Contributor
Life is certainly good for Taylor Youl ahead of Victoria Cup night, as she targets the Mimosa Homes Victoria Trotters Oaks with Aldebaran Ada. The 22-year-old reinswoman has enjoyed a memorable few months, highlighted by victory in a $125,000 Nutrien Classic Final at Wagga in May aboard the aforementioned filly. Working for leading trotting trainer […]
The spotlight will shine on Indiana harness racing on Friday night (Oct. 9) when more than $2.4 million in purses will be up for grabs during Indiana Sire Stakes Super Finals night at Harrah’s Hoosier Park. The 15-race championship program will feature eight $250,000 Super Finals for two and three-year-old pacers and trotters, with seven […]
Three years ago, New Zealand trainer-driver Kyle Marshall and his partner Sophie Jefferies made the move to Victoria, and they have quickly made their mark on the state’s harness racing scene. Marshall has enjoyed plenty of success since making the move, including Country Cup victories and track records, but it is his special pacer Smoken […]
Abby Sanderson’s harness racing training career is off to an exciting start, with the 21 year old set to make her Group 1 debut just one week after recording her first starter. Sanderson will take Fully Reckless (Art Major) to Melton on Saturday night for the $150,000 Group 1 APG Vicbred Super Series Final for […]
Defending champion James Herbertson will be joined by fellow Victorian reinsman Mark Pitt as the pair prepare to represent Victoria in the 2026 Australian Drivers Championship. The championship will be held at Globe Derby Park in South Australia on Saturday night, October 3, with the nation’s leading drivers set to go head-to-head. Herbertson returns as […]
Ella Moran’s harness racing journey has reached another exciting milestone, with the young driver gaining her trial licence and taking part in her first trial this week. Harness racing has always been a big part of Ella’s life, growing up in a family with strong connections to the sport. Her own journey began in […]
Prominent Ballarat breeder-owner Steve Dickson has been elected as the new interim President of Harness Breeders Victoria, the august body that represents breeders and studmasters in the State. Dickson, who hails originally from Launceston and has been involved in breeding standardbreds for more than 35 years, replaces retiring president John Coffey at the helm. Among […]
Prominent Goulburn trainer David Hewitt is currently enjoying a good run and he’s looking forward to his star filly Sparkling Sea running a much improved race in this Saturday night’s Colin Watts Golden Easter Egg Stakes at Menangle. Inexplicably at her last start in the Gold Bracelet Final at Bathurst when a hot favourite Sparkling […]
Keayang Zahara, Derek The Jet, Violet Stanford, Remus Phoenix, Maoris Mac, Enchauffour, Vytis, Maoris Mac, Pinnie, Sam Nien, Ajay Volstead, Empire City, Val Thorens… The list continues to grow, and so does the influence of Volstead on the Australasian trotting ranks, despite only two full Australian crops making it to the racetrack so far. […]
One of harness racing’s greatest reinsmen is heading home. Anthony Butt reflects on his time in Victoria, his biggest moments on and off the track, and what’s next as he prepares to return to New Zealand following the Summer of Glory carnival. by Bronte Nieuwenburg, for Harness Racing Victoria
HRNZ CEO Brad Steele answers topical questions covering breeding numbers, Harness 5000, small fields and weekly payments for stakeholders. Why is a trial to pay stakeholders on a weekly basis taking place? HRNZ introduced weekly stakes payments to better align with how participants operate and manage cashflow, while also modernising our financial processes. Our participants […]
Rockinwithattitude has been one of the leading Victorian trotters in past seasons, building an impressive record under the guidance of trainer-driver David Miles. From 38 starts she has recorded 20 wins and banked $487,067 in prize money, with Group 1 victories in Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland. The highlight of her career came in […]
Saturday harness racing features a match race between champion Leap To Fame and rising superstar Kingman in the Group 3 Shepparton Gold Cup (2690m). The Group 3 Shepparton Trotters Cup (2690m) features star trotter Arcee Phoenix competing against Im Bobby and Gotfeelingsyouknow. The free for all looks a competitive race and the 3YO event on […]
The surname Sanderson appears again and again throughout the racebook for Shepparton Gold Cup night, and for good reason. The Sanderson family will be front and centre this Saturday, with Shane Sanderson preparing two harness racing runners, son Ryan booked for five drives across the program and daughter Abby set to take the reins behind […]
Cobram Harness Racing Club Secretary Manager and hobby trainer Adam Rudd enjoyed a day to remember on Sunday, overseeing a successful Cup meeting while also celebrating a career highlight behind the scenes as his own trotter Bennie And The Jets claimed the Central Murray Bank Cobram Trotters Cup. “It was fantastic being our home Cup,” […]
Victorian reinsman James Herbertson has cemented his status as Australia’s leading harness racing driver, claiming his second Australian Drivers Championship in Hobart on Sunday afternoon. The 25-year-old, who leads the nation by wins this season, topped the standings with 61 points after six heats, winning two races and finishing in the placings on two other […]
The final list of harness racing drivers for the 2025 Young Guns Series final is set! The top 10 under-25 Victorian-licensed drivers based on season wins up to and including November 30 have earned their spots at Melton. These rising stars are ready to battle it out on December 31 for a shot at […]
Trainer-driver Taylor Ford could be sidelined for an extended period after a freak accident while leading a horse at the Parwan training facilities of champion horsewoman Jodi Quinlan. Quinlan spoke with thetrots.com.au and described the frightening incident that left the 27-year-old with head and neck injuries. “She was leading a horse into the stables and […]
The Darren DeFilippi Memorial on Friday night at Addington is a race all junior drivers in the South Island aspire to win and it carries special significance for Oamaru horseman Matthew Williamson. “It’s got a terrific history and a great stake this year. It’s a very sought after race so it’s cool to have one […]
Leading harness racing trainer Brent Lilley shared a great association with the late Gavin Lang, and he’s hoping to honour the champion reinsman with a winner during Bendigo’s all-trotting card on Wednesday night. The Lang memorial meeting was created in 2020 to honour the lives and legacies of Gavin and his father Graeme, who gave […]
Dedicated central Victorian trainer Tayla Fellows has made a promising start to a month-long Tasmanian campaign. Fellows, who is based at Bendigo, has taken a team of four across Bass Strait with her partner Dylan Marshall, with their sights firmly set on the Group 3 $60,000 Raider Stakes Final at Launceston on July 20 with […]
It was a wonderful victory for the Chris Svanosio-trained runner Gotfeelingsyouknow, who powered to a strong win on Saturday night at Melton. Stable foreman Ross Payne took the reins and expertly guided the horse to a confident victory. “It was so rewarding,” said a very happy Payne after the victory. “I’m sure Snooze (Chris Svanosio) […]
Horsham horseman Aaron Dunn has celebrated plenty of wins in his harness racing career — but two recent victories that came just a day apart were particularly special. Dunn trained Pick Up Elvis (Rock N Roll Heaven) to victory at Maryborough on June 4, and Eyeneedthat (Downbytheseaside) the next day at Ballarat. Both horses were […]
One of Australia’s most decorated trotting mares, Im Ready Jet (Quaker Jet), has run her final race. The curtain came down on her exceptional career on Saturday night at Melton, with the Yabby Dam Farms and Pat Driscoll-owned mare now set to begin a new chapter in the breeding barn. Her record speaks volumes. From […]
