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Inter Dominion champion Captains Mistress (Captaintreacherous) headlines nominations for the SEN Victoria Cup, with the $250,000 Group 1 feature set to take place at Melton on Saturday, October 17. The star mare, who claimed this year’s Inter Dominion crown, is among 18 horses nominated for one of Victoria’s premier pacing features. Trainer Jason Grimson has […]
Harness Racing Victoria Chief Executive Officer Matt Isaacs will conclude his tenure in October, having advised the Board that he will not seek a further extension of his contract. Isaacs joined HRV in January 2023 to restore financial stability, transform the organisation and establish a sustainable platform for the future of Victorian harness racing. HRV […]
Victoria’s Summer of Glory will return in 2027 with a strengthened six-week harness racing program, a $1 million insured pacers bonus that launches with the SEN Victoria Cup, a new Regional Showdown, and the introduction of the Greg Sugars Medal. HRV CEO Matt Isaacs said Victoria would again capture the summer spotlight with blockbuster cup […]
Racing contributes more than $5.5 billion to the Victorian economy and sustains over 33,450 full-time equivalent jobs across the state, an independent report has found. Prepared by specialist consultancy IER, the 2026 Size and Scope of the Victorian Racing Industry report measures the combined economic, employment and community contribution of the state’s three racing codes […]
What began as a spur-of-the-moment decision to buy a yearling from the couch at home is quickly turning into a harness racing fairytale for Victoria’s Barton family. The next chapter unfolds this Saturday night (May 30) when exciting youngster Smack Bang Bart (Rock N Roll Heaven) lines up in the $200,000 Alabar Farms Nutrien Classic […]
Harness Racing Victoria (HRV) has released its Venue Network White Paper, a long-term framework designed to strengthen the sustainability, relevance and future viability of harness racing in Victoria. The White Paper, which was presented to Trots Clubs Victoria (TCV) and club representatives earlier this month, sets out a structured and evidence-based approach to how HRV […]
The field for the 2026 Sportsbet A. G. Hunter Cup has been released, with an outstanding line-up assembled for Saturday night’s $250,000 Group 1 classic at Melton Entertainment Park. All eyes will be on 2024 champion Leap To Fame (Bettor’s Delight), who looms as the standout as he chases the lucrative $1 million bonus after […]
Harness Racing Victoria (HRV) is pleased to announce a late invitation for a Victorian to drive in the Coupe Intercontinentale des Amateurs at Vincennes, France, on Saturday 24 January 2026 – the day before the prestigious Prix d’Amérique. The successful applicant will not only get the chance to drive in the race, but experience the […]
The late, great Gavin Lang was elevated to the 12th Legend of Victorian harness racing at Saturday night’s Hall of Fame ceremony, capping a night that also saw six inductions and the first great families celebrated. Lang was only the sixth participant to be named a Legend, joining greats of the track Gordon Rothacker (2012), George […]
Built For Glory (Bettor’s Delight) trained by Steve and Amanda Telfer seems to have benefited from being gelded. “He got gelded this time in so he’s changed a lot. With him being a gelding he’s not so heavy. He travelled down with two fillies and didn’t seem to care,” said stable junior driver Nikita Burton […]
Birchip, a town famous for its bull and Australia’s best vanilla slice, is now home to Victoria’s first harness slot race. The $125,000 Cargill Running of the Bulls on March 8 is the newest addition to the racing calendar, which will have country Victoria at its core. Birchip Harness Racing Club secretary Brad Sharp said the concept […]
HARNESS Racing Australia chairman Graeme Campbell OAM today said he had reluctantly accepted the resignation of long-serving CEO Andrew Kelly. Kelly has spent 22 years across various senior roles in harness racing, including the past 17 years as HRA CEO. “Andrew’s leadership through many challenges has been outstanding,” Campbell said. “His commitment and professionalism has navigated […]
