MELTON’S SHAKAMAKER DRIVE TO CLOSE FROM JANUARY 19
Shakamaker Drive, Melton, will close from January 19 until further notice owing to its deteriorating condition and the surrounding works.
The roadway has provided participants with access to Melton Entertainment Park’s stalls, but in the interests of participant safety and to assist the neighbouring construction, participants will instead be advised to access the stalls via the main entrance.
Speed humps will be removed from the main entrance for a smoother entry for participants and their horses.
ADDITIONAL MARES-ONLY RACES ADDED TO THE CALENDAR IN 2026
HRV will increase the number of mares-restricted races from January next year.
In collaboration with Harness Breeders Victoria, the changes reinforce Victoria’s commitment to mares in their racing and breeding careers. Under the changes, HRV will trial additional mares’ races in January, prioritising venues with the highest horse populations.
More mares’ races will also be programmed in February and March, giving owners and trainers greater choice and racing administrators more data to evaluate the appropriate balance going forward.
Six of the January races will carry $5000 Vicbred Voucher bonuses for winning owners, all part of Victoria’s new $2.75 million ownership and breeding scheme that was launched in September. Winners can redeem their vouchers on stallion services or at select sales.
The upcoming mares’ races, venues and grades are listed below:
Pacers:
Jan 2 @ Melton: Maiden*
Jan 4 @ Maryborough: Up to 50
Jan 9 @ Melton: Up to 59*
Jan 9 @ Melton: Maiden
Jan 13 @ Swan Hill: Up to 50*
Jan 15 @ Kilmore: Up to 45
Jan 19 @ Charlton: Up to 50*
Jan 22 @ Kilmore: Up to 52
Jan 23 @ Melton: Up to 65*
Jan 28 @ Maryborough: Up to 42
Trotters:
Jan 4 @ Maryborough: Up to 45
Jan 12 @ Maryborough: Up to 50
Jan 14 @ Bendigo: Maiden
Jan 21 @ Bendigo: Up to 50
Jan 28 @ Maryborough: Up to 44*
Jan 29 @ Ballarat: Up to 55
* Includes $5000 Vicbred Voucher
VICTORIAN 2YO RACES TO BEGIN IN FEBRUARY
Harness Racing Victoria will again introduce restricted two-year-old races from February to create more opportunities for young horses.
When applying the same method last year, HRV’s Racing Department found that more two-year-old races received sufficient nominations when opportunities were condensed in the year’s early months.
HRV will once again program two-year-old races at central Victorian venues, where the category’s population is at its greatest, with pacing races to begin in February and trotting races in March.
Two-year-old races will be scheduled as follows:
Feb 4 @ Maryborough (pacers)
Feb 11 @ Maryborough (pacers)
Feb 25 @ Maryborough (pacers)
Mar 6 @ Melton (pacers and trotters)
Mar 16 @ Maryborough (pacers and trotters)
Mar 30 @ Maryborough (pacers and trotters)
HRV TO INTRODUCE CLAIMING RACES IN FEBRUARY
Harness Racing Victoria will trial pacing claiming races from February to April to provide participants with alternative racing opportunities.
HRV’s racing team will review stakeholder feedback and monitor nominations and acceptances to determine whether claiming races should be added to programs beyond that date.
Venues such as Maryborough, Kilmore and Mildura have been identified in the February programs, prioritising those with the highest horse populations.
The racing team will also review the concept and consider whether it should also be applied to trotters in the coming months.
Claiming races scheduled in February:
Feb 4 @ Maryborough ($8000 claimer, 2100m, PBD/Claiming Price) $6000
Feb 12 @ Kilmore ($10,000 claimer, 1690m, PBD NR) $8000
Feb 18 @ Mildura ($6000 claimer, 2190m, PBD/NR) $4000
Feb 25 @ Maryborough ($6000 claimer, 1690m, PBD/Claiming Price) $4000
$5000 VICBRED VOUCHERS WON THROUGHOUT VICTORIA
The map of Vicbred Voucher winners has swelled significantly in the wake of APG Vicbred Super Series, with winning owners of every heat, semi-final, final, and consolation race each receiving a $5000 voucher.
The $2.75 million ownership and breeding celebration, which was announced in July, sees $5000 vouchers won between September 2025 and November 2026 thanks to the State Government’s Victorian Racing Industry Fund.
The vouchers can go towards your next stallion service or APG or Nutrien sales purchase. Details here.
There will be plenty of $5000 Vicbred Vouchers to be won through to November 2026, including in the following races.
Pacers:
Dec 18 @ Kilmore: 2YO Maiden
Dec 21 @ Cranbourne: One Lifetime Win
Dec 28 @ Cobram: Maiden
Dec 31 @ Melton: Mares Up to 55 and a Maiden
Jan 1 @ Echuca: Up to 46
Jan 2 @ Melton: Fillies & Mares Maiden
Jan 5 @ Horsham: 1 LTW
Jan 9 @ Melton: Mares Up to 59
Jan 11 @ Hamilton: Up to 45
Jan 13 @ Swan Hill: Mares up to 50
Jan 16 @ Geelong: Maiden
Jan 18 @ Cranbourne: 53-59
Jan 19 @ Charlton: Mares up to 50
Jan 22 @ Kilmore: 3YO Maiden
Jan 23 @ Melton: Mares up to 65
Jan 25 @ Wedderburn: 55-64
Jan 29 @ Mildura) 56-64
Trotters:
Jan 4 @ Maryborough: 51-56
Jan 11 @ Hamilton: Maiden
Jan 14 @ Bendigo: Up to 39
Jan 25 @ Wedderburn: Maiden
Jan 26 @ Terang: 30+ SS
Jan 27 @ Shepparton: Up to 49
For a full list of Vicbred Vouchers race dates CLICK HERE
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.
