Australia's administrative racing data is to come under the control of the Australian Racing Board, the nation's governing body for horse racing, upon completion of a deal to buy the nation's Stud Book.
The board is in the process of finalizing an Aus$18 million purchase of the Australian Stud Book, started in 1878 and owned by the Australian Turf Club and Victoria Racing Club since 1910, the Sydney Morning Herald reports. The board also will take over Racing Information Services Australia (RISA), which records the results of all registered race meets, from the Principal Racing Authorities in the next six weeks.
"The ARB will take control and have all racing data records centralized, which can only be good for the sport and its integrity," ATC chairman Michael Crismale told the newspaper. "It is a good result for the club and the industry.
"It has been more than 12 months to get to this point and we should finalize things this week."
All racing registrations will come from one database for the first time.
ARB is operated as a nonprofit organization and will return any profits from the Stud Book and RISA to the industry.
