Contributor
These days its more of a challenge persuading potential new owners into harness racing but with persistence and ingenuity there are some initiatives that ultimately pay dividends. Right in the middle of this development Junee trainer Bruce Harpley and local identity Brett Hogan put the together the concept of bringing in twenty potential owners who […]
Harness racing in Victoria contributed $623.3 million to the state’s economy, 61.8 per cent of it in the regions. The considerable impact was revealed in Tuesday’s launch of the Victorian Racing Industry’s Size & Scope Report, which measured the harness, thoroughbred and greyhound racing codes’ 2024-25 footprints. Harness racing had the greatest percentage of regional contribution […]
Tony Abell’s involvement in harness racing runs deep and wide. Not only is he a successful breeder and racehorse owner, as an administrator he played a major role in setting up many feature races in both New Zealand and Australia. He has travelled extensively to harness racing countries. He’s never been short of an idea, […]
Harness Racing Victoria (HRV) has introduced a fuel relief rebate to support participants facing increased travel costs. Trainers and drivers will receive temporary rebates from tomorrow (April 1) through May 31 to partly offset the increase in petrol and diesel prices. HRV CEO Matt Isaacs said the rebate was recognition of the additional costs that […]
Harness racing’s most successful partnership reignites this February when the sport’s talented reinswomen don their teal pants and resume the fight for ovarian and gynaecological cancer support and research. Team Teal’s 12th anniversary will build on more than $3.4 million raised for the cause, which Bec Weeden, Head of Fundraising for ANZGOG WomenCan, said was “an […]
Victorian owners will race for up to $2.75 million in breeding and sales vouchers under a new two-year initiative beginning September 1. The Vicbred Vouchers program will see 550 races across the next two seasons carry $5000 vouchers for winning owners, giving them a head start towards breeding or buying their next winners. Breeders will also […]
Harness Racing Victoria’s summer carnival will shine ever bright in 2026 after it stacked six huge cups across six Saturday nights. The path to Victoria’s famed A G Hunter Cup and Yabby Dam Farms Great Southern Star, set for Melton on February 14, will be paved in gold, with Cranbourne and Kilmore hosting $150,000 Group […]
Harness Racing Victoria kicked off its Roadshows with a spirited two-way discussion at Mildura ahead of further nights at Melton, Ballarat, and Shepparton. More than 50 harness racing enthusiasts attended Mildura Harness Racing Club for a two-hour briefing. The briefing began with an introduction from HRV chair Bernard Saundry and a presentation from CEO Matt […]
The fundraising race to $5 million resumes on Saturday night when Australian harness racing’s female drivers don teal pants in support of WomenCan. The Team Teal movement, launched by Duncan McPherson in Victoria to honour his late wife Lyn, has raised more than $3.1 million to pioneer gynaecological cancer research, prevention and education programs. Team Teal […]
The Minister for Racing, the Hon Anthony Carbines, has appointed John Doherty to Harness Racing Victoria’s Board, continuing the magistrate’s considerable service to the sport. Mr Doherty was appointed to a three-year term on the Board, joining recently appointed Chair Bernard Saundry, Deputy Chair Catherine Ainsworth, and members Judy Rothacker and Dennis Bice. Mr Doherty […]
Victorian harness racing’s first-win bonuses will be restored to $7,000 for two and three-year-olds after $1.37 million was reallocated into the Vicbred scheme. Collaboration between Harness Racing Victoria and its stakeholder bodies has boosted the total first-win pool to $3.83 million, with four-year-olds to receive a $5000 bonus and those five-and-over a $2500 bonus. HRV […]
Experienced racing administrator Bernard Saundry has been appointed Chair of Harness Racing Victoria. Saundry, who was chief executive officer of HRV for eight years from 1993, was appointed by the Minister for Racing Anthony Carbines, bringing vast racing and media experience to the role. “Bernard Saundry is regarded as one of Australia’s most experienced and […]
Harness Racing Victoria announces operational savings and changes to participant returns for 2025 as part of the industry’s pathway to sustainability. From January 1, 2025, feature race prizemoney, breeders and first-win bonuses, and baseline prizemoney will be reduced. Five full-time positions, including the Chief Operating Officer role, will also exit HRV, part of operational cuts […]
Champion trainer and driver Ted Demmler was welcomed into elite company on Saturday night, when he was elevated to a Legend of the Victorian Harness Racing Hall of Fame. An adoring audience at Melton Entertainment Park celebrated as Demmler was given the headline honour, only the 11th Victorian participant, associate or horse to become a Legend. […]
Harness racing horseman Guy Gagnon collected four victories on the nine-race program at Rideau Carleton Raceway on Thursday (Aug. 22). He opened his account in race two with his trainee Ciel Bleu (Muscle Mass), crushing by eight-and-a-half lengths in 1:57. It was the six-year-old gelding’s first win since entering Gagnon’s barn four weeks ago. CIEL […]
Harness Racing Victoria CEO Matt Isaacs has outlined details of the industry’s revenue and cost challenges, and how the Melton land transfer will help the sport transition to a sustainable pathway. The details were shared during a Harness Racing Advisory Council meeting on August 5, which council members and associated stakeholders attended along with HRV’s […]
“I was happy to get seven drives but to get three wins is a bit of a bonus,” harness racing driver Sam Ottley said after wins on Superfast Ronnie (Superfast Stuart), Rylan Charlie (Changeover) and Judaque (Always B Miki) at Gore today. RYLAN CHARLIE REPLAY Both Rylan Charlie and Judaque were bred by Judy Dillon […]
Harness Racing Victoria and Nutrien Equine are pleased to announce the Nutrien Equine Classic race series, carrying more than $1 million in prizemoney, will again be in Victoria next year. Following April’s successful racing and yearling sale, the futurity series will grow next year into a three-day event, featuring pacing finals on Friday, April 11, […]
Maryborough’s famed all-trotting Redwood Carnival has been “supercharged” for a huge October celebration, with its headline race to return to Group 1 status. The Aldebaran Park Redwood Classic will be worth $75,000 when it’s run on Sunday October 27, part of a squaregaiting celebration that will also encompass the Group 1 Haras des Trotteurs Victoria […]
Trainer Emma Stewart has been fined $12,000 but escaped disqualification after the Victorian Racing Tribunal heard her appeals today. Harness Racing Victoria stewards disqualified Stewart in December for six months after she plead guilty to administering an injection to Act Now and attempting to administer an injection to Show Me Heaven a day before their […]
Lyndon Bond rolls out four runners for the Invercargill Harness Racing Club’s meeting at Ascot Park on Monday. The well-bred Del’s Creation (Creatine) made a mistake at Winton at her last start but will get a chance to redeem herself in Race One over 2700 metres. Stella Bay (Majestic Son) showed improvement at her last […]
Harness Racing Victoria has announced a new racing calendar model for 2024-25 racing, which has been designed to improve participants’ welfare and cut costs while driving wagering. The model consolidates regular time slots at venues with the greatest horse populations, facilities and wagering performance, while continuing racing at all 28 country clubs. HRV CEO Matt […]
Harness Racing Victoria has announced cost-saving efficiencies and service reductions as part of a commitment to be financially sustainable by 2027. HRV plans to cut a further $6.6m from its operations next financial year, which is in addition to the $6.1m already realised this financial year. These savings relate directly to HRV services and are […]
Harness racing is going on in both Alberta and British Columbia on Friday (Apr. 19). Things first get kicked off at Century Downs and they start with the Pick 5 right in the first race. The last leg of the wager is the fifth race and one mare to keep an eye in that field is Bearcat Abigail (Mystery Chase). She has already made […]
