An international horse racing committee has stepped in to oversee the Australian pattern.
The Asian Pattern Committee (APC) has moved to take ownership of the decision-making over the status of black type races in Australia.
Coming under the umbrella of the Asian Racing Federation (ARF), the APC has declared it has assumed responsibility from Racing Australia for any decisions on the upgrading or downgrading of all Group and Listed races in Australian due to dissatisfaction with the current system.
The country’s national racing body, Racing Australia has been dogged by infighting amongst the principal racing authorities about the Pattern and its organisation for several seasons.
“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 ARF said in a statement.
“This course of action has been adopted in circumstances where there has not been a properly functioning black type quality control system in Australian 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.”
The ARF stated this was expected to be a temporary measure taken only until Australia could put in place a black type quality control system that was “in accordance with the APC Ground Rules”.
It went on to say that if no resolution was forthcoming “the ARF will consider other actions that it may need to take”.
The ARF is a regional body made up of 28 national racing authorities and racing related organisations from Asia, Oceania, Africa and the Middle East and has formal links to the International Federation of Horse Racing Authorities.
