Series & Futurity Conditions

1. THE STRUCTURE

Pacers

The Vicbred Super Series will be run for 2YOs, 3YOs and 4YOs respectively, with each age group split into a section for males and a section for females comprising:

*Note that in all cases Silver and Bronze races will only be run where there are sufficient acceptors.

All races throughout the series will be Random Barrier Draw (RBD) with the exception of any Bronze Pace which, due to insufficient acceptors across divisions, becomes a combined sex race. Should this occur then the barrier draw for such a race will be Preferential Barrier Draw on Sex (PBD/Sex).

Harness Racing Victoria (HRV) will program Heats for each division at one venue in Victoria and will run as many Heats as are required to grant each acceptor a start in a Heat.

Trotters

The Vicbred Super Series will be run for 2YOs, 3YOs and 4YOs respectively, with each age group split into a section for males and a section for females comprising:

*Note that in all cases Silver races will only be run where there are sufficient acceptors.

All races throughout the series will be Random Barrier Draw (RBD) with the exception of any Silver Trot which will be Preferential Barrier Draw on Sex (PBD/Sex).

HRV will program Heats for each division at one venue in Victoria and will run as many Heats as are required to grant each acceptor a start in a Heat.

2. ELIGIBILITY

Eligibility to compete in a Vicbred Super Series race is extended to any eligible horse for which the Vicbred Age Acceptance Fee (or Vicbred Series Fee) for the current season has been processed by HRV and paid in full.

3. FIELD SELECTION

3.1 The fields for all Heats will be selected in accordance with HRV’s Automatic Field Selection System.

3.2 Heats/Semi-Finals that are split into divisions are divided on a random (not manual) selection basis. Owner and Trainer splits will NOT apply.

3.3 All horses who accept for a Heat will be guaranteed a start in a Heat.

3.4 A horse that does not complete the course in a Heat or is declared a non-runner shall be deemed as having contested a Heat.

4. MODE OF START & BARRIER DRAWS

4.1 All races will be a Mobile Start and will be conducted as Random Barrier Draw (RBD) events with the exception of the following races which will be conducted as Preferential Barrier Draw on Sex (PBD/Sex):

(a) Any Silver Trot
(b) Any Bronze Pace which becomes a combined sex race

5. RACE DISTANCES

5.1 Race Distances for Heats and Semi-Finals will approximate the distance of the respective Final.

6. HANDICAPPING CONDITIONS & PENALTIES

6.1 All horses will accrue points in the Vicbred Super series as per the Points Matrix in the Australian Handicapping Rules.

7. STAKEMONEY DISTRIBUTION

7.1 Stakemoney for the Series will be distributed as follows:

1st – 50%
2nd – 16%
3rd – 10%
4th – 6%
5th – 4%
6th to last – 2%

7.2 Stakemoney distribution for connections of each horse  in Heats, Semi-Finals, Finals, Silver Races and Bronze Races is as follows:

*Where there is no Stallion Nominator, the Foal Nominator shall receive 10%.

8. SEMI-FINALS & FINALS

8.1 Horses will qualify for the next phase of each series based on finishing position and mile rate recorded in the relevant qualifying race.

8.2 A horse that does not complete the course or is declared a non-runner in a Semi-Final shall be deemed as having contested a Semi-Final.

8.3 A horse may not contest more than one race of the Final, Silver Race or Bronze Race of the same series.

8.4 A horse declared as an emergency for a Final may not scratch from such Final in order to contest a Silver Race or Bronze Race.

8.5 In the event that an emergency gains a start in a Final, it shall be deemed ineligible to contest a Silver Race or Bronze Race.

8.6 A horse declared as an emergency for a Silver Race may not scratch from such race in order to contest a Bronze Race.

9. SILVER & BRONZE RACES

9.1 Pacers

9.1.1 Horses must be nominated for the Silver Pace if they wish to gain a start in the Silver Pace or Bronze Pace.

9.1.2 A horse which qualifies for a Semi-Final or Final but fails to take its place in such race (withdrawn or otherwise) is ineligible to contest a Silver Pace or Bronze Pace.

