A defining moment in Australian racing is shaping after Racing NSW’s announcement of date changes to black-type races this spring.
Earlier this month RNSW announced a date shift for the Hill Stakes (1800m) and the Craven Plate (2000m) which will go head-to-head with the Underwood Stakes and Caulfield Stakes in Melbourne.
Racing Victoria believes those date changes need the approval of the Pattern Committee.
Greg Carpenter, RV’s general manager of racing and a non-voting member of the Pattern Committee, says there’s a finite number of world class weight-for-age horses in Australia and when two races clash at the same distance it will eventually dilute the overall standard of the races.
He said Australian racing runs the risk of having its black type races downgraded with the ultimate decision that of the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities.
“Being a part one country, that country or industry must have a committee to overview and maintain Group and Graded races in their country,” Carpenter told RSN927.
“If we don’t, then Australia could possibly be in jeopardy of being a part two country and be on the same status as countries like Macau, India, Malaysia, Venezuala and Panama.
“Peter V’Landys (RNSW boss) is right, the Pattern Committee don’t have the power to direct PRA’s (Principle Racing Authorities) when a race is run.
“If those races, where changes have occurred proceed, for instance, they could be held without black-type status.
“Whether the Pattern Committee would go down that path, I don’t know, but the issue is there with clear, laid-out guidelines for the process of approval.”
