General
All Harness Racing Victoria licences expire on 31 August each year.
All applicants for any licence are subject to the Australian Harness Racing Rules and Harness Racing Victoria’s Licensing Policy including Suitability Criteria. New and existing applicants must be familiar with the rules and policies.
Click here to view the Licensing Policy
Click here to view the Australian Harness Rules of Racing
If you require any assistance or have any queries in relation to the renewal or new application process, please contact Harness Racing Victoria on 03 8378 0200 or by email: info@hrv.org.au or refer to frequently asked questions below.
NEW APPLICATIONS/UPGRADES/DOWNGRADES
Harness Racing Victoria is pleased to announce that a new Online Licence Portal is now available via HARNESSWEB, enabling participants to lodge all new licence applications, upgrades, and downgrades online.
HRV will be only accepting Licence new applications, upgrades and downgrades via the portal. Questions, declarations and uploading of document requirements is available to support your application.
Click on link HARNESSWEB to start your application via the Licence portal which you will find in drop down menu under your profile name.
Note: If you are a new participant to the sport and applying for a Stablehand application, please register for HARNESSWEB first and once approved go to the licence portal to start your application.
Renewals
Licensees can renew online through HARNESSWEB.
HRV licenced Trainer and Driver participants receive $20 off the normal licence fee that renews their licence online before 1 September each year.
HRV Compliance Courses
All licensees are required to complete the following online training courses for your Licence renewal to be activated:
- Equine Welfare Framework
- Expected Behaviours of Participants
- Creating a Child-Safe Organisation (New course2025)
To complete all courses, click on the Safetrac Portal link:
https://clients.safetrac.com/hrv
The Expected Behaviours of Participants and Creating a Child-Safe Organisation courses must be completed by all licensees if renewing or applying for a new application. Your licence will not be activated until all required courses are completed.
Thank you for your cooperation in ensuring a safe and compliant racing environment.
Reminder to Drivers
A Licence will not be granted unless an appropriately completed Medical Examination and Betting Declaration Form is submitted with the application. (Harnessweb now has the facility to upload your Medical Examination as you complete your Renewal, with also declaring your Betting Account activity online)
Please ensure that you allow sufficient time to obtain a medical appointment with your GP prior to the expiration of your current licence.
Betting Declaration Form and Medical Examination Forms can be downloaded by clicking here.
Please forward completed forms to info@hrv.org.au or PO Box 184 Moonee Ponds Vic 3039.
NEW ONLINE LICENCE PORTAL AVAILABLE VIA HARNESSWEB
Harness Racing Victoria is pleased to announce that a new Online Licence Portal is now available via HARNESSWEB, enabling participants to lodge all new licence applications, upgrades, and downgrades online.
The Online Licence Portal enables participants to submit licence applications through a single portal, supporting secure lodgement of documentation, declarations and financial updates. It allows HRV Licence staff to efficiently manage online applications and apply licence outcomes consistently across all licence types and application scenarios.
Key enhancements assisting both participants and HRV licensing staff to speed up licence change processing include:
Checklist-Driven Question and Declaration Handling
Supports conditional questions and declarations driven by checklist configuration.
Allows mandatory follow-up responses and comments to be captured based on applicant answers (e.g., medical conditions, employment details, downgrade reasons)
Supporting Document Review and Requests
Displays documents submitted via HarnessWeb directly against the licence application.
Enables HRV Licence staff to mark documents as required, request resubmission, and provide reasons that are communicated back to the participant.
Application Status Management
Maintains clear application status transitions (e.g., Pending, On Hold, Approved, Declined).
Ensures status changes and comments are reflected back to HarnessWeb for participant visibility.
Email Notifications
Supports automated email notifications to participants for application submission, status changes, document requests, and application outcomes.
Supports notifications to HRV Licence staff when requested documents are provided and applications are ready for further review.
The Online Licence Portal is located in HARNESSWEB by clicking on your profile name and selecting Licence Portal from the dropdown list that appears.
If you require any assistance or have any queries in relation to the Online Licence Portal, please contact Harness Racing Victoria on 03 8378 0200 or by email: info@hrv.org.au. For all Licensing general information and requirements please go to thetrots.com.au.
TRAINERS
A trainer who has been previously licensed, but who has not been licensed as a trainer for a period of 6 months or more shall provide the following documents prior to being relicensed:
- Provide a minimum of two (2) credit references (Vet, Farrier, Feed Suppliers etc) stating that your accounts are paid promptly OR a credit report by contacting a credit reporting body. You can obtain a copy of your credit report free of charge from a CRB within ten (10) days of them receiving your request.
To request a copy of your credit report, please contact one of the below national CRB’s:
| CRB | WEBSITE | PHONE |
| Veda | My CreditFile.com.au (Equifax) | 1300 762 207 |
| D & B | D & B CheckYourCredit | 1300 734 806 |
| Experian | Experian Credit Services | 1300 684 |
- Bank account statements in your name for the preceding three (3) month period (to the date your application is submitted to Harness Racing Victoria).
Note – These bank account statements should also be submitted to your chosen Accountant/Bank Manager/Officer to form part of the Accountant Reference declaration accompanying the application form.
An applicant who has previously been licensed as a trainer, but who has not held that licence in the preceding two (2) years, may be required to first reapply for a Stablehand licence or trainer licence of a different type, grade, or class, as deemed appropriate by the Stewards or HRV taking into account:
a)The applicant’s previous experience or competence as a licensed participant
b)The period of time that has elapsed since the applicant last held a licence,
c) Any other matter considered relevant by the Stewards or HRV in their discretion. 24.