9.1.3 Fields for any Silver Pace will comprise of horses who meet the Vicbred Super Series eligibility criteria but failed to gain a start in the Final, with field selection preference to be allocated in the following order:

(a) Horses who contested a Semi-Final but failed to gain a start in the Final
(b) Horses who contested a Heat but failed to gain a start in a Semi-Final (based on finishing position and individual mile rate in the Heat)
(c) Horses who did not contest a Heat (based on Automatic Field Selection System)

9.1.4 Where there are sufficient acceptors, a Bronze Pace will be run in addition to the Silver Pace, with horses being allocated to the Bronze Pace where they have nominated and accepted for the Silver Pace but failed to gain a start. Field selection preference to be allocated in the following order:

(a) Horses who contested a Heat but failed to gain a start in a Semi-Final, Final or Silver Pace (based on finishing position and individual mile rate in the Heat)
(b) Horses who did not contest a Heat (based on Automatic Field Selection System)

9.1.5 In the event of there being insufficient acceptors to run both split-sex Bronze Finals separately, HRV will combine the final acceptors into a combined-sex Bronze Pace(s) – which would then become PBD/Sex rather than RBD. Field selection preference to be allocated in the following order:

(a) Horses who contested a Heat but failed to gain a start in a Semi-Final, Final or Silver Pace based on the following criteria:

(i) ranking within each series (sex) – where horses are ranked in numerical order based on the finishing position and mile rate in heat

(ii) highest finishing position in heat

(iii) fastest mile rate in heat

(b) Horses who did not contest a Heat (based on Automatic Field Selection System)

9.1.6 In the event of there being insufficient acceptors to run a combined-sex Bronze Pace, it will be abandoned.

9.2 Trotters

9.2.1 Horses must be nominated for the Silver Trot if they wish to gain a start in the Silver Trot.

9.2.2 A horse which qualifies for a Final but fails to take its place in such race (withdrawn or otherwise) is ineligible to contest a Silver Trot.

9.2.3 Fields for any Silver Trot will comprise of horses who meet the Vicbred Super Series eligibility criteria but failed to gain a start in the Final, with field selection preference to be allocated in the following order:

(a) Horses who contested a Heat but failed to gain a start in the Final based on the following criteria:

(i) ranking within each series (sex) – where horses are ranked in numerical order based on the finishing position and mile rate in heat

(ii) highest finishing position in heat

(iii) fastest mile rate in heat
(b) Horses who did not contest a Heat (based on Automatic Field Selection System)

10. DEAD HEATS

10.1 In the event of a dead heat for any finishing position in a qualifying race, preference in qualifying will be given to a horse who places outright for the same finishing position, regardless of mile rate.

10.2 In the event of two or more horses each finishing in the same position and recording the same mile rate in a qualifying race, and thereby producing a field exceeding the field limit, then a random ballot will be applied.

11. ABANDONED HEATS

11.1 In the event of any race of the series being abandoned or declared a No-Race after the declaration of Acceptances, the controlling body will attempt to re-run the race at the same race meeting or re-schedule the race at the next most suitable venue.

11.2 In the event of any qualifying race being abandoned after the declaration of Acceptances and not being able to be re-run, horses (excluding scratchings) will qualify for the next stage of the series in descending order of automatic field selection points at the time of abandonment.

12. HORSES MUST BE SCRATCHED

Horses which contest a qualifying race but are not able to contest the next stage of the series must be formally scratched prior to Acceptance Time from the relevant race. The next ranked horse according to relevant qualification criteria will be promoted. A scratching penalty may or may not be imposed.

13. DISQUALIFICATION

Rule 195A of the Australian Rules of Harness Racing applies to this race series.

14. SPECIAL CONDITIONS

HRV reserves the right to make any alterations or amendments to these conditions that it considers necessary in the overall best interests of the conduct of the Vicbred Super Series.

FUTURITIES – LATE NOMINATIONS/AGE ACCEPTANCES

If for some reason you miss the deadline but still want your horse to be eligible, the following late fee structure applies:

• A late fee of twice the applicable fee for applications up to three months late for all futurities schemes; and
• A late fee of 3% of the applicable race final stakemoney (e.g. 3% of Vicbred 2YO Pacers final stakemoney) for applications submitted from three months to six months late, rising to 4% for applications submitted more than six months late; and
• Late foal nominations will be charged as a multiplier of the original fee, so for those applications that are three to six months late, a late fee of five times the original fee is applicable, whilst for those applications more than six months late, a late fee of ten times the original fee is applicable.

(July 2023)