Hip Pocket Workwear & Safety Castlemaine has carved out its place in harness racing, helping everyone from trainers and drivers to stable hands and volunteers present a professional image through quality uniforms and workwear to showcase their professionalism.
Family-owned by Darren and Trudy Gundy, the business has become a familiar supporter of Victorian harness racing through its partnership with Harness Racing Victoria and a growing presence at Melton Entertainment Park.
For Darren, the connection to the sport came through a chance introduction to harness racing owner Roy Brosco, which led to Hip Pocket Castlemaine supplying uniforms to HRV.
What started as a business relationship has since developed into a genuine appreciation for the industry and the people within it.
“We specialise in uniforms and garment decoration, and I can see a real opportunity to help owners, trainers and drivers create team apparel that makes them stand out and become recognisable wherever they race,” Gundy said.
While he doesn’t own horses himself, Gundy believes harness racing shares many of the same values that have driven the family business for more than a decade – hard work, pride in presentation and supporting local communities.
Hip Pocket itself has a long Australian history, having been founded in Bendigo in 1993 and growing into a network of more than 50 locally-owned stores.
Darren and Trudy operate the Castlemaine store and have expanded into the sport by opening a dedicated pop-up outlet at Melton Entertainment Park, giving participants direct access to workwear, boots, safety equipment and customised apparel on race and trial days.
The business already supplies several Victorian clubs, but Gundy sees even greater potential in helping stables build a consistent identity through professionally branded clothing.
“It’s about helping teams develop their own brand. We have access to a huge range of suppliers and can complete all the decoration work in-house, so we can tailor products to suit each stable.”
As a sponsor, Hip Pocket Castlemaine’s involvement extends beyond signage. HRV members receive a discount across an extensive range of workwear, boots and personal protective equipment, while participants can also access advice on customised uniforms and branding.
In a sport built on partnerships, Hip Pocket Workwear & Safety Castlemaine has become another business investing in the people who keep Victorian harness racing moving forward both on and off the track.