Victoria’s hero trotter Just Believe (Orlando Vici) yesterday joined Sundons Gift to become the second standandbred at the stunning Living Legends facility in Greenvale. The Yabby Dam Farms-owned-and-bred gelding will be officially welcomed as a resident with a special function on Thursday from 10.30am. From Harness Racing Victoria
Australia’s leading young reinsman James Herbertson will make his Swedish driving debut early tomorrow morning (Wednesday May 28 Australian EST), continuing a whirlwind international harness racing experience that’s taken him to the USA and Europe. After a winning stint in the U.S., including a driving double at Scioto Downs, Herbertson has now joined elite trainer […]
Margaret Lee received Victoria’s highest accolade for female participants during Monday night’s Victorian Harness Racing Awards at Melton Entertainment Park. Presented annually, the award celebrates exceptional achievement or service to harness racing by a woman. Recently, the award has been won by Marg Watson (2021), Anne-Maree Conroy (2022) and most recently Georgie Coram in 2023. […]
Clinton Welsh has been awarded Victorian harness racing’s highest individual honour, the Gordon Rothacker Medal. The long-serving trainer-driver was recognised for his outstanding contribution to the sport during Monday night’s awards ceremony at Melton Entertainment Park, joining a distinguished list of past recipients including Lance Justice (2023), Chris Alford (2022) and Brian Gath (2021). “To […]
Chris Lang Snr’s career in harness racing is filled with memorable moments and amazing highs, and he was bestowed another incredible honour on Monday night. The 65-year-old was announced as the newest Caduceus Club Living Legend, an award first struck in 1995 to acknowledge and celebrate those who’ve gone above and beyond – from anywhere […]
Hundreds attended Melton Entertainment Park on Monday afternoon to farewell Greg Sugars as thousands tuned in on TrotsVision to pay their respects to a champion horseman and even better person. Sugars’ wife Jess Tubbs, sister Kylie and close friends James Herbertson, Brett Coffey and Gavin Smith shared memories and spoke of their love for the […]
On behalf of Jess Tubbs and the Sugars family, Harness Racing Victoria wishes to share details of the upcoming memorial service to honour and celebrate the life of champion horseman, Greg Sugars. The service will be held on: Monday, May 12, 2025 12noon Melton Entertainment Park (Tabcorp Park) 2 Ferris Road, Melton, VIC, 3337 Following […]
Well travelled gelding Luvbite (Betting Line) caused a boilover when in the very last stride he snatched victory in the Pace with Mates Open Pace at Albion Park on Saturday night. Friendless in the betting despite his favourable pole position driver Layne Dwyer was content to let Grant Dixon on the hot favourite Tims A […]
Harness Racing Victoria extends its deepest condolences to the Sugars family, Jess Tubbs, and all fellow participants following the heartbreaking news of Greg Sugars’ passing. Out of respect for Greg and his family, tonight’s meeting at Melton Entertainment Park has been abandoned. From Harness Racing Victoria
Nobody forgets their first success in the sport of harness racing, whether it’s a winning drive, your first win as an owner or maybe just seeing a horse you bred getting the job done. For Norm Leacock-Jones, yesterday afternoon’s Banks Peninsula meeting will live long in the memory banks as the day he trained his […]
The Paddy and Marg Lee-trained Keayang Zahara (Volstead) made a stunning harness racing exhibition appearance at Terang Cup night on Saturday, with Antti Ruokonen taking the reins. This locally trained, unbeaten superstar trotter gave the crowd a chance to witness her beauty and talent firsthand. The connections shared the magic of Keayang Zahara with the locals, […]
A special appearance on Terang Pacing Cup night is on the agenda for megastar trotter Keayang Zahara (Volstead) who is nearing a return to work ahead of a busy 2025 harness racing campaign. Tim O’Connor caught up with co-trainer Paddy Lee to discuss plans with the unbeaten squaregaiter, who set 2024 alight with 14 wins […]
