American Show Racer Association

The American Show Racer Color Guideline

Originally published January 21, 1988
Committee Members: Brad Child/ Chairman
Bob Trane, Norm McClister, Amos Hodson
Castle Child (Printing)

Updated with new colors July, 1996
Committee Members: Harry Hudgins, Chairman
Brad Child

Updated with new color March, 2002
Committee Members: Joe Bronner, Cass Child, Peter Huntsman, Kent Wright

Updated with new colors July, 2007 Committee Members: Bill Robinson, Chairman Richard Brooks and Jeff Wozniak

The American Show Racer is a "type pigeon" with color classes to aid in separating the breed into judgeable categories. Following is a clarification of the different colors and patterns, showing what is "desired", considered "undesirable" and "unacceptable" in the show room. Good color is a desirable characteristic and one of the fine finishing touches which contributes to the total Show Racer. However, it should be understood that at no time should a bird of perfect or desired color win over a bird of superior type simply because it excels in color alone.

All colors in solid color classes should be true without whiteness and with solid backs, flanks, thighs, rumps and bellies. Refer to color/ marking section of the Written Standard for details.

ASRA COLOR CLASSES

Blue Bar, Blue Check, Dark Check, Black Check (medium to Black Velvet), Red Bar, Red Check (light to Red Velvet), Grizzle, Dominant Opal, Dilute, Pied, Spread Black/Andalusian, Rare, Recessive Opal, and Mismark.

Blue Bar

Desirable: The Blue Bar should be within the light to medium range of pearl gray, sometimes referred to as powder blue. This shade should remain uniform throughout the wing shields, back, chest, rump, hocks and vent. The head and neck are most often a darker shade. The neck should show the iridescent green and purple, with green predominating. The flight feathers are dark gray becoming almost black on the outer edges and tips. The tail should have a dark almost black band approximately 3/4" in width appearing about 1/2" from the end of each feather. The bars, two in number, should be black clearly defined bars on each wing shield and come together where the wings fit over the rump. The bars should carry down and reach as close as possible to the leading edge of the wing. Beak and toe nails very dark, almost black.

Undesirable: Smoky or dirty blue color as well as very light hocks, rump, vent and back. Thin or weakly defined bars. (Some penalty should be imposed by the judge for the above).

Unacceptable: Occurrence of white feathers anywhere or white toe nails. Showing sootiness or pencil markings will put the Blue Bar in the Mismark class. When there is any showing of bronze, the bird shall be placed in the Mismark class.

Blue Check

Desirable: The light to medium Blue Check exhibits same base ground color as the Blue Bar, with an overlay of black checking on the wing shields. The term “Blue Check” actually refers to the density of the checker pattern. In the Blue Check, there will be an abundant amount of light gray under color. Approximately 50% under color and 50% checker pattern is the limit of checking that a bird can have to be shown in the Blue Check class. Once the checking exceeds 50%, they must be shown in the Dark Check class. In both light and medium checks, it is desirable to have the rump color of the same base—light gray with some checking. However, in lights you rarely find this checking to exist. The neck, flight feathers, and tail are the same color and shade as the Blue Bar. Beak and toe nails should be very dark—almost black. There is a tail bar like the Blue Bar.

Undesirable: Smoky or dirty under color as well as light hocks, rump, vent and back. Uneven checking in pattern should be penalized.

Unacceptable: Occurrence of white feathers anywhere or white toe nails shall place the Blue Check in the Mismark class. Any bronze coloring showing on the bird’s wing shield shall place the bird in the Mismark class.

Dark Check

Desirable: The Dark Check has the same base ground color as the Blue Check with a heavier concentration of the checking. More than 50% up to 75% of the wing shield shall be devoted to checking. When the checking has reached this abundance, the rump, back, thighs and vent should show checking also. The head, neck, breast and flights should be a shade darker than the Blue Check to compliment the tone and ratio of checking.

Undesirable: The following traits shall deem the color undesirable: light back/ rump, vent and hocks, little or no checking on back, rump, vent and thighs, and smoky under color in wing shields. All these factors should be taken into consideration by the judge.

Unacceptable : Occurrence of white feathers anywhere or white toe nails or bronzing shall place the Dark Check in the Mismark class.

Black Check (Medium to Black Velvet)

Desirable: The Black Check has the same base ground color as the Blue Bar and Blue Check, with a much heavier concentration of checking to the point that very little under color shows through. When the checking has reached this abundance the rump, back, thighs and vent should show checking also. The head, neck, breast and flights should be a shade darker than the Blue Bar and Blue Check to compliment the tone and ratio of checking. This checking becomes so extensive that no under color whatsoever can be seen--the head, neck, breast, back and rump are as black as the wing shields. When the color becomes this intense it is called a Black Velvet. Black Velvet is the extreme expression of Black Check. The Black Velvet should also show checking in the thighs and vent. The Black Velvet is not a high gloss jet black, but a velvety appearance. The beak and toe nails should be very dark, almost black. There is a tail band like the Blue Bar.

