back as 2017/18.” - Asian Racing Federation
“This course of action has been adopted in circumstances where there has not been a properly functioning black type quality control system in Australia since as far back as 2017/18. While the ARF has been extremely patient and provided significant assistance to try to resolve this matter, it determined that action now had to be taken,” said the ARF press release.
It’s not the long term stability that we need
Australia should rightly stand tall as one of the 18 Part I nations in global racing. As one of the largest racing nations in the world, we should not only be participants but leaders in the industry.
However, right now, Australia is on formal notice and the seriousness of the intervention was underscored by Basil Nolan, President of Thoroughbred Breeders Australia.
“We’ve been given a last chance. So many people thought the ARF were bluffing, and they were not. We haven’t been compliant. The rules are there, and we have to abide by them,” Nolan warned.
“We’ve been given a last chance.” - Basil Nolan
Nolan described the situation as a wake-up call for the Australian industry. “This is a very serious and sobering moment for Australian breeders. The ARF stepping in didn’t happen overnight. Australia hasn’t had an internationally compliant black type decision-making process for eight years now. We need certainty; we need to know that black type decisions are being made independently, transparently, and to a global standard,” he said.
Basil Nolan | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Olly Tait, director at Thoroughbred Breeders’ NSW, also expressed disappointment. “Firstly, it’s a great shame that we as Australia can’t come together and be in a situation where we are in control of this. To lose control to the level above, the ARF, is a great shame, and no one would say that’s ideal. There seems to have been an undertaking from RA and the ARF to make it work, and not be in this situation (going forward) and we look forward to that happening,” he said.
“It’s a global game, we are a global product, and we want to aspire to excellence, but on this, we want to be classified the same way as everyone else.” - Olly Tait
Tait also emphasised the importance of aligning Australia’s guidelines with global standards to maintain credibility on the world stage: “The PRAs need to finalise a set of guidelines that are in step with the rest of the world and what the Pattern requires. It’s a global game, we are a global product, and we want to aspire to excellence, but on this, we want to be classified the same way as everyone else.”
Olly Tait | Image courtesy of Twin Hill Stud
Where to from here?
This is only a temporary solution.
As the ARF stated, “The action to be undertaken by the APC, under the ARF’s authority, is intended only as a temporary measure. The ARF’s strong preference is that, as a Part I country, Australia establishes a functioning black type quality control system operating in accordance with the APC Ground Rules in the near future, and for the above arrangements to end. However, absent such resolution, the ARF will consider other actions that it may need to take.”
This stark warning leaves no room for complacency. While the current arrangement allows Australian racing to maintain its standing among the world’s elite for now, the threat of being downgraded to Part II status remains very real if a compliant system is not implemented.
In response, Racing Australia Chair Rob Rorrison published a statement acknowledging the ARF’s decision and the need for reform. He accepted the authority of the ARF’s Pattern Committee regarding future upgrades or downgrades of races under the Asian Pattern Committee Ground Rules (APCGR).
Rob Rorrison | Image courtesy of Racing Australia
“Racing Australia fully understands the position taken by the Asian Racing Federation, a position that was fully supported by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA), regarding the lack of Australian Black Type quality control which has arisen through there being no approved Australian Black Type Guidelines which comply with the APCGR nor functioning management protocols,” the statement read.
“Racing Australia views this significant decision by the ARF very seriously and commits to collaborate with the APC during this time.” - Rob Rorrison
“Racing Australia views this significant decision by the ARF very seriously and commits to collaborate with the APC during this time. Racing Australia retains the desire to appoint an Australian Black Type Advisory Group, whose members will be drawn from appropriate stakeholder groups, to work with Racing Australia as it continues to progress this matter.”
However, not everyone in the industry is convinced this response goes far enough. Hamish Esplin, a vocal critic of the current state of racing administration, delivered his assessment of the situation.
“This is the consequence of when administrators play administration and bureaucrats play bureaucrats. Leaders listen, leaders understand, and leaders move a sport forward,” Esplin said.
“Now we have got to a position where we have got no cohesive strategy, there is no cohesive leadership, and we are left with the embarrassing nature of having our sport determined by offshore.” - Hamish Esplin
He continued: “This decision today is a step backward, and it's all because of a body which has lost its way. Now we have got to a position where we have got no cohesive strategy, there is no cohesive leadership, and we are left with the embarrassing nature of having our sport determined by offshore.
“I can't fathom a worse time in the thoroughbred industry than where we are now.”
