Iconic Vic Cup battle to follow Everest and Caulfield Cup on 7two
Leap To Fame and Bay Of Biscay’s iconic Victoria Cup clash will be broadcast nationally, live and free, on the Seven Network, bringing an unprecedented audience to Victorian harness racing’s showcase night.
The blockbuster 7Two racing coverage on Saturday, October 18, will cross to Melton Entertainment Park from Sydney’s $20 million Everest and the $5 million Caulfield Cup.
HRV CEO Matt Isaacs said partnering with the Seven Network on its biggest Saturday of racing was an excellent result for the sport.
“Victorian harness racing’s biggest nights deserve the biggest audience, and we are thrilled to be able to make that happen this year,” Isaacs said.
“Having adjoining coverage with the Everest and the Caulfield Cup will ensure racing enthusiasts are locked in for the night to celebrate our stars.”
The big audience will be treated to a spectacular trots meeting, which will be headlined by generational pacer Leap To Fame and Victoria’s Eureka superstar Bay Of Biscay colliding in Australian harness racing’s premier middle-distance classic.
HRV September roadshows coming to Kilmore, Charlton, and Terang
Harness Racing Victoria will host three roadshows this month, continuing its consultation with participants and the broader trotting community.
HRV chair Bernard Saundry, chief executive officer Matt Isaacs, and the HRV Board will sit with industry at Kilmore, Charlton, and Terang from September 15-17 to review the 2025 financial year and forecast plans for 2026 and beyond.
Isaacs said the roadshows would continue two-way conversations about the industry’s opportunities and challenges.
“This will be our third roadshow series this year, and we have valued each opportunity to sit with those involved in our sport, including trainers, drivers, breeders, and owners, to canvas their thoughts and consider what’s in our path,” Isaacs said.
“These dates will take us to 12 roadshows for the year at nine different harness racing venues, and we are extremely appreciative of the host clubs and communities for their warm welcomes and constructive collaboration.”
This series of roadshows will be held at the following:
Kilmore Racing Club (East St, Kilmore): Monday, September 15, from 7pm
Charlton Harness Racing Club (17 Calder Hwy, Charlton): Tuesday, September 16, from 7pm
Terang Harness Racing Club (Dalvui Ln, Terang): Wednesday, September 17, from 7pm
For those who can’t attend in person, the Kilmore roadshow will be streamed live on www.trotsvision.com.au. To RSVP for a roadshow, please click here.
Hall of Fame to honour harness racing's famous families for the first time
Great families will be enshrined in immortality on October 4 when a new category is added to the Victorian Harness Racing Hall of Fame.
The annual presentation night, which inducts six members into the Hall of Fame and elevates a previous recipient to Legend status, will this year be bigger and better at Melton Entertainment Park.
For the first time, ‘Families’ will have their own category, honouring the bloodlines who have toiled and triumphed across harness racing’s proud Victorian history.
HRV CEO Matt Isaacs said families were the cornerstone of the sport, and it was great that their contributions would be celebrated.
“The great harness racing generations set it apart, and it is appropriate to have this unique strength recognised,” Isaacs said.
“The Hall of Fame is always one of the best nights on the trots calendar, and it will only be more significant with this category addition.”
Bookings are open for the 2025 Victorian Harness Racing Hall of Fame night for only $55, which includes a two-course sit-down dinner, with a complimentary sweet treat for dessert.
Eureka star Bar Of Biscay eyes Leap To Fame in Victoria Cup
Young star Bay Of Biscay may have booked himself a ticket to take on Australasia’s champion pacer Leap To Fame after a historic win in the world’s richest race, the $2.1 2.1mil TAB Eureka, at Menangle last night (Saturday). Talks between trainers Emma Stewart, Clayton Tonkin, and the owners in the coming days will decide if the pair will clash for the first time in the $250,000 Group 1 Victoria Cup at Melton on October 18. “It makes sense as the next step, but, like everything with this horse, we’ll leave the decision to Emma and Clayton,” managing part-owner Tim Bunning said. Bay Of Biscay became the first pacer to tackle the TAB Eureka twice, atoning for a luckless second to Don Hugo last year with a dominant front-running win last night. It capped 12 months of meticulous planning and some significant sacrifices from connections. “We had a ticket into the Miracle Mile in March and turned it down. That was purely a decision by Emma and Clayton, who were only looking at one race … coming back to win the TAB Eureka,” part-owner Brett Coffey said.
Wharton: Vicbred Vouchers program deliver 'Maxy' benefits
Harness Racing Victoria’s new $2.75 million Vicbred Vouchers program, which kicked off at Terang on Monday night, has already earned high praise from industry participants.
Lexton breeder-owner trainer Ashleigh Herbertson, who brought out Maxy Bomber to win the first of 150 maiden races carrying a $5,000 Vicbred voucher over the next 14 months, said the new scheme is ‘magnificent’.
“It’s ticked a box in my regard. A lot more needs to be done but it’s a big start,” Herbertson said.
Herbertson bred Maxy Bomber out of the former smart racemare Vapar Raine.
“We’ve had three foals from her and she’s in foal again now to Cannibal.”
Herbertson is planning to use the $5,000 voucher towards breeding to a Victorian-registered sire this season.
“I am going to take Vapar Grin and put her in foal as part of this bonus,” Ashleigh said.
Jason Lee takes his sporting game to new heights
One of the real personalities of Victorian harness racing, Jason Lee, went to extraordinary lengths last Saturday (Sept 6) to combine two of his sporting passions – football and harness racing.
Lee faced a dilemma: he was due to play his 150th game for Nirranda in the Warrnambool Football League – in a preliminary final, no less – but he also had a book of strong drives at Melton’s Saturday night harness meeting.