Unacceptable: Occurrence of white feathers anywhere or white toe nails will place the bird in the Mismark class. Any bronzing shall also have the bird placed in the Mismark class.

Red Bar

Desirable: The Red Bar has an under color of light pale ash beige. In some cases a frosty light cream, almost white color. The color should remain uniform throughout the wing shield, rump, hocks and vent. The head and neck in some instances are a darker shade with the neck showing iridescent green and purple color with the purple predominating. In some instances the head and neck remain the same color as the rest of the bird with no neck color. Sometimes there is a slight showing of the reddish color in the wing flights. The tail does not show the tail band as in the blue/black family. The bars should be a good, deep shade of ash red somewhat comparable to the color of a new brick. They should be of good width, clearly defined, two on each wing shield, and come together where the wings fit over the rump. The bars should carry down and reach as close as possible to the leading edge of the wing. In some cocks, there will be a small black ticking or flecking in the flights and tail feathers. In some hens, the same ticking may occur, but it will be brown instead of black. Beaks and toe nails will vary from very dark to medium horn color and some cases so light it's almost white. (This is not a fault)

Undesirable: Smoky or dirty under color. Thin or weakly defined bars. Light washed out bar color.

Unacceptable: Occurrence of pure white feathers anywhere. Black or brown flecking or spots, so excessive it distracts from the overall appearance of the bird. Penciling, sooty, mealy, strawberry markings or signs of a third bar. Any of the above shall place the bird in the Mismark class.

Red Check (Light to Red Velvet)

Desirable: The Red Check should have the same under color as the Red Bar. A very light pale beige, in some cases coming very close to a light cream color, with an overlay on the wing shield of reddish checker pattern. This checker pattern may vary from a soft pale shade of brownish red to a dark red approximately the color of a new brick. The intensity of the pattern may vary from a modest amount to a very dense concentration which should cover the rump and underside of the bird. The Red Check class covers the full spectrum from light Red Check to Red Velvet. The neck and head may be of the same reddish color with an iridescent purplish green in the neck with purplish color predominating. Flights and tail feathers may vary from light to showing considerable amounts of the reddish coloration. In cocks, black ticking is permitted. Some hens may have brown ticking. There is not a tail band. Beaks and toe nails will vary from dark to medium horn color and some cases so light it's almost white. (This is not a fault.) No one shade of Red shall be preferred over the other.

Unacceptable: Occurrence of white feathers anywhere or white toe nails. If the black or brown flecking becomes excessive enough to distract from the overall appearance of the ash red coloration, the bird shall be placed in the Mismark class.

Grizzle

Desirable: Grizzle is a dominant genetic modifying factor that can be placed on any color or pattern. It tends to show a peppery or grizzling pattern in “most” of the feathers in the heterozygous state (inherited factor from one parent). When a bird inherits the Grizzle factor from both parents, this is called homozygous or stork. In the blue phase, the birds are white with dark flights and tails. In ash red, they appear almost white with the presence of ash feathers throughout the bird. Depending upon what pattern the grizzle factor is placed over, it will cause a different expression from very dark over T-pattern to much lighter over bar.

All such patterns and expressions are “equally” desirable. Beak and toe nails are generally (but not always) dark to dark black in blue birds and horn to flesh colored in red birds. The toe nails do not need to be all the same color. Eye cere must complement the color of the bird. Eye color must be dark. This class is for only Blue and Ash Red Grizzles. All other Grizzles, Dominant Opal, Dilute, Rare, and A.O.C. Grizzles shall be shown in their respective classes.

Undesirable: Any bird with a weak or inconsistent manifestation of the Grizzle effect, such as one showing but a few speckles of white around the head and neck.

Unacceptable: Grizzle superimposed on any Rare color for which there is not a color class must be shown in the Rare class. Pure Whites must also be shown in the Rare class. Grizzles with one or more white flights (secondary and primary) and white tail feathers or solid, large white and dark patches shall be placed in the Mismark class. Bull or black eyes are not acceptable. Blue or Ash birds with a few white specks around the head shall be placed in the Mismark class.

Dominant Opal

Desirable: Dominant Opal is a dominant genetic modifying factor that can be placed on any color or pattern. Generally the underlying pattern will show through and the expression varies from almost undetectable to white in places that are normally black in a blue pigeon. Generally the dark spots such as bars and checks are lightened, often they become either a tan or white color. The factor generally lightens the color, replacing the iridescent green in the neck and breast with a yellowish cast. In Ash Red it often can be a very light expression. Two well defined wing bars in check and bar pattern. Beak and toe nails black to gray in blue colored birds and horn to flesh colored in red birds. All toe nails must be the same color. Eye ceres should be a grayish color. This class includes Dominant Opal Grizzles and Opalusian. The base color should be an even tone throughout with shades remaining uniform in the wing shields, back, neck, rump, hocks, vent, and chest.

