Bowditch, Hutch among seven on new Racing Australia black-type advisory group

Prominent racing and breeding industry figures will sit on a newly formed advisory committee aimed at helping reshape Australia’s broken black-type calendar that is now in the hands of an international body.

Racing Australia announced on Wednesday that a seven-person Black Type Advisory Group (BTAG) would be established as a step towards the nation’s thoroughbred industry reclaiming autonomy over its Pattern.

In confirming the formation of BTAG, Racing Australia said the body’s inaugural members would include Magic Millions managing director Barry Bowditch, Inglis Bloodstock chief executive Sebastian Hutch, Widden Stud principal and Aushorse chair Antony Thompson and Godolphin Australia managing director Andy Makiv.

Experienced industry figures Adrian Hancock, who is based in South Australia, Arrowfield Stud bloodstock manager Jon Freyer and retired studmaster and breeder Duncan Grimley will also join BTAG.

Anyone with a role at Racing Australia, the state principal racing authorities (PRAs), or racing clubs was ineligible for appointment to the group.

According to RA, BTAG will provide “an independent view on potential upgrades, downgrades and additions of races on the black type list to both the relevant PRAs and the Asian Pattern Committee”.

Racing Australia will act as the conduit between BTAG and the Asian Racing Federation, which last December took the unprecedented decision of taking over the administration of Australia’s Pattern calendar.

“We are delighted to have this highly credentialed group agree to provide their expertise at this critical time,” Racing Australia chair Rob Rorrison said. 

“Their independent view will undoubtedly be of great value to both the PRAs and the Asian Pattern Committee as they consider the composition of the Australian black type list.”

The ARF deemed it needed to take over the decision-making due to its dysfunctional state and inaction dating back almost a decade after several warnings were issued to Racing Australia including threatening to downgrade the nation’s racing industry to a Part II country.

ARF backed away from that threat and instead determined that it would handle the upgrading and downgrading of the nation’s black-type races in the short term.

Rorrison, who ended a four-year leadership void at Racing Australia by taking on the chairmanship last year, told The Straight in December that the number of stakes races run in Australia each season could go up by as much as 6 per cent.

A date for BTAG’s first meeting has not yet been scheduled but more details are expected in the coming days.

“Black type is the recognised measure of merit in thoroughbred racing and breeding, and it underpins the value of Australian-bred horses in both domestic and international markets. Maintaining the credibility and integrity of Australia’s Pattern is therefore critically important to the long-term strength of the industry,” Thoroughbred Breeders Australia & Aushorse CEO Andrew Hore-Lacy said.

“It is encouraging to see experienced breeders represented on the Black Type Advisory Group, including Aushorse Chair Antony Thompson and TBA Board Member Andy Makiv. Their involvement will help ensure the perspective of breeders is part of the discussion as these matters are considered with a national focus and with Australia’s international standing in mind.”

Racing Australia, whose membership is made up of the PRAs, was close to implementing protocols in September 2024 that would have seen recommendations made for upgrades and downgrades to stakes races but an effective stakeholder revolt saw some PRAs back away from the plan.

More than a year later, after providing Racing Australia with the opportunity to get its house in order, the ARF took decisive action to strip the national body of control of the Pattern.

Racing NSW and Racing Victoria hold the power of veto over Racing Australia.