Determined not to miss either, Lee turned to a page out of the playbook of other sporting greats who have relied on a bit of aviation assistance.
Aussie Rules Hawthorn legend Peter Hudson once made it from Tasmania to Melbourne’s Waverly Park thanks to a helicopter dash, while cricket superstar David Warner famously landed on the SCG outfield just hours before a Big Bash appearance after attending his brother’s wedding.
Lee hatched a similar plan to deal with a sticky situation, meaning he could play the bulk of Nirranda’s clash before catching a plane flight west in time for Melton.
From HRV's customer service, futurities, and licensing:
FUTURITIES:
NEED FOR SPEED: Yearling nominations, series fee (Series 13), and foal nominations (Series 14) are still open. To nominate, call HRV Customer Service on 03 8378 0200 or email needforspeed@hrv.org.au. More details can be found atNeed For Speed - The Trots.
BREEDERS CROWN: Age acceptance fees ($451) for Series 28 (current 2YOs) and Series 27 (current 3YOs) of the Breeders Crown finals close soon, with payments due by October 1. If payments are not made by that date, horses will be automatically withdrawn. To withdraw invoiced fees log on to HarnessWeb, go to Ownership > My Futurities > Breeders Crown and select your eligible horses under Series 27 or 28 age acceptances, or email breederscrown@hrv.org.au. More details can be found atBreeders Crown - The Trots.
VICBRED: HarnessWeb access will open at the start of October to accept or withdraw Vicbred acceptances and pay series fees for eligible 2YOs, 3YOs & 4YOs for 2026. Automatic invoicing will be actioned at the start of December, with payment required by February 2, 2026. Further information will be updated on Vicbred - The Trots over the coming weeks, and communications will be sent via email/sms.
LICENSING:
RENEWALS: Thank you to all participants who have renewed for the new licensing season, which started September 1. Licensees can renew online through Harnessweb, where they can upload medical information and drivers' betting declarations. As part of the renewal process, to have a licence activated, you must complete payment and HRV's online compliance courses through the Safetrac Portal. More details can be found at Licensing - The Trots.
REGISTRATIONS:
FOAL NOTIFICATIONS: Online foal notifications are available through HarnessWeb to complete services for the '24/25 breeding season. All services must be submitted regardless of the outcome. For a live foal, please ensure this is actioned within three weeks from the foaling date to avoid late penalties. More details can be found at Foal Notifications & Microchipping - The Trots.
MICROCHIPPING: Microchip packs will be dispersed within days of the live foal notification submitted. The packs will be sent to the location where the foal resides. Please ensure if you are engaging your own vet they scan the code found on the microchipping guidelines to register as a HRV-approved vet. This code is sent in with the package or online at Foal Notifications & Microchipping - The Trots. This must be done prior to visiting your property to microchip your foal. More details and all FAQs can be found at Foal Notifications & Microchipping - The Trots.
REGISTRATION FORMS: A reminder that HRV advised from July 1, 2025, the following transaction functions must be completed online through HarnessWeb:
Foal notifications
Namings
Transfers of ownership
Licence applications, including renewals
Leases
Deregistration/death of horses
Split prizemoney payments.
ACCOUNTS:
SPLIT PRIZEMONEY PAYMENTS: These payments are available for managing owners of partnerships to set-up via HarnessWeb to enable splitting stake money distribution to all owners, including futurity win and participant incentive bonuses. To be eligible, owners must have an active HarnessWeb account, which is populated with an up-to-date email and Australian/International bank account details. More details can be found at Split Prizemoney Payments - The Trots.
Have a query? Contact HRV's Customer Service Team on 03 8378 0200, 8.30 am-5 pm on weekdays, or email info@hrv.org.au.
To contact the Racing office, call 03 8378 0291 from 7.30 am-3.30 pm on weekdays or 8-9 am on weekends and public holidays, or email racing@hrv.org.au. For late scratchings or driver changes out of hours, leave a message on 03 9214 0650.
From Pony Trots Victoria:
The 2025/26 Pony Trots Victoria season is set to resume on Saturday (September 13), with Hygain re-signed as the major sponsor. The program will also see the introduction of regular racing at Melton, and momentum continues to build towards the Pony Trots Victoria Cup. Interest in joining pony trots is increasing, with our newest member, Alex Quinlan (pictured), qualifying at Shepparton.
Delivery of online drug and alcohol awareness training for young drivers is scheduled for September 29 and repeated on October 6. This will be delivered by a subject matter expert and forms part of HRV’s commitment to equipping young drivers with the knowledge and awareness necessary to compete responsibly and safely. Click here for more details.
HRV Hero
Enquiries and nominations are being received for Harness Racing Victoria's life after racing program, HRV Hero, with a steady number of horses being rehomed, both through our valued retrainers and the direct off-the-track avenues.
HRV industry notice - Products containing altrenogest
HRV reminds trainers and veterinarians about the significant risks associated with the use of commercial products containing altrenogest for oestrus suppression in fillies and mares.
Independent analysis conducted by Racing Analytical Services Limited has found that both oral and injectable altrenogest products contain varying levels of the anabolic steroids trenbolone and/or trendione. These substances are classified as prohibited at all times under the Australian Harness Racing Rules. The presence of these prohibited substances — even if unintended — may lead to serious rule breaches and penalties.
HRV recommends against using any products containing altrenogest, including injectable or compounded oral altrenogest products. As an alternative, HRV recommends considering the use of injectable, short-acting progesterone as a safer alternative for fillies and mares racing in Victoria. Trainers must consult their veterinarians regarding the appropriate use of injectable progesterone. Please note this recommendation applies only to short-acting progesterone injections and does not extend to long-acting synthetic progestins.
