Governing Bodies in Australian Horse Racing

Horse Racing in Australia is governed by the Australian Racing Board. This body supersedes the power of the principal clubs, which were once the sovereign body of racing in every state until government reforms introduced separate governing bodies for the industry.

The board is constituted of the various principal racing bodies in each state. The board is directly responsible for establishing the rules of racing, the establishment and maintenance of the pattern racing committees, responsible for grading races and allocating black type status, as well as establishing a number of advisory groups to attempt to maintain uniformity in procedures between states and establish an accepted national racing calendar.

Victoria

Victoria is considered to be the home of racing in Australia, with international races like the Melbourne Cup. The governing body is Racing Victoria Limited. The principal club is the Victoria Racing Club, which races at Flemington; the two other metropolitan clubs are the Melbourne Racing Club, which races at Caulfield and Sandown, and the Moonee Valley Racing Club, home of the Weight for Age championship of Australasia, the Cox Plate. The state boasts many top-class provincial and country racecourses including Cranbourne, Mornington, Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo, Mildura, Stony Creek, Wangaratta, Warrnambool and Moe.

New South Wales

Racing in New South Wales is governed by Racing NSW. The principal clubs are the Australian Jockey Club, which races at Randwick and Warwick Farm and the Sydney Turf Club, which races at Rosehill Gardens and Canterbury Park. The state's major provincial tracks are Newcastle and Kembla Grange, which alternate their meetings every second Saturday. Other notable tracks include Hawkesbury, Gosford and Grafton which hosts the largest race carnival in Australia outside of a capital city.

South Australia

Racing in South Australia is governed by Thoroughbred Racing S.A. Limited. The principal club is the South Australian Jockey Club, which races at Morphettville, Cheltenham and Victoria Park. Additionally, the Oakbank Racing Club holds an annual carnival with its two meetings on Easter Saturday and Easter Monday.

Queensland

Racing in Queensland is governed by Racing Queensland Limited (RQL).

Western Australia

Racing in Western Australia is governed by Racing and Wagering Western Australia, which is a government-owned body. The main racing club, Western Australian Turf Club now known as Perth Racing, holds racing at Belmont Park and Ascot Racecourse. Other popular courses with feature races in Western Australia are Bunbury, Pinjarra, York, Geraldton, Albany, Kalgoorlie and Northam.

The most popular race is the Perth Cup, held each New Year's Day at Ascot. There are three Group One (G1) races contended, being the Railway Stakes, the Kingston Town Classic, and the WATC Derby.

Tasmania

Racing in Tasmania is governed by Tasracing. There are Tasmanian meetings every Sunday usually alternating between Elwick Racecourse near Hobart, Tasman Park near Launceston and Spreyton, Devonport.

Northern Territory

Racing in the Northern Territory is now governed by Thorougbred Racing NT (formerly the Darwin Turf Club, which races at Fannie Bay.)

Australian Capital Territory

Racing in the Australian Capital Territory is governed by the Canberra Racing Club.

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