The applicant will then be required to satisfy the relevant criteria applicable to licence upgrades and the relevant licence type, grade, or class, as set out in this policy, before being eligible for the particular licence type, grade or class previously held by the applicant.
TRAINING PARNERSHIPS
HRV may issue a licence for a person to train in partnership in accordance with the provisions of AHRR 90A(2.8).
HRV further requires that all applicants seeking to be licensed as a training partnership meet the following criteria:
- Each member of the training partnership must hold the same grade of trainers licence. e.g. members hold a Grade B trainer or all members hold a Grade A trainer licence.
- To be granted a licence all members must meet the criteria relative to the grade of trainer’s licence sought (See HRV’s Licensing and Registraion Policy).
- The grade of trainer’s licence held by a person as a sole entity may be transferred to a training partnership.
- Each member of the Training Partnership must complete the Training Partnership
For application form click here
DRIVERS
Reinstating Previous Driver Licence
Any person wishing to reinstate their driver licence who has not driven consistently in recent seasons in TAB races, will be required to satisfactorily complete a number of trial drives as determined by the Stewards.
Upon the completion of the drives the licence category reinstatement will be at the discretion of the Chairman of Stewards in consultation with the Senior Stewards.
An applicant who has previously been licensed as a driver but who has not been licensed as a driver for the below periods shall complete the specified number of satisfactory trials prior to driving in a race:
a) Not licensed for six (6) months: five (5) satisfactory trials,
b) Not licensed for twelve (12) months: ten (10) satisfactory trials,
c) Not licensed for greater than two (2) years: fifteen (15) satisfactory trials.
An applicant who has previously been licensed as a driver, but who has not held that licence in the preceding two (2) years, may, in addition to completing the satisfactory trials referred above, be required to first reapply for a Stablehand licence or driver licence of a different type, grade or class, as deemed appropriate by the Stewards or HRV taking into account:
a) The applicant’s previousexperience or competence as a licensed
b) The period of timethat has elapsed since the applicant last held a licence; and
c) Any other matter considered relevant by the Stewards or HRV at their discretion.
The applicant will then be required to satisfy the relevant criteria applicable to licence upgrades and the relevant licence type, grade, or class, as set out in this policy, before being eligible for the licence type, grade or class previously held by the applicant.
Stablehands
Becoming a stablehand
The holder of a Stablehand licence is licensed to perform stable duties under the supervision or instructions of a licensed trainer as follows:
- Carry out track work, assist with the training, management, care and control of horses, assist with the pre-race preparation and post- race procedures affecting a horse.
- Each licence type may require different documentation. Please view the licence application form and include all documentation to ensure your application is not delayed.
- All new applications or applicants who have not been licensed for more than six (6) months must submit a current National Police Check with their application for licence.
- All new applicants regardless of what level must provide a current Working with Children check.
Eligibility requirements
To be eligible for a stablehand licence you must:
- Be at least 14 years of age
- Submit a completed application form
- Signed letter of reference from the licensed training you will be assisting
- Current National Police Check
- Certified copy of your driver’s licence or birth certificate
- Passport photograph
- Working with Children Check
INSURANCE
Important Insurance Information
All licence holders have included in their licence fee, Personal Injury Insurance. It is very important all licence holders are aware of what is covered and it is strongly recommended that all drivers, trainers and stablehands investigate their personal insurance needs. It is important to consider the benefits of:
- Private Health Insurance
- Life Insurance
Click here for more information
Frequently asked questions
1. How do I renew?
As Harness Racing Victoria moves online, the quickest and easiest way to renew your licence in online via HARNESSWEB.
2. I have previously held a licence with HRV, how do I reapply?
Applicants who have not been licensed for more than six (6) months must submit a current National Police Check with their application for licence. For each licence type there is additional documentation required which can be viewed via the Licensing and Registration Policy.
Click here to view the Licensing Policy
3. Where do I apply for a Police check?
Precise Background offer HRV participants a reduce cost police check by using the link below. For the reduced fee click on Get Started and ensure the PROMO code HRV is used to receive the reduced cost for the check: https://www.precisebackground.com/ Alternatively applicants can source their own police checks.
4. I am looking for a Trainer to work with or volunteer, are there any in my area?
A list of licence holders can be viewed here Trainers Directory – The Trots
5. I am having trouble logging into the Online Animal Welfare Training. Who can assist me?
If you require additional assistance to complete the training program, please contact the Harness Racing Training Centre Bendigo on (03) 5449 3590 or admin@hrtcbendigo.com.au
6. Do I have to complete the online HRV Compliance courses to obtain a licence.
Yes.
Each participant is required to complete set HRV Compliance courses to obtain a licence. Communications and courses set will be sent with deadlines to meet requirements.
To complete all courses, click on the Safetrac Portal link:
https://clients.safetrac.com/hrv
Please contact Harness Racing Victoria on 03 8378 0200 or by email: info@hrv.org.au should you have difficulty logging in.
7. How do I upgrade or downgrade my licence?
Click on link HARNESSWEB to start your application via the Licence portal which you will find in drop down menu under your profile name.
HRV will be only accepting Licence upgrades and downgrades via the portal. Questions, declarations and uploading of document requirements is available to support your application.