The introduction of the Red Centre Yearling Sale Scheme by the Alice Springs Turf Club in 1991 heralded a significant change for the Northern Territory racing industry.

An industry that had developed from racing station horses to cast-offs from interstate, shifted its focus dramatically to concentrate on the speculative racing of younger horses. The result in this dramatic shift has gone beyond the expectations of those who created it, and has changed the face of racing in the Northern Territory.

In the early days, all Sales were conducted at Pioneer Park Racecourse. The Club was almost guaranteed financial losses on each Sale conducted. The Club has managed to arrest this situation by consistently upgrading the stock on offer, and strategically timing our sales.

The development of Territory racing has gone hand in hand with the progress of the Red Centre Yearling Sales Scheme. The success of the Scheme can be judged by the fact that the Club was able to attract Australia's leading bloodstock company William Inglis to be a Sponsor of the Scheme in 1996.

Our major Sale conducted in May is now listed on the annual Sales Schedule for William Inglis & Son, a great achievement. This Sale conducted in the Alice Springs Convention Centre at the on Cup Weekend has contributed greatly to the Scheme's success. To conduct a thoroughbred yearling sale in the newly constructed Convention Centre at the Lasseters Hotel Casino complex in the middle of the Australian desert must be one of the unique racing consequences in the world today.

Success has come on the racetrack as well. The names of the winners of the Northern Territory's major races are littered with progeny from the Red Centre Yearling Sales Scheme. At the completion of the 2005/2006 Season, the top twenty prizemoney earners sold through the Scheme had earned aggregate prizemoney exceeding $2.5 million, an exceptional performance considering it is still only in its infancy. Total prizemoney won by horses through the Scheme, now exceeds $6 million, a result which can only escalate.

Leading prizemoney earner from the Scheme is Doright, who amassed $239,780 in stakemoney. Doright (Kailas-Miss Do Right), was purchased at the 4th Yearling Sale conducted in May 1992 for $1,400.

Doright dominated his three year old Season, winning the NT Guineas in Alice Springs, before completing the Guineas/Derby double in Darwin. Following a couple of lean Seasons in his four and five year old Season, Doright returned to dominance in the 96/97 series, and was crowned Ristorante Puccini Horse of the Year for Alice Springs, and shortly after Carlton NT Horse of the Year.

The racing of juveniles in the Northern Territory is thriving, and should ensure the future success of the Scheme. In 1995/96 the TROBIS Bonus Scheme was introduced in the Territory, and the Scheme injects approximately an additional $180,000 in prizemoney for two and three year old racing. Most two and three year old racehorses in the Territory have entered the Scheme, and every horse sold through the Red Centre Yearling Sale Scheme has the opportunity to enter the Scheme at a reduced cost.

In Alice Springs TROBIS Bonuses are applied to all two and three year old races, and the rewards particularly for the two year olds sold through the Red Centre Yearling Scheme are generous. The prizemoney for the $20,000 William Inglis Red Centre Classic conducted on Alice Springs Cup Day for example, can theoretically result in $100,000 to the winner for any dominant two year old through the Season. This includes the winners cheque plus a $6,000 TROBIS Bonus, a $12,000 Red Centre Yearling Sale Bonus, and a $30,000 Triple Crown Bonus. The rewards highlight the benefits of racing younger horses.