The Vicbred Super Series will launch a big spring of Victorian harness racing, with the rich two, three and four-year-old series to run from August 28 to September 19.
Harness Racing Victoria CEO Matt Isaacs said the racing team had brought the series forward after working closely with Harness Racing Australia and the other states to maximise racing opportunities for juvenile horses.
“We think Victoria has the country’s best two and three-year-olds and want to make sure they are given the right stage at the right time to shine,” Isaacs said.
“Moving the Vicbred Super Series back to September will put the spotlight on Victoria’s two and three-year-olds first and provide a launching pad into the season’s features.”
The Vicbred Super Series will precede the Need For Speed trotting series (October 10), the Victorian pacing Derby and Oaks (October 17), the Redwood Classic and Trotting Derby (November 1) at Maryborough, and the Breeders Crown finals (December 19).
The Vicbred Super Series finals for two and three-year-olds, which will be on September 12, will be elevated to Group 1 prizemoney, with pacing finals worth $150,000 and trotting finals $100,000. See the table at the bottom of the release for full series details.
This year will mark the final running of the Australasian Breeders Crown, a series that will feature only three-year-olds in December. Declining subscriptions, particularly from interstate and New Zealand, made the futurity series unviable in its present form.
HRV, having worked closely with breeding and participant stakeholder groups, will combine the Breeders Crown and Vicbred Super Series in 2027, forming the Vicbred Breeders Crown, which will keep alive the state’s great traditions while elevating the next generation of superstars.
“The Breeders Crown is fundamental to Victorian racing, and with our participants we have considered countless scenarios, including slot races, a futurities and slots blend, and interstate or international collaborations, but it is clear the best thing for Victoria is to unite our efforts behind one hallmark series,” Isaacs said.
“The Vicbred Breeders Crown, proposed for 2027, would be a must-see, two-night final celebration that will appropriately put the spotlight on our talented horses, breeders, owners, and participants.”
The 2027 series would carry the Vicbred Super Series conditions but would retain the Breeders Crown valued silverware, festivities, and name, branding that carries international recognition and a rich Victorian history.
Harness Breeders Victoria president John Coffey said it was a welcome compromise.
“The Breeders Crown is greatly valued by breeders, bringing great importance not just to the present competing racehorses but their future progeny,” Coffey said.
“We have worked closely with HRV to pursue the best scenario for harness racing in Victoria and welcome this result, which means participants would continue to have the chance to compete for some of the best trophies and two and three-year-old prizemoney in the sport.”
Harness Racing Victoria’s feature race list from July 1 to December 30 can be found here: Link
The 2026 Vicbred Super Series dates and prizemoney are as follows.
| HEATS | SEMI-FINALS | FINALS | FINAL $ | |
| 2YO PACING C&G | 28-Aug | 5-Sep | 12-Sep | $150,000 |
| 2YO PACING FILLIES | 28-Aug | 5-Sep | 12-Sep | $150,000 |
| 3YO PACING C&G | 27-Aug | 5-Sep | 12-Sep | $150,000 |
| 3YO PACING FILLIES | 27-Aug | 5-Sep | 12-Sep | $150,000 |
| 4YO PACING E&G | 10-Sep | 19-Sep | $100,000 | |
| 4YO PACING MARES | 10-Sep | 19-Sep | $100,000 | |
| 2YO TROTTING C&G | 4-Sep | 12-Sep | $100,000 | |
| 2YO TROTTING FILLIES | 4-Sep | 12-Sep | $100,000 | |
| 3YO TROTTING C&G | 4-Sep | 12-Sep | $100,000 | |
| 3YO TROTTING FILLIES | 4-Sep | 12-Sep | $100,000 | |
| 4YO TROTTING E&G | 9-Sep | 19-Sep | $60,000 | |
| 4YO TROTTING MARES | 9-Sep | 19-Sep | $60,000 |
*No semi-finals will occur for all trotters and 4YO Pacers. Semi-finals for 2 & 3YO Pacers will only occur if heats receive more than 24 acceptances.
