Statement from the Chairman, Australian Pacing Gold
After 35 years of service to the Australian harness racing industry, Australian Pacing Gold has made the difficult but considered decision to transition away from conducting on-site yearling sales from the 2027 sales season.
This decision marks a significant change in APG’s operations, but not the end of our role in supporting the standardbred industry in Australia. The company will continue to meet its obligations through the APG Race Series for eligible sustained horses, while placing a renewed focus on the growth and development of our online sales with a new platform being introduced in this year’s Winter Mix Sale.
APG was established to meet the needs of breeders, vendors and purchasers by providing a competitive marketplace for the sale of standardbred yearlings. Over three and a half decades, the company has played an important role in the Australian harness racing industry and has been proud to support generations of breeders, owners, trainers and participants.
The Board believes the time is now right for APG to reshape its sales operations and focus on areas that can provide strong, practical and sustainable benefits for the industry into the future.
Online sales present significant opportunities for the Australian standardbred industry. They provide a lower barrier to entry for both vendors and buyers, reduce many of the costs associated with traditional sale formats and offer the potential to reach a far broader audience across Australia and internationally. Lower fees and commissions can also help make the sales process more accessible and commercially viable for participants at all levels of the industry.
While live yearling sales have been an important part of APG’s history, the cost of maintaining on-site sales operations has continued to increase. This year alone, APG spent approximately $1.3 million administering its yearling sales, race series and the day-to-day running of the company. At a time when many areas of the industry are facing financial pressures, the Board believes APG’s resources can be better directed towards initiatives that deliver greater value and more tangible benefits for participants.
We will continue with our currently advertised Winter Mix Sale while looking for opportunities to expand our digital sales offerings in 2027. The successful transition by others in the international industry, including New Zealand Bloodstock to online weanling sales this year, demonstrates the growing acceptance of online sales formats and the opportunities they can create for breeders, vendors and buyers.
The Board would like to sincerely thank the many breeders, vendors, purchasers, sponsors and participants who have supported APG throughout its 35-year history. Your loyalty and commitment have played an integral role in the organisation’s success and contribution to a vibrant harness racing industry.
We acknowledge the important role that the on-site sales sector will continue to play within the industry. Discussions with Mark Barton from Nutrien give us confidence that the on-site marketplace will be well catered for in all jurisdictions.
As APG enters this next phase, we remain committed to supporting industry participants, honouring our race series obligations and building online sales opportunities that are accessible, cost-effective and capable of reaching a wider market.
We wish all participants every success in the years ahead and hope you will continue to support APG in this next chapter.
From APG Media
