As of today, owners of harness racing stock which have not bred, competed in an official trial or race are able to change names regardless of the horse’s age.

In response to a marked increase in requests for name changes of older horses, Harness Racing Australia put the name change proposition to members at the mid-season meeting on April 20, where it was unanimously supported.

Cancelled names will become available again 12 months after the cancellation is confirmed.

The meeting also approved a new practice of identifying the country of origin of imported foreign-bred horses with a three letter suffix. 

This will occur in all instances other than for New Zealand (NZ) and Canada (CA), and be located at the end of a horses name in all relevant documents, guides and reports.

The Stud Book Regulations have been adjusted accordingly and a full copy can be found here http://www.harness.org.au/ausbreed/studbookregs.pdf.

• HRA Media