Undesirable: Smoky or dirty under color or washing out to almost white in the underbelly, hocks, rump, vent or tail areas.

Unacceptable: In bar pattern, any significant indication of a third bar or penciling would place the bird in the Mismark class. Occurrence of white feathers or white toe nails would place the bird in the Mismark class.

Dilute

The Yellow Class and the True Silver Class will be included in the formation of the Dilute Class. Also “All” dilutes of the other color classes will be placed in this class. Also all patterns will be included—T-pattern, Check, Bar, and Barless. Pieds will not be included in this class. This class includes yellow, true silver, and dilutes of all the other color classes.

Undesirable: Smoky or dirty under color or washing out to almost white in the underbelly, hocks, rump, vent, or tail area.

Unacceptable: In bar pattern birds, any significant indication of a third bar or penciling would put the bird in the Mismark class. The occurrence of white feathers or white toe nails (except in grizzles—refer to grizzle guidelines) shall place the bird in the Mismark Class.

Pied

Desirable: A patchwork mixture of white and any other color, with at least 30% to 70% of any of the exposed feather surface area being white, is mandatory. See other color guidelines for the characteristics of the basic colors of the birds—this includes rare colors. Toe nails and beaks can be a combination of white or colored. Bull or black eyes are desirable when the head color is white. Otherwise, dark eyes are required if the head feathering is not white.

Unacceptable: Birds that are not within the color ratio “must be shown in the Mismark class.”

Spread Black and Andalusian

Desirable: Spread Black shall be intense jet black throughout and possibly covered with a rich green luster. Black beak and black toe nails are required.

Andalusian shall be an even shade of Dark Gray to Blue Indigo in the heterozygous state and a light steel blue with dark to black head in the homozygous state. Beak and toe nails shall be black.

Undesirable: Smokey or washed out coloring is undesirable on any part of the bird. Bars or Checks showing through the wing shields are considered poor coloring and undesirable in addition to any bronzing.

Unacceptable: Any white feathers, white beaks, or toe nails are also unacceptable. All these unacceptable features shall place the bird in the Mismarked class.

Rare


Khaki check YH	Brown YH	Almond YC

Desirable: Rare Show Racers are of any color pattern not included in the standard color classes as indicated elsewhere in this guide. These include: Almond, Brown, White, Reduced, Milky, Fade (Red, Blue, and Brown), Shield (Saddle) Marked, Indigo, Spread Ash Red, and any other colors not presently seen but which might be found in the future. Also, the Grizzles of the rare colors shall be entered in the rare class. Beak, toe nails, and eye color should compliment the color of the bird. Bull eyes are allowed in White and Shield (Saddle) Marked birds only. All other birds shall have dark eyes with the exception of Browns which have false pearl eyes.

The Show Superintendent has the authority to establish a class in any of the above colors whenever enough birds of that color are shown. This is a request—When entering your Rares, please try to include the color of the bird on the entry form. For example, rare young hen/Almond.

Undesirable: Poor color or pattern for the Rare is undesirable as for any class.

Unacceptable: Occurrence of white feathers except for those birds whose color description accepts white, such as solid White birds. Saddle Marked birds will only have colored wing shields; any other colored feathers will make it necessary for the bird to be placed in the Pied Class. Any birds that do not fall within the above guidelines shall be placed in the Mismark Class. Any white feathers shall place the bird in the Mismark class.

Recessive Opal

Desirable: Recessive Opal is a true recessive so for this to be present both parents must have the gene to pass it on to its offspring. In show racers, it’s present mainly in the blue phase. The birds base color is a pale to faded silver blue and the bars and check are a reddish to orange color. Spread Recessive Opal in cocks tends to be silver throughout and the hens are a dull steel gray. The following will be included in this class: Spread, Check, Bar, and Grizzle. Dark eyes and gray to dark beaks and toe nails (except in the Grizzle—see Grizzle guidelines.)

Undesirable: Smoky or dirty under color or the washing out to almost white in the underbelly, hocks, rump, or vent areas.

Unacceptable: In the bar pattern, any significant indication of a third bar or penciling would place the bird in the Mismark class. Occurrence of white feathers or white toe nails will place the bird in the Mismark class.

Mismark

The term "Mismark" shall apply to any of the aforementioned classes (see Grizzle explanation) exhibiting white or other signs of mismarking as described as unacceptable in the various classes. This shall include white ticks, white vent, white rump, white back, white flights (wing or tail, primary or secondary), white hocks or white toe nails (except where all toe nails may be very light in certain very light patterned red factored birds. They all must be of the same color and shade.) Pencil, sooty, mealy or strawberry markings or any sign of a third bar are to be considered a Mismark. Any sharp break in color across the body (mosaic, dark to light very noticeable band across the chest) shall be considered a Mismark.

THANKS BILL ROBINSON FOR THE PICTURES BELOW


DOM OPAL OC	BROWN ALMOND OC

KHAKI YH	REC. OPAL GRIZZLE