News
How to Check if Racing Colours Are Already Registered in Australia
Before applying for or ordering new racing colours, check whether your preferred combination is already registered—or too similar to an existing design. In Australia, Thoroughbred racing colours are registered through the relevant state or territory Principal Racing Authority, while harness racing has its own controlling bodies and rules.
Quick answer: how do you check registered racing colours in Australia?
Identify your racing code and jurisdiction, then use the relevant authority’s registration service or contact its registrations team. Racing Australia provides the official starting point for Thoroughbred colour registration in every Australian state and territory. If no public colour-search tool is available, send the authority a complete description of your proposed jacket, sleeves and cap and ask what checking process it offers.
Reviewed July 2026: Authority links and general guidance were checked against current official sources. Forms, fees and procedures can change, so always confirm the latest requirements directly with the applicable racing authority.
Why Check Racing Colours Before Finalising a Design?
Racing colours need to be sufficiently distinguishable so officials, race callers and spectators can identify competitors. A design may be rejected or require changes if its overall appearance is considered too close to colours already recorded by the relevant authority.
Checking early can help you:
Avoid redesign work
Find potential conflicts before investing time in final artwork or production.
Reduce delays
Submit a clearer application with alternative choices ready if required.
Order with confidence
Wait for the required approval before manufacturing colours for official use.
Registration is separate from manufacturing. Mittys can help turn an approved concept into racing apparel, but the governing body—not the manufacturer—decides whether colours can be registered and used in official racing.
Is There a National List of Registered Racing Colours?
Racing Australia directs Thoroughbred applicants to the Principal Racing Authority responsible for their state or territory rather than providing one public national colour-search page. The search or enquiry process therefore depends on the jurisdiction in which you intend to register.
Some authorities provide forms, online services or searchable racing information, while others may require you to contact their registration team. A PDF or third-party list found online should not be treated as final confirmation: it may be incomplete, historical or missing recent registrations and renewals.
Looking for the owner of colours you have already seen? That is a different task from checking a new design. Use Mittys’ guide to looking up racing colours and their owners.
How to Check If Racing Colours Are Registered: Step by Step
1. Confirm the racing code
Determine whether the colours are for Thoroughbred, harness or another form of racing. The codes use different authorities and registration systems, so a check made with one body does not automatically answer the question for another.
2. Identify the correct jurisdiction
For Thoroughbred colours, start with the Principal Racing Authority for the state or territory in which you intend to register. Racing Australia’s official registration page links to the responsible authority for NSW, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia, Tasmania, the ACT and the Northern Territory.
3. Prepare a complete description
Describe the entire set—not only the jacket’s base colour. Include the body pattern, sleeve colour and pattern, cap design, symbols, logos and the location of each element.
Example design description
Navy jacket with a white diagonal sash; turquoise sleeves with white armbands; navy cap with turquoise quarters.
4. Use the authority’s available checking process
Follow the authority’s online service, published instructions or registration form. If you cannot find a public visual search, contact the registrations team and ask how to check whether the proposed combination is available or likely to conflict with existing colours.
5. Prepare alternative designs
Keep two or three acceptable alternatives ready. A change to the cap, sleeves, motif or dominant colour may make a design more distinctive, but only the authority can confirm whether a variation is acceptable.
6. Submit the application and wait for confirmation
An availability enquiry is not necessarily formal approval. Complete the required application, pay any applicable fee and retain the authority’s written confirmation. Before ordering colours for official racing, make sure the approved description matches the design you intend to manufacture.
Thoroughbred Racing Colour Authorities by State and Territory
Racing Australia confirms that Thoroughbred colour registration is managed by each state’s Principal Racing Authority. Its Registration of Colours directory is the best central starting point because it links applicants to the current authority for each jurisdiction.
| Jurisdiction | Registration authority | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| New South Wales | Racing NSW | Use its registration forms or contact Registration & Ownership. |
| Victoria | Racing Victoria | Follow the current owner and registration process. |
| Queensland | Queensland Racing Integrity Commission | Check current registration forms and requirements. |
| Western Australia | Racing WA | Use the current ownership and registration service. |
| South Australia | Racing SA | Confirm the latest colour-registration process. |
| Tasmania | Tasracing | Use the current Thoroughbred registration forms. |
| Australian Capital Territory | Racing NSW | Follow the authority link provided by Racing Australia. |
| Northern Territory | Thoroughbred Racing NT | Confirm current forms and registration contacts. |
Authority responsibilities, websites and forms may change. If a direct link no longer reaches the expected service, return to Racing Australia’s official Registration of Colours directory.
How to Check Harness Racing Colours
Harness racing is a separate code. Under the Australian Harness Racing Rules, connections may apply to their controlling body to register colours, and that body determines the application method, supporting information, fees and conditions.
Start with Harness Racing Australia’s state-body directory, then follow the registration process for the state in which the colours will be used. Do not assume that a Thoroughbred availability check also clears the same design for harness racing.
For a broader explanation of requirements and terminology, read Mittys’ harness racing colours registration guide.
What About Greyhound Racing Colours?
Greyhound racing works differently from owner-registered jockey or harness colours. Race rugs generally use prescribed colours and numbers linked to the greyhound’s box draw. If you need trial-day apparel, handler garments, presentation items or other custom greyhound products, check the applicable racing authority’s rules for that use rather than following the jockey-silk registration process.
Mittys’ greyhound racing range includes products for racing, trial, presentation and community uses.
What Will the Racing Authority Compare?
The exact assessment process varies, but the authority may consider the complete visual identity of the colours, including:
- Jacket body: dominant colour, secondary colours and body pattern.
- Sleeves: sleeve colour, armbands, stripes, stars or other motifs.
- Cap: solid, quartered, striped or patterned treatment.
- Symbols and logos: shape, size, placement and any required authorisation.
- Overall appearance: whether the complete combination is sufficiently distinguishable from existing registrations.
A small shade adjustment may not create enough visual difference if the overall jacket, sleeves and cap still resemble an existing set. Describe each element precisely and let the authority make the final determination.
What Happens If Your Colours Are Too Similar?
The authority may ask you to amend the proposal, select another combination or submit an alternative design. Depending on the applicable rules and process, changing one prominent feature may be enough—or a more substantial redesign may be required.
| Possible conflict | Alternative to consider |
|---|---|
| Similar body and sleeve colours | Introduce a clearly contrasting sleeve or armband treatment. |
| Common body pattern | Consider a different approved motif or pattern arrangement. |
| Similar cap design | Change the cap colour or use a different panel pattern. |
| Low overall contrast | Increase contrast between the dominant and secondary colours. |
These are design ideas only, not guarantees of approval. For more practical guidance, see the common mistakes to avoid when designing jockey colours.
What to Do After Your Racing Colours Are Approved
- Save the written approval and the authority’s exact colour description.
- Check the approved details against your artwork, including the body, sleeves and cap.
- Confirm the garment type and size required for your racing code.
- Provide clear artwork and any required logo permissions.
- Allow for production and delivery before the intended race date.
Once the design is approved, you can use Mittys’ online jockey-colour designer or compare Silk jockey colours and Skintex jockey colours.
Racing Colours Availability Checklist
Design Approved? Create Your Racing Colours with Mittys
Mittys manufactures custom racing colours in Melbourne for owners, trainers, jockeys and harness drivers across Australia and New Zealand. Once your design is approved, the team can help translate the registered description into professional race-day apparel.
Explore Mittys’ design-your-own products, start creating jockey colours online, or contact the team if you need help choosing the appropriate product.
Registered Racing Colours: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I find out if racing colours are already registered?
Identify your racing code and jurisdiction, then follow the relevant authority’s colour-registration process. For Australian Thoroughbred racing, Racing Australia’s Registration of Colours page links to each state and territory authority. If no public search is provided, contact the registrations team with a complete description of your proposed design.
Is there a searchable national database of Australian racing colours?
Racing Australia directs Thoroughbred applicants to the relevant state or territory Principal Racing Authority. Search facilities and public information vary by jurisdiction, so the responsible authority should provide the final availability and registration advice.
Can two owners have similar racing colours?
The authority decides whether a proposed combination is sufficiently distinguishable under its rules. Minor shade differences may not be enough if the body pattern, sleeves, cap and overall appearance remain too similar.
Are Thoroughbred and harness racing colour registrations the same?
No. They are different racing codes with different controlling bodies and registration processes. Check the design with the authority responsible for the code in which the colours will be used.
Does checking availability mean my colours are approved?
Not necessarily. An initial search or enquiry may only identify an obvious conflict. Formal approval depends on completing the applicable registration process and meeting the authority’s requirements.
Can I design racing colours before registering them?
Yes. You can develop concepts and alternatives before applying. However, avoid ordering colours for official racing until the relevant authority has confirmed the design in accordance with its process.
How can I find who owns an existing set of racing colours?
Race fields, results and official racing databases may connect a colour description with a horse or ownership group. For a step-by-step process, use Mittys’ separate guide to looking up racing colours and their owners.
Can Mittys register racing colours for me?
Registration and approval are handled by the applicable racing authority. Mittys manufactures custom racing colours and can help translate an approved design into race-day apparel, but it does not replace the authority’s registration process.
